Entertainment
Erica Celebrates Hollywood-Style Birthday – The Making of a SuperModel
By Eric Elezuo
Hurray! Nigeria’s own Miss Classic is 27, and she is not keeping quiet about it. Consequently, a Hollywood style celebration has been planned to make the birthday of the single most influential individual, who featured in the ever popular Big Brother Naija, a memorable one.
She had a month earlier announced via a tweet that her birthday was going to be a grand one, creating euphoria among her fans, who are fondly called Elites.
Erica said this in a tweet after EyeCan, a singer and a great fan of hers who composed the song ‘AYFLE’ tweeted that he would be emotional performing the song for the first time at any event.
AYFLE is an acronym for ‘Are You Fine Like Erica’. The song was composed and dedicated to the reality TV star due to deep love for her.
In the history of the Big Brother Naija, followers of the reality TV show have come to agree that no single individual has received the attention the character, Erica had received and continues to receive. Even from those who claim not to like her style.
Right from the first day she entered the House, the 27 years old thriving enigma left no one in doubt that she had something up her sleeves. She was determined to make an impact, and by so doing further launch herself into the entertainment and social circle in the best of styles. There is no doubt she did just that.
Many of those that passed through schools with and sat at very close range with this wonder of the world, never realised that they were actually at a touching distance of one of the greats nature has bestowed on mankind.
A product of decency, grace, determination, hard work, absolute focus, charming personality, can do attitude, and with a skin glowing like the sun, Erica Ngozi Ugonma Nlewedim was born on March 13, 1994 to Oby Nwokolo and Eric Nlewedim Christian in Lagos. She is a native of Umuahia in Abia State. Erica is an only child who was raised in Lagos by her mother.
It is quite an understatement to say that Erica, popularly known as Star Girl is an actress, model and entrepreneur, she is all that, and more. She is a uniting factor, a joy merchant and a girl radiates happiness and warmth
Erica had her secondary school education at Victory Grammar School, Lagos and later moved to Command Secondary School, Ikeja, where she was groomed to follow her dreams, no matter how lofty and ambitious. Well bred and thoroughly read, Erica attended the prestigious Covenant University and obtained a degree in Business Administration.
It is on record that she discovered her modeling talent at a tender age, and went ahead to become brand ambassador to gigantic brands among which is Guinness and Glo.
In 2013 at the age of 19, she hit the ground running becoming the brand Ambassador for Natures Gentle Touch; a personal style brand that uses natural ingredients to solve hair and scalp challenges.
She followed it up in 2014 by participating in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MGBN) pageant where she won the MBGN Miss Photogenic award, in addition to stealing the hearts of the audience. Of course, it is believable that her smiles are infectious, spreading love and warmth to whomever is privileged to encounter her.
She gained ground afterwards, connecting to high profile brands and featuring in a Peak Milk TV advert alongside Nigerian pop Artiste, Falz.
In 2015, Erica kicked off her acting career, and gradually edged her way to becoming a screen goddess. In the first instance, she landed the lead role in Secrets and Scandals on her debut. She went ahead to also feature in the TV Series, Royal Castle for three consecutive seasons.
The year 2015 was more like a roller coaster for her as she crowned with a place in the movie, Poka Messiah, directed by Ernest Obi.
Her line up of performances in 2016 was legendary. She bestowed on the soap opera world like a colossus, featuring in thriller after thriller. Some of them were Once Upon a Night, where she played a supporting character, My Flatmates, The Paternity Deal, Being Farouk, Dead Rites, Fractured, Win or Lose, Made in heaven and a host of others. She also played a supporting role in the blockbuster movie, Hire a Woman.
In 2019, she took her acting career a notch higher, and got enrolled into the Met Film School, London, to study Acting for Film. The knowledge attained at the Film School is already being showcased, gathering accolades wherever she found herself, with her attendance at the Season Five of BBN (Lockdown) as the icing on the cake.
A supermodel of repute seeking the Naomi Campbell form of glory, Erica has worked with brands such as Glo, Jumia, and MyZotoApp. And not forgetting that she was the brand face for Zaron Cosmetics, Access Bank and Maltina.
Recently, the star girl, whose influence cut across the African continental, where her arrivals had raise dusts of love, had adding more wholesome endorsements, including the ever popular Legend and Star Radler liquor by the Nigerian Breweries products.
Erica had not in the least looked back, but keeps breaking barriers of rejection, stereotype mediocrity to success. She has continued to bag lucrative ambassadorial deals at regular intervals.
In February 2021, she bagged a new endorsement deal with a fast-growing fintech company, Kuda Microfinance Bank. There is no doubt that Erica has been the hottest celebrity whose impact is helping institutions to promote their brands.
Her influence has been helping companies cash in on the lucrative market. It must sell so long Erica or Stargirl endorses. Few days after her romance with Kuda Microfinance, the ebullient actress was unveiled as the new face of an international luxury jewellery brand, Swarovski.
Who would ever believe that this rare gift was disqualified from the 2020 Big Brother Naija reality show. She is the Queen and President of the Elites and has continued to secure endorsement deals in geometric progression.
