The winner of Big Brother Naija All-Stars, Ilebaye Odiniya, expressed her disappointment that some of her fellow housemates from the show have not congratulated her for her victory.
In an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the 22-year-old revealed how the lack of acknowledgment reminded her of past betrayals by friends, affecting her ability to make new connections.
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Ilebaye shared that her disappointment stemmed from the fact that she would have celebrated her housemates’ success if the roles were reversed. She mentioned specific instances, like confrontations with Ike, that made her feel lonely and unloved within the house.
When discussing her approach to the show, Ilebaye explained that her main goal was to have fun, with the hope of making it to the finals. She dismissed rumors that her strategy involved seeking public sympathy by claiming she was bullied, emphasizing that her win was by grace.
While explaining how she felt when some housemates refused to congratulate her, she recalled her bitter experience of loneliness while in the Big Brother house.
“I am still hurt that I didn’t get congratulations from some of the housemates because I know that If I were in their shoes, I would be happy for them,” Ilebaye said.
She recounted how confrontations from Ike made her feel terrified and emotionally drained attesting to the fact that she was not loved by the housemates.
“In the bathroom scene with Ike, she said, ‘I felt sad and lonely, I was like what did I do to deserve this? Even if I have done something to hurt you, you should have just come to me to talk about it, not throwing my clothes. I just felt like ‘God open the ground let it swallow me’. My energy just went low,” she explained.
Speaking on her preparedness for her return to the All-Stars season show, she noted that her major goal was to have fun while being optimistic she would get to the finals. She said,
“I just went there to have fun. I was just like I wanted to go have fun, and my only strategy was just to pray and believe God that I would at least get to the final stage. I didn’t think I was going to win; my prayer was that I should just last and stay till the sixth week or final if God permits.”
On the rumour that her strategy was to attract public sympathy by saying she was being bullied, she said, “I think that is false because my win is by grace. This is my year, what is meant for you is going to be for you.
“I feel like I was prepared for the journey because my going and coming out in the third week the first time was a taste of it the first time. I also think that people genuinely loved me for who I am not because of pity.”
Reflecting on her time in the house and her interactions with fellow contestants, Ilebaye acknowledged that she often felt misunderstood and faced various challenges, though she preferred not to describe it as bullying but rather as unfair treatment.
In terms of her relationships with male housemates, particularly Prince and Cross, she clarified that there was nothing serious between them.
She emphasized her preference for intelligent people and appreciated their company for fun and companionship, rather than seeking romantic involvement.
Looking ahead, Ilebaye shared her future aspirations, including becoming a top runway model, establishing her own orphanage, venturing into acting, and starting her business. She expressed a desire to discover her true identity through these endeavors.
