Lucy Edet Essien is a former Big Brother Nigeria Housemate, grill chef, and actress. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about the things that make her tick, experience in the lockdown edition of Big Brother, working in the hospital, her entrepreneurial journey, and more.
How did you know about the audition?
I just felt like having fun, having a good time and I was just tired of just staying in the house for so long. Getting fed for like three months, no worries.
What were the highlights for you?
The games and meeting new people. That was fun for me and I got to expose my brand.
Tell us about your brand.
I am into grills. I own a grills business. I wouldn’t call myself a chef but I do one or two things. I am into a particular line, not the whole thing related to grills. It’s called Boli, the Port Harcourt style. Where I come from it is really common, which is Cross River. When I got to Abuja and Lagos, it wasn’t there. So, I was looking for it to eat and I just felt I could start it and kicked it off. It is still booming.
Was it easy starting this in Lagos?
Well, I already started it in Abuja, and by the time I got to Lagos, I had a job and started it with my office people. I was the Medical secretary in the hospital, somewhere in Ikeja. Basically, I was working under doctors in the X-ray division and I typed medical reports and attended to the clients when they were done with their obstetrics.
That was a very serious setting. How did you jump to entertainment?
I know that I am a versatile person. Before this, I worked in different sections of the bank, the loan side. But wait does entertainment make me unserious, I have always been a serious person. I have been in different fields really. I feel that if there are different jobs to be done, I can handle them.
Tell us about some of the memorable moments as BB Naija’s housemate.
That would have to be the games, the first day I stepped into the house and on stage, and then me meeting Ebuka for the first time. Also, my last days in the house.
What are your memories of Ebuka?
Ebuka is a very fun and sweet person. I remember thinking of what I would call him. Then, the moment I saw him on stage I was so glad, the way I was just jumping. Oh my God… Ebuka. It was so crazy, till today anytime I see him I feel so excited. He is the sweetest person.
Are you in a strong relationship?
With who? No! I am not searching either.
Tell us about your ideal man, your dream man.
My guy! I have never been one to think that I want a dream guy. I feel like when I see what I want, I will know. Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like I will meet you, just live your life the way you want it and if it works for me I am going to stick to that. So, I don’t have a particular list or that he has to stick to this or that. Whether he is white, black, or green, I don’t know. As long as I like that person, the way you treat people and treat me. You have to love me more than I love myself. You have to express it. So, I feel when I meet a person who loves me the way I want, I will know it.
Are you back in the Medical sector?
No, I am not. I am running my grill business and now a salon. A unisex salon but that is coming up soon.
What is unique about your salon?
It is the fact that it is mixed. Everything is in one place. It is a one-stop shop where you can do all that you need to do, for both ladies and the guys. This includes manicure, pedicure, microblading, and everything.
Can we say that going into the Big Brother house brought out the entrepreneurial skills in you?
No! I have always been an entrepreneur. That comes from my mum because; she has always been in a different business. So, while I was growing up I helped her to work on all of those things that she did.
Tell us about your mum.
My mum is fantastic. Everything I do every day takes me back because I feel that a lot of who I am today is because of the home training that I got and it is thanks to her. And she would always say you will remember all these things that I am telling you. And honestly, everything I do, every day points back to her. She has been a great inspiration and every time that I feel that I am losing my way, I just give her a call and she puts me back on track.
Tell us about your definition of style.
I think I am eclectic when it comes to that. I wear what I feel comfortable with and it has to be really stylish. I feel like I am a stylish person. You know that there is a difference between being fashionable and being stylish. I could pull out an outfit, somebody else would wear the same thing and I would look better in it because of the way I styled it.
What advice do you have for Nigerian youths?
As it is right now, I feel like things are really tough. But, we have no other choice but to hold on. So, when you feel that you are struggling too much to reach a particular thing, just hand it off and just give it to God, watch it, walk out, and when it is time everything will just work out, align, and fall in place.
Determination is key, someone like Hilda Baci just pushed herself into the limelight?
It is not just. I don’t think it was just, it’s never just. It’s a lot of planning, not just. It is something that she must have worked on for years. We haven’t seen that work yet, you just seeing the glitter now. It is years of hard work and now she’s saying she used 8 million to prepare that event. Do you think she got that in one day? My point is that it doesn’t take one day, it is a lot of hard work, a lot of people, and a whole village. There is a lot that you don’t even see. I was telling someone the other day that I have done five movies. I have a cooking/grilling show in my name and everything. But nobody knows about it for years now. Since 2020, it’s been there.
Tell us about the movies that you have done.
I have acted in movies. I have five and one full web series. So, all these things nobody is seeing but the day it hits, everybody would say she just did this or that. But they don’t know the years that I waited for that thing to materialize. So, whatever work that you are doing, please just keep at it. And then just be genuine, because a lot of people come out and they are trying to copy. So, be original. If it is not your own, then it is not your own. Somebody’s vision and your own vision are not the same. If you try to pursue somebody’s own then it is going to fail. So, pursue your own and push it through. There is no quick way out, it is only this Yahoo stuff and even that, I think they have to work a lot and learn the skills. So, nothing is really just. It is not that easy, you have to work for it. You have to keep going and keep pushing for a very long time.
What are you hitting at next?
Honestly, I take one day at a time. I don’t want to say that I have my day planned out. Every day, I am scared for my life, I don’t know if I am doing the right thing or not. I am just trusting the process and trusting God, that he is just going to keep directing me. Honestly, it gets scary and you don’t know for real if you are in the right direction or if you are doing too much. Or you are not doing enough. So the only way to avoid those things is by handing off and allowing God to lead you.
