After a fiercely competitive 72 days on the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality television show Season 8, titled ‘Big Brother Naija All Star,’ Ilebaye Precious Odiniya emerged as the ultimate winner.
This Nigerian criminologist, reality TV sensation, entrepreneur, and fashion model clinched the victory following a grueling, captivating, suspenseful, and at times, romance-filled journey in the Big Brother House.
Ilebaye’s impressive triumph came with a substantial N120 million cash prize, in addition to a host of other enticing rewards.
From an initial pool of 24 contestants who had walked the walk and talked the talk, the competition whittled down to the final six, with Angel, Venita, and Soma being evicted along the way. The remaining finalists included Cross, Merce Eke, Adekunle, Pere, CeeC, and Ilebaye.
The electrifying night of the grand finale began with Cross’s eviction, followed by Pere and Cross, ultimately leaving Ceec, Mercy, and Ilebaye as the top three finalists.
It’s worth noting that this marked a historic moment in the annals of Big Brother Naija, as it was the first time in the show’s history that the top three finalists were all females.
The climax of the evening saw the eviction of 30-year-old Cynthia Nwadiora, affectionately known as Ceec, paving the way for Mercy Eke and Ilebaye as the top two contenders for the coveted title.
Notably, among the six finalists, Ilebaye stood out as the only contestant who had never previously reached the final stages of the competition. In the previous season (Season 7), she had been the third housemate to be evicted, her short-lived stint preventing her from making a lasting impression on the show’s devoted viewers.
Ilebaye, born in 2001 in Lokoja, Kogi State, and belonging to the Igala tribe, emerged as the unexpected and triumphant winner of the All-Star edition of BBNaija, marking a remarkable turnaround in her journey within the realm of reality television.