"Believe celebrities at your own risk" - Massive reactions as BBNaija's Phyna says she has been hustling since age 3

Big Brother Naija season 7 winner, Josephine Otabor well known as Phyna has caused a stir on social media after she revealed how she struggled growing up.

In a chat with Nancy Isime, the social media influencer and ‘hype woman’ shared how she had to work in a restaurant at the very young age of three.

According to her, because of financial struggle, her dad sent her to live with her aunt where she had to begin working to earn what they eat.

Phyna disclosed that when she was JSS3 she had to leave school for two years to take care of her dad who had a terrible accident.

I started making meat pie, buns – Phyna

She said, “Growing up for me wasn’t really easy. I actually grew up with my aunt, my dad’s elder sister in Auchi. And my aunt sells food, it’s a restaurant.

“Now, imagine a young girl at a restaurant at a very tender age. At 3, I was already in a restaurant serving men. And there is a point my dad had an accident, they needed somebody to be with him at the hospital. I think I just finished my JSS3 then and I had to go with dad from one hospital to another. That caused me SS1 and 2.

“On coming back [to school], they said I should go back to SS1 but I was like, no, I will join my mates in SS3. They gave me a series of exams, I wrote, I passed. Then my parents felt like I needed to go and learn handwork because furthering [my education] is highly impossible. So, that was when I realised, dem don born me dem don born me, it’s time to hustle.

“I attended a federal school. I think my school fee was N14,500 then. I think that was when the hustle started. I started making meat pie, buns, I became my class Rep, I make hair. I saved as low as N50 then. We go to shows, we dance, they pay us, we share.

“After finishing school, I went to serve [NYSC]. I was doing that, I had other part time jobs. I think that was when I took up hyping. I think I followed my friends to the club, I was listening to the hype guy, and I realised I can actually do what he is doing. And that was it. That was how I entered. Even after Big Brother House, some of my friends will be like, ‘Phyna, the way you are hustling, you are not hustling as if you won money at all.’ I said, money dey finish.”

Reactions: Bunch of liars

Following the interview, many social media users flooded the internet to state that she was lying. See some comments below;

@zlukjam: At age 3, I dey drive my papa tractor for his farm 😒

@ImoPunter: If you keep listening to all this celeb you go just k!ll yourself they’re just bunch of liars

@Baba740: The only hustle she started from age 3 was settling from mummy’s pot and hiding money.

@zlukjam: Don’t bother to argue with her… her role model dey serve men at age 3 😂😂

@IzickVibes: All this celebrities dey lie die 😭 Jeeeez Age 3 you don start work for restaurant how???? Motivational speaker isonu 😂 🖐️

@Jasper3547636: At age 3 I don dey spend 8k per day and some won dey give me 8k per month

@Enixword: So why are they saying age 3 here? There are many food canteen in Nigeria were 6 years old children are assisting their mothers. I know it doesn’t qualify as “working in a restaurant”. But the context may not actually be that she was a paid staff in a restaurant.

Massive reactions as Big Brother Naija returns with all-stars season, housemates to battle for N120m

In other news, the popular and one of the biggest reality shows, Big Brother Naija, has officially announced the debut of its All-Stars Season.

In an announcement that was made by the teams, this new season will feature favorite housemates from past seasons, as they battle for 120 million naira.

Although at the moment the selected housemates are unknown, however, the Big Brother Naija All Stars is scheduled to air on July 23, 2023.