By Rita Okoye
Ibifubara Davies is a Nigerian reality TV personality, psychologist, and entrepreneur who was a contestant on Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) Season 10. After her eviction, she plans to launch a podcast and work as a creative director for hair and clothing brands.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, Ibifubara opens up about her journey in Biggie’s House and reflects on what she would have done differently.
How was your experience in the BBN house? What should we expect now you are out of the house?
The experience was wonderful. When I entered the house, I went into quite a lot of alliances, had a lot of conversations, interesting and otherwise, with the housemates. I want to be in their heads, in their faces, and somewhat be the pillar of the house. Naturally, when I’m in Spaces, people ask for advice, so in the house, it was just a running thing where people would come to me, ask for advice. So, I enjoyed it, and I gave my honest opinions and honest advice when it was necessary. Moving forward, I mean, as a psychologist, going into the house was not something that I didn’t plan, or to offer therapy sessions or anything, because I didn’t actually offer therapy sessions. What I offered were most likely just informed advice to people. But I’m glad people saw the impact of that on the housemates, and also on people that watched, who sort of got something from the things that I did. After the house, a big part of me going into the house was to sort of kick-start my proper career in branding, and also in just the media space in general. So, I’m hoping and looking at working with brands online who I value as a person, but also as a storyteller when it comes to content creation. So, that’s me pretty much using storytelling, mental health, growth, lifestyle, and bringing that to people that are interested in seeing what I have to offer moving forward.
If you could go back into the BBN house, what would you do differently?
Honestly, going back to the house would mean sort of showcasing myself a little earlier in the house. What I mean by that is being more independent. There were times where I felt a little bit muted because I was hanging with certain people. I think going back would mean that the energy in which I came on stage would last for a long time, but there were a few days where I felt a little bit down or muted because the house was a little overwhelming. I think going back, I would push that through and sort of push to showcase the person that was in week two that people got to love, people got to hear from, the housemates got to know. That’s why they were a little shocked that I left, because they thought that, like everybody could see that part of me. So, I think going back, week one would look so much different, more like week two, where it felt like I had more input in the house. I think that would have really affected my game. And I think, in terms of alliances, I would have stuck, I would have had a very individual game going forward, but also just created alliances in a different way.
How do you think the show has shaped you as a person?
For me, I won’t say it’s completely shaped me in a different way, but I would say that it’s reiterated, or just confirmed, a certain part of me, which is a feminine person, a boundary-oriented person. Going in there, a lot of people will poke you, push you, make you want to lose your cool, for lack of a better sentence. But at the end of the day, I was very feminine in the house, very boundary-oriented in the house. I did not play with that, and I made sure that I didn’t get into unnecessary squabbles, and people knew me for that. So, the house just helped me understand myself more. There were times where I lost my cool and all of that, but just understanding that it’s just a game, and coming back to myself, was something that I had to push through during my stay in the house.
But it also made me realize that I love a good competition. I’ve always loved a good competition, but there, it was high. Everybody was trying to do one thing or the other, and you had to push to be the centre of attention, or be the centre of the winner, and all of that. So, it was very lovely to just learn that I could push through even times where I wanted to give up. I was also very tenacious, I loved the experience for that, for sort of pushing me, and I think it shaped me to be just somebody that doesn’t quit easily.
If an opportunity presents again would you be willing to try out again?
Definitely, yes. I think that with the lessons learned from everything that went down with this, especially what was going on outside, I’d be willing to try again. But, I’d do something slightly different in order to make sure that my stay is more impactful.
What was the one moment that you think the viewers misunderstood you about?
I think just being part of a friendship circle. I think it was misunderstood in a way that some viewers thought that because I was friends with certain people, I was like that. However, the friendship I had there gave me comfort and I do not regret being in it because in the house, it can be a lot, it can get lonely, and all of that. Even if going back now I’d change a couple of things, but at the end of the week, I was already changing a couple of things, but I feel like the friendship was misunderstood by a lot of people. But it’s okay. At the end of the day, I’ve said my piece and I hope people take from it or take my word for it.
If you had another week in the house, what big move or surprise would you have pulled off?
Two things. I would sort of pull away from the group or the friendship group that I was in. That’s a big one because a lot of people sort of associated me with that. I would be more independent, so, sort of like a one-man army kind of thing. Two, I would most likely just be around a ship … not ship per se, but just be around it, have more fun when it comes to being with somebody in the house. I feel like because I got into the house saying I wouldn’t have a relationship, even at times where I could have just had fun with it, I sort of stopped myself from doing that.
Being the first housemate to be evicted, how did that make you feel?
Leaving the house was not necessarily a pleasant experience. There was for me some sort of pain, especially because it was a surprise. I wish I was mentally prepped for it, maybe that would have helped me a bit to adjust to the reality of it. I was floating up till the day before. In fact, till today, I don’t even feel like going back to reality is something I can do in a minute because life just feels different. I think that in the end, what you make out of this is what’s important, and I think it’s an amazing opportunity. Coming out now, there’s so much headspace in figuring out things you want to do, especially with brands, people and what fits into all of that. So, I’m taking it as an opportunity to push myself even further and an opportunity to make sure that people listen to me because people are still watching the show for the next six or seven weeks, which means that there’s still time, there’s still a buzz. I can still make moves, there’s still talk about me, and I’m just going to grab it as that and make sure that I’m in those spaces and I’m pushing myself. Not just randomly pushing but being impactful as I do so. I plan to launch a podcast and work as a creative director for hair and clothing brands.
Who is your favorite BBN housemate? Who will you vote to win the show?
I have a lot of housemates, but I will mention Favour, Otega, Okokon. Those are the people I can vote for, and also want people to vote for. Those are my favorite housemates I can vote for.
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