Ilebaye Odiniya, a Nigerian criminologist and model, has won the Big Brother Naija AllStars season, beating Mercy Eke, the winner of the previous season. The Big Brother Naija AllStars season was a special edition of the popular reality TV show that brought back some of the most memorable contestants from the past seasons. The show lasted for 72 days and featured 20 housemates competing for the grand prize of N120 million.
Ilebaye was the third housemate to be evicted from the Season 7 of the show in 2022. She had a strong personality and a large fanbase, but she lost to Phyna, a model who won the N100 million prize. Ilebaye returned for the AllStars season in 2023 and proved to be a formidable contender. She made it to the top six finalists, along with Cross, Adekunle, Mercy Eke, Pere and CeeC. The grand finale was held last night and hosted by Ebuka Uchendu. The show started with the eviction of Cross, followed by Pere, Adekunle and CeeC. This left Ilebaye and Mercy Eke as the last two standing.
The tension was high as Ebuka announced the winner. Ilebaye emerged victorious with 51.7% of the votes, while Mercy Eke got 48.3%. Ilebaye broke down in tears as she received the cheque and the trophy. She thanked her fans and God for the opportunity. Ilebaye’s victory was celebrated by many Nigerians on social media, who praised her resilience and determination. Some of her fans said they voted for her because of her intelligence, beauty and charisma. Others said they admired her for pursuing her passion for criminology and modeling.
Ilebaye, who hails from Kogi State, has a bachelor’s degree in criminology and security studies from the National Open University of Nigeria. She also has a diploma in modeling from Elite Model Management. She has participated in several fashion shows and beauty pageants, including the Miss Nigeria and the Miss World.
Ilebaye said she plans to use her prize money to further her education and career. She also said she wants to give back to society and empower young girls who aspire to be like her. Ilebaye’s story is an inspiration to many Nigerians who dream of achieving their goals despite the challenges they face. She has shown that with hard work, perseverance and faith, anything is possible.
Source: Vanguard
