Former Big Brother Naija contestant Tacha has offered her insights on the influencer culture in Nigeria, highlighting the challenges and realities faced by public figures in the industry.
In a conversation with UK-based media personality Madame Joyce, Tacha discussed the expectations placed on influencers to maintain a certain image and lifestyle.
According to Tacha, many influencers and celebrities rely on financial support from wealthy individuals to sustain their extravagant lifestyles.
She noted that this is often necessary due to the limited compensation offered by brands for influencer partnerships.
Tacha emphasized that she does not judge women who engage in these practices, as they are often driven by societal pressures and the need to present a certain image.
She said, “The thing with Naija is, when you now want to follow the men that will give you in excess, then you have to be on all of the blogs—‘oh, you’re following this and that man.’ But you expect public figures to look good while your brands are not paying well. What do you expect?”
When asked about the prevalence of women deriving income from men, Tacha acknowledged that this is a reality for some individuals. However, she refused to condemn or blame those who choose to engage in these practices, citing the need for financial stability and the pressures of maintaining a public image.
She said:
“Yes! Some girls are making their money from following men. I don’t know the percentage, but I’m not going to blame anybody for nothing, because, at the end of the day, you need to look good.”
Tacha also shared her personal experience with the influencer industry in Nigeria, revealing that she relocated to the UK due to the declining compensation for influencer roles.
“I Have conquered the whole of the Nigerian market. For me, being in the UK, I am already representing Nigeria. Relocating to the UK doesn’t mean I won’t do Naija deals. If you reach out to me and the money is good, fine—why not? I will be there, yeah.”
“With the influencing scene in Nigeria, it just looks so beautiful. But behind the scenes, it’s not as beautiful as it seems. The money is nothing to write home about. Imagine wanting to pay you N6m, that’s around $3,000, for six months to influence and post two videos a month?”