Former Big Brother Naija winner Josephine Otabor, better known as Phyna, has said she believes her single status is partly due to Nigerian men’s discomfort with confident and independent women.
Speaking during a recent livestream on Twitch, the reality star claimed that many Nigerian men prefer women they can control when choosing a life partner and tend to avoid those who display independence.
Phyna explained that outspoken women like herself are often judged based on their social media presence, with men forming assumptions before meeting them in person.
“I am a ten over ten,” she said. “The thing is just that men are scared of bold and confident women. There are women that by mere looking at them you know that you can’t control them. But our Nigerian men like women that they can control.”
She added that men often shy away from women who express opinions or show signs of exposure, deciding to avoid them based solely on their public persona.
Despite the trend, Phyna stressed that she is not concerned, saying she has no intention of changing herself to meet traditional expectations.
“I really don’t care,” she concluded.
Phyna rose to fame after winning the seventh season of Big Brother Naija in 2022, quickly becoming one of the most prominent figures from the reality TV franchise in Nigeria. Her outspoken personality and unfiltered commentary have earned her a large following but also sparked debate about gender roles and societal expectations in the country.
