KAREN IGHO UNVEILS NEW PHASE
2011 winner of Big Brother Africa’s Amplified Edition, Karen Igho is arguably one of the most controversial but loveable Nigerian celeb on the scene. A 2011 edition of COMPLETEFASHION magazine describes her as ‘crazy, loud and loveable’ – How so? Today, I take you on a ‘retrospect’ journey of the girl Karen, whom most of us never knew when she was living with her grandmother; then we take a look at the African-famous ‘Karenified’ who took our attention on the BigBrother Africa reality TV show and what the journey of fame had been for her thus far.
The story of a Nigerian
Karen Igho, a native of Kokori (Urobo tribe in Nigeria), Delta State, was born in Jos, Plateau State. Nigeria. The first of ten (10) kids, Karen’s mom was separated from her biological father when Karen was 2 years old. Although Karen says her mother is her role model, she grew up living with her grandmother in the village at Delta State. She had her primary school education at Star Tribe Primary School, and Township Primary School, both in Delta State. She later moved back to the place of her birth for her high school education at Federal Government College Hopeshe, Jos, Nigeria.
Little girl Karen would later on meet her biological father for the first time when she turned 14 years in age. However, their time together was short-lived because the father died of a virus infection few days after their reunion.
After her secondary school education, Karen was able to travel out of Nigeria to attend Southwark College, London where she studied Theatre Arts, during which time she often volunteered and worked with various charity causes and organizations in the UK, including orphanages, dumb and deaf kids among others. By 2008, Karen was back in Nigeria, making a debut appearance on the 2008 edition of a reality TV show tagged the Next Movie Star. She was also lead video vixen in 2Shotz/Timaya ‘Incase U never know’; coupled with featuring as the lingerie model in Soundcity Blast Magazine. These experience inspired courage in Karen, as she would later return to the UK to explore opportunities in modeling and acting. Later on, Karen took a feature acting role on the popular Yoruba Nollywood movie ‘Omo Ghetto Part 2’ as she continues to harness her acting talent and skill.
The ‘Karen’ we know… A dream we all seek!
In 2011, Karen Igho came to the fore by participating in the extra-ordinary edition of BigBrother Africa, Amplified Edition, having being prompted by her notable friend and ‘unusual African VJ’ Denrele Edun. In the BBA House, Karen became popular as the ‘no-nonsense’ lady with active participation in the house tasks and activities.
She apparently became the reason millions of viewers across Africa stay glued to their TV set in anticipation of the ‘Karenified’ drama on the 2011 edition of the BBA. While in the house, she was good friends with Baby P and Mumbai and was romantically linked with Zeus. She also used her presence on the global screen reality TV show to serve as an ambassador of peace through the ‘we JOS want Peace’ campaign – as a way to raise awareness and help restore peace in Jos town, Nigeria. For Karen, the game at the BBA was about being as real as ‘REAL’ could be; in her own words, “I hate being a hypocrite, besides if you go into the House with a strategy Africa will definitely discover that you are not real and vote you out”.
She apparently became the reason millions of viewers across Africa stay glued to their TV set in anticipation of the ‘Karenified’ drama on the 2011 edition of the BBA. While in the house, she was good friends with Baby P and Mumbai and was romantically linked with Zeus. She also used her presence on the global screen reality TV show to serve as an ambassador of peace through the ‘we JOS want Peace’ campaign – as a way to raise awareness and help restore peace in Jos town, Nigeria. For Karen, the game at the BBA was about being as real as ‘REAL’ could be; in her own words, “I hate being a hypocrite, besides if you go into the House with a strategy Africa will definitely discover that you are not real and vote you out”.
This approach apparently worked for her, judging that she went on to become a winner on the Big Brother Amplified edition reality show, (BBA 2011), bringing her fame, huge money(as she came back to Nigeria with the coveted prize of $200,000), glitz and glamour. Some people have gone on to describe with envy that Karen’s winning is like stumbling upon a ‘pot of gold’; however you see it, don’t we all desire some pure luck in life? Karen’s evolution reminds us all that the possibilities in life are not limited, not even when we are limited by our circumstances.
‘Karenified’ from Amplified – Don’t we just love her!
Since the curtains drew on the BigBrother Africa Amplified Edition on the 31st of July, 2011, Karen has continued to be stay relevant on the entertainment scene while engaging in news worthy activities such as; featuring on the cover of top fashion, lifestyle and entertainment magazines, meeting and relating with national and international dignitaries such as Delta State’s Governor Uduaghan, Former military president, IBB, Ex-prime minister, UK, Mr. Gordon Brown. Karen played anchor and host to several shows and events in 2011 such as Delta@20, Dynamix Awards, Safari awards, Calabar, City People Amplified Party, Facebook Unplugged in Warri, Miss Abuja 2011, the launch of Ibadan GoTV, October 2011, Face of Edo, Benin, DSTV Multi-choice 2011 end of the year party, and in recent times the Face of Selara 2012, SAY NO TO CRIME event at the ikoyi prisons in Lagos and many others.
Her affable personality makes her endearing to the entertainment industry. Karen has received some special awards to her credit such as the Dynamix TV personality of the year Award, 2011 and the Youth Award, 2011 amidst others. She has co-presented on episodes of the TV show, Jara with Uti; and also featured in musical videos including, Hakeem the dream’s, Scooby doo and Orezi’s booty bounce.
Karen Igho had also being involved in contributing to a variety of philanthropic and charity activity including partnering with Breast Cancer Prevention initiatives, HIV intervention projects and Children Orphanages.
Today, Karen Igho continues to reinforce her presence in the entertainments, taking roles in Nollywood movies, modeling for fashion events while pushing the frontiers in fashion and charitable initiatives. Karen would have anyone that cares to listen know, ‘if she can make it, so can they’. In her own words, she says ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover, life is too short to be unhappy and it is what it is at the end of the day’ – so is Karen’s New Phase!
BigBrother Africa 2011 famous winner and popular entertainment personality, Karen Igho brings it on as she pulls a gathering of BBA Amplified edition Housemates to Nigeria in what could best be described as the ‘Bhadest’ intercontinental celebrity and fans studded meet party of the decade themed; ‘KAREN IGHO AMPLIFIED!’. Karen who would be adding another blessed year on Friday, April 6, 2012 will host family, friends, fans, associates and stakeholders from the entertainment industry to a drama-thrilled celebration experience on Friday, April 6, 2012 at CLUB, SCINTILLA; Victoria Island, Lagos.
The celebration is set to feature mixer, frat, rave, media buzzing red-carpet ball, partying and charity initiatives with former BBA Amplifiedhousemates such as WENDALL PARSON (Karen’s Co-winner from Zimbabwe), LUCLAY ‘MR OTONO’ (S/Africa), CONFIDENCE (Ghana), WEZA SOLANGE (Angola), LOMWE (Malawi), MILLICENT BONAKE (Kenya) MUMBA MWAKWA (Zambia), BERNADINA BUYS (Namibia) and their country counterparts from the BBA in active participation. Notable highlights of the weekend long birthday celebration include;
o A media tour with the BBA Amplified housemates and extensive charity visits to the SOS orphanage village at Isolo, Lagos State. Nigeria;
o Fashion show/debut of Karen’s Urban Street-wear line tagged ‘Karenified’
o Auctions of some of Karen’s ‘winning & lucky charm’ outfits including the outfit she wore the day she was announced winner on BBA, the blue ‘luck’ dress she wore on all the eviction moments on BBA Amplified edition - this was the same outfit she wore to the Future Awards early in 2011 before featuring on the BBA show, Karen’s black Ed Hardy track suit, which she wore to BBA’s audition screening in Maryland, Lagos and other hot ‘raunchy’ dresses she wore during the TGIF parties thrown on BigBrother.
For fans and admirers who want to contribute to a good cause and attend the party, they should order Karen’s Urban Street-wear (t-shirts, tank tops) on 01- 8418941, 080 7994 6884.
Purchases and auction clothes/items can also be ordered by visiting No. 6, Atan road, off Nathan Street, Surulere. Lagos.
Proceeds generated through the auction and sales of Karen’s Urban Street-wear (T-shirts & Tank tops) will go to fund a charity cause as Karen wants to use the birthday celebration to identify with good causes and the less privileged. Fans or admirers seen wearing the Urban Street-wear at the party are allowed to steal a warm hug from ‘sexilicious’ Karen. Karen is also expected to officially reveal some details on her planned reality TV serial during the celebration, as she continues to bring ‘more dramatic’ moments to her fans and admirers around the world.
The Godfather of the day at the celebration is Chief Comrade Ateke Tom. We got top ‘gist’ going round that the fans/celebs studded party could spring up dramatic surprises and stunts from former BBA housemates as Lomwe is set to perform hit tracks from off his soon-to-be-released album-'Double Wowza'; although not confirmed, we look forward to seeing Millicent put up some Kenyan Acts on the runway, while Confidence might just showoff the definition of the Boss-Lady Prowress in style. Imagine the thrills of a Mumba, Bernadina and Wendall gyrating to motherland ‘Naija’ tunes as the party rocks with performance from A-list artists in honour of Karen, who has become our definition of the average Nigerian’s dream. Red carpet and event media partners are 53 Extra, Channel O Africa and Mnet.
Fans can get event invites pick up or dispatch by contacting Elvis Tasharoks on 081 6965 7690, 081 7372 8350, or chelcox@yahoo.com.
For T-shirts and Tank tops: call 01- 8418941, 080 7994 6884
Purchase of T-shirts, Tank tops or Auction clothes and items before the party celebration: visit No. 6, Atan road, off Nathan Street, Surulere. Lagos
For Ms. Karen Igho's Amplified Party Celebration;
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ToluRock Akin-Martins
Lead ConsultantTalkROC’ Inno.
Communication*Strategy*Innovation*
08075311686, 08098406867
talk.roc@gmail.com, www.talkroc.blogspot.com
