‘I mismanaged my BBNaija win’ — Phyna opens up on money, family struggles

Reality TV star and actress Ijeoma Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has reflected on what she describes as major financial missteps following her victory at the 2022 “Level Up” edition of Big Brother Naija.

Speaking during a recent livestream, the 28-year-old said she failed to properly manage her prize money, attributing much of the problem to excessive financial support for family members.

Phyna admitted that, at the time, she believed she was doing the right thing by responding to numerous requests for help, ranging from medical needs to personal projects. However, she said no one in her family advised her on how to preserve or invest her earnings.

She explained that she eventually began facing challenges when she started declining some of the requests, noting that tensions grew after she reduced or refused financial assistance.

The reality star also revealed that her relationship with her family had long been strained, adding that she was often treated harshly while growing up and was not expected to succeed.

Expressing regret, she said she sometimes wished she had handled things differently after her win, including how she reconnected with family members at the time.

Phyna’s remarks come amid a history of public tension with her relatives. In the past, she dropped her family surname and spoke about feeling disconnected from her roots.

Her father, Felix Otabor, had earlier claimed in a 2023 interview that he had not seen her since her BBNaija victory and alleged that she failed to fulfil promises made to the family.

The latest comments highlight ongoing personal and financial challenges the reality star says she has faced since her rise to fame.