One of her greatest promoters, Chief Dele Momodu, once announced that Erica was a girl to watch. This was way before she left the BBN House. Of course, the Momodu is a vessel to be taken seriously, and true to his prediction, Erica is today about the only BBN name in the mouth of fans, arguably though.
Erica is not just about endorsing deals, she is also carving a niche for herself. At the age of 24 in 2018, she founded Erica Nlewedim Foundation in 2018; a non-governmental organisation to cater for underprivileged children. Her foundation undertakes periodical visits to orphanages homes and make donations.
Also, In December 2019, Erica Nlewedim Foundation launched its Hunger Heroes Campaign which successfully fed 1000 less privileged individuals on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria.
She is the indisputable Chief Executive Officer of her Luxury hair brand, Beluxia Hair. Erica’s case is a case of who God has blessed, no one can curse.
Happy birthday Stargirl!
By Eric Elezuo
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- Songs and Sorrows (2021)
- Crazy Fighter (2021)
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- Billionaire and his Blind Wives (2021)
- Soul on Fire (2021)
- The Classic Ladies (2021)
- Chef Augusta (2021)
- Cheating in Marriage (2021)
- At Age 18 (2021)
- Desperate Virgin
In 2021, Luchy, satisfied with herself for a job well done so far, fetes herself with a new car. She is her own hype queen, and not in habit of dependence on others for her rewards. A hard worker, she knows when to rest.
As beautiful as she is, Luchy is media shy, as she thinks publicity in the media is more about comparison on who is better in the celebrity world.
“I prefer doing my thing, and using myself as my own comparison. I strive to outdo my previous achievements, and that I am doing. There is alot of criticism among us when it comes to who is the best, who deserves the top spot and so much gossips. These are not healthy. I tend not to concern myself with all that,” she said.
On which of her very many movies will she rate as the the best, Luchy insisted that every job she does is targeted to be the best.
“I can’t say this or that is my best, no. All the movies I partake in are for utmost best, because I put in my best in all flicks. I put in my very best.
“I don’t have a best movie; they’re just more of me doing my job. If I say one or two movies as my best work it shows the effort I put in orders is unappreciated. So all my movies are tailored to be the best,” she said.
Many has compared her physical appearance to Ghanaian movie actress, Jackie Apiah, but Luchy maintains that “I’m just myself. I actually look like myself”.
Except for a revelation in 2022, when she said a certain boyfriend gifted her N10 million, her relationship status remains unknown, and a close wrap for herself, alone.
A product of Owerri, Luchy is based in Port Harcourt from where she shuttles the sets and locations of movie making across the world. Her worth is a matter close to her chest, tells anyone that cares to listen that “I’m satisfied with myself. I’m a contended being”.
Her efforts in the industry saw her winning the Nigerian Achievers Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2019. She was also nominated for the City People Entertainment Awards for Most Promising Actress of The Year (English) as well as African Magic Viewers Awards for Best New Actress of The Year.
Luchy is one actress to look out for in the coming days, as she is concurrently cooking something mind-blowing, and in her own words, ‘extraordinary’.
Congratulations girl!
By Eric Elezuo
The Convention Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, was a beehive of activities when the who’s who as well as the crème de la crème of the society gathered to celebrate achievers as the foremost media outfit, Silverbird Group, pull all stops to host the 2024th edition of the Silverbird Man of the Year Award.
This year’s awards, like the ones before it, celebrated past achievers, who somehow have finished their work on planet earth, and have been translated to the great beyond.
The event, which lived to all its billing, kickstarted at 5pm with an runway-like and elaborate red carpet. The session was a ceremony on its own as celebrities, notable State officials, politicians, industrialists, entertainers of repute, entrepreneurs and more, took time out to showcase to mettle, intellectually and fashion-wise before clicking klieg lights.
Not a few of them, including Chairman, Air Peace, Allen Onyema, remarked that Silverbird has come of age, in branding and celebrating achievements of Nigerians, dead and alive.
With the red carpet show concluded, the glamour of the night shifted to the main hall of the Convention Centre where the duo of Patrick Doyle and Seun Davies were classic hosts, delivering mouthwatering performances that left dignitaries cheering throughout the duration of the brief fiesta.
In his speech at the event, the Chairman of the Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, told the story of the humble beginning, unhappily revealing the division among African countries while calling for unity and peaceful coexistence among Africans using Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina as a building block for the African continent.
On her part, Miss Chidinma told her own story, expressing gratitude to Nigerians and to as many that stood for her as she faced the crisis of origin in South Africa; a path that took her to Nigeria, and eventually to Mexico, where she was was crowned queen as runner up to the eventual winner.
With the individuals joyously mounting the podium to cart away their coveted prizes, the show dovetailed the major highlight of the evening; the award of the Silverbird 2024 Man of the Year, which was won by the Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji.
An annual retreat of some sort, the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards, presents a platform, devoid of political discourse or presentation of government policies, but a stage where speeches of achievements and appreciation are entertained even as various awardees, who had excelled in their various fields, excitedly receive their rewards.
Another landmark signature of the event was the raffle draw competition, where 20 lucky winners, were given N500, 000 each to celebrate the 20th edition of the awards.
Among other winners, who joined His Excellency, Abiