Imisi, the eccentric and outspoken housemate who captivated viewers for 70 days with her confidence, fiery personality, and seamless switch between posh and local accents, has emerged winner of the 10th season of the popular reality TV show, Big Brother Naija.
Born Opeyemi Ayanwale, the Oyo State native was among the 15 ladies who entered the Big Brother house on the first launch night. Describing herself as a “lone star,” the actor and fashion designer promised to stand her ground throughout the show — and she did. Her boldness and authenticity endeared her to millions of fans across the country.
Out of the 29 contestants who began the season, 18 were evicted before the grand finale. Sabrina left the show due to health issues, while Faith was disqualified. For the first time in the show’s history, nine housemates made it to the final night.
The live finale opened with an energetic performance by music star Adekunle Gold, who entertained the crowd with a medley of his hit songs, including Coco Money. Other performances for the evening included Iyanya, who also thrilled the audience.
After Big Brother’s final address to the finalists, the show’s host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, commenced the eviction process. One after another, Kaybobo, Isabella, Mensan, Jason Jae, Kola, Sultana, and Koyin were evicted, leaving Imisi and Dede as the final two contestants.
“I’m so excited. I never saw myself in the top two. I can’t even express myself. I’m overwhelmed, so happy,” an emotional Imisi said after being announced winner.
Runner-up Dede also expressed gratitude, saying, “I’m so blessed to be here.”
As the winner of Big Brother Naija Season 10, Imisi takes home a grand prize of ₦150 million.
Unlike previous editions, the “10/10” season required housemates to earn their rewards, inspired by Netflix’s Korean hit, Squid Game. The season also introduced new features such as the Trinket Tree — which allowed Heads of House to save or nullify nominations — and the Head of House Challenger, where winners had to defend their titles weekly.