Imisi: My ex and I broke up weeks before BBNaija audition… I couldn’t heal from it

BBNaija Imisi Opeyemi Ayanwale
Imisi, the newly crowned winner of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) season 10, has opened up about her past relationship and the journey to finding her authentic self just before entering the reality show.

In a post-show interview with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Imisi, whose real name is Opeyemi Ayanwale, revealed that she ended her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Hakeem, merely weeks before her BBNaija audition.

The reality star did not disclose the specific reason for their split but described the separation as “hectic” and admitted she entered the house without having fully healed.

She referred to Hakeem as her “safe place,” highlighting the depth of their connection.

The dependency on Hakeem, she explained, extended to her public image, confessing that the persona she presented on social media prior to the show was crafted to align with his preferences.

“The Imisi people saw on social media wasn’t really me. My dressing and style were influenced by my ex-boyfriend, Hakeem, that’s what he liked,” she said.

“He liked when I wore makeup and frontals, so I did that to please him because he was my safe place, the only person I had at the time. He liked girls who looked girly.

“But we broke up on April 4, before I went for the BBNaija audition in April or May. It was a really hectic breakup, and I didn’t have time to heal from it.

“My dressing in the house wasn’t exaggerated. I just dressed like that because there wasn’t much to do, so I wanted to look a bit crazy.”

Imisi emerged victorious from a pool of 29 housemates during the live finale on Sunday.

She walked away with the cash prize of N80 million in cash and a brand-new SUV.