“Regular jobs can’t sustain my lifestyle” – BBNaija’s BamBam

• BamBam, a former Big Brother Naija housemate, revealed her decision to participate in the show was driven by her desire for increased actor visibility.

• The actor, who is professionally trained, expressed her desire for increased visibility on the Big Brother show in an interview with Saturday Beats.

Oluwabamike Adebuniyan, widely recognized as BamBam, a former contestant on Big Brother Naija, has disclosed that her choice to join the reality show stemmed from her aspiration for greater visibility as a trained actress.

In a conversation with Saturday Beats, she articulated, “One of the major reasons I went into the Big Brother show was because I needed more visibility as a professionally trained actor.”

BamBam, an alumnus of the Royal Arts Academy, emphasized the difficulties in obtaining acting roles and the often inadequate compensation associated with the field.

“It’s not easy to stand out in this industry as a filmmaker because it is very saturated. So, yes, going for a show like Big Brother gives you an unfair advantage over other people,” she admitted.

Responding to the notion that reality television personalities prioritize fame over skill, BamBam clarified, “What makes brands come to you is because you are famous. Brands will not want to identify with anybody who does not have great engagement on their social media platforms. So, the social media platform is literally your work tool that makes brands want to work with you.”

The actress also offered her perspective on the economic difficulties in Nigeria, contrasting her current income from endorsements with her former role as a microbiologist.

She said, “With what I get from endorsements, if I had a regular paying job, that money would not sustain my lifestyle monthly. How much are they paying microbiologists in general hospitals today? Even if it is a private hospital, what is the highest that they can pay?”

While expressing appreciation for the opportunities her fame has afforded her, BamBam recognized the challenge of being pigeonholed as merely a reality TV personality.

She concluded with guidance for others navigating the industry, stating, “You have to put in the work and trust God to provide you with opportunities where you can showcase yourself beyond just being a reality TV star. It’s only time and maximising opportunities.”