My father died of HIV AIDS – Big Brother Amplified winner, Karen Igho

MNET Nigeria presented current Big Brother Amplified co-winner Karen Igho to the press at Planet One, Ikeja, and below are excerpts from Karen’s statements at the press conference:

‘I don’t really know my father. He married my mother at a very young age but now he is dead. He died of HIV AIDS. I am not ashamed to say it. I wish I saw him to ask him questions, to ask him why he blamed me for things I didn’t do. I didn’t get the chance to tell him I loved him.’

‘The journey wasn’t an easy one. Whatever anyone said about me, good or bad, I thank you and I say one love. I had no strategy unlike what most people think. I was just myself.’

‘My boobs were never a strategy, when I discovered I had lumps in my breasts, I had removed them and had the boob job done to prevent any further occurrence. It’s funny how my mother got to hear on the show. My 17-year-old sister recently discovered lumps in her breasts too’.

 ‘I want people to know that the disease is real. I am going to use part of my winnings to do a massive campaign about this disease.’

‘I didn’t know I was going to win even though I didn’t see anybody as my competitor. My head was straight. I saw everybody as potential winner. That is why we were in the house in the first place. Anyways, we are all stars.’

Karen won $200 000.

Finale: How Africa Voted (Big Brother Africa)

This week you voted for your winners, take a look at how Africa voted. The Housemates who received the least country votes were Evicted. The Housemates who received the most country votes were named the two Big Brother Amplified winners. Vina received zero country votes and was evicted first. Hanni, Lomwe and Sharon O received one country vote each and were also evicted, as was Luclay who received 2 country votes. Karen, with six country votes and Wendall with four country votes have won the Amplified season.

Karen: 6 country votes – Nigeria, Angola, Rest of Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania

Wendall: 4 country votes – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya

Luclay: 2 country votes – South Africa, Botswana

Lomwe: 1 country vote – Malawi

Sharon O: 1 country vote – Uganda

Hanni: 1 country vote – Ethiopia

Vina: 0 Country Votes.

More about Karen and Wendall (Big Brother Amplified)

Nigerian, Karen and Zimbabwean, Wendall have emerged joint winners at the just concluded reality television show, Big Brother Amplified, taking home $200,000 each. With most ardent followers already ticking Karen as a winner weeks before the show’s over, Wendall’s winning appears to be the only surprise of the final night.

Mr. Wendall

From the onset, Wendall has been very laid back and only has time for his cigarettes and beer. He hardly entertained so he was definitely an unlikely winner. He wouldn’t even yield to his country mate’s constant crave for attention. Wendall was never fun to watch, he could sit all day on a spot; he never exhibited any kind of emotions rather he devoted his attention to his cigarette sticks. He’s not one to break down in frustration or out of just missing home like Lomwe and Karen. He however has a positive side, although he was not interesting or fun to watch, he is hardworking. Voluntarily he cleans, unlike the other house mates who all make a fuss about household chores. He also wasn’t a pretender; he came clean about not liking Vina and also made it cleared he doesn’t like being touched.

Miss Karen

The free spirited Nigerian started out not expecting much from the game. She has a strong character and she is lovable, selfless and entirely original. Yes she drinks a little too much and even smokes but never lied about who she is. She revealed emotions and even shed a few tears during the show. At some point, she suggested that the winning prize be shared among all housemates.

She got so emotional with other housemates that she gave up the opportunity of saving herself from under the eviction hammer by nominating someone else during the week she was up for eviction when she was the house leader. Despite her seemingly volatile personality, Karen has a caring heart and acted out herself. She reached out to everyone and even those who didn’t think she deserves the winning prize.

She truly is the definition of a strong African woman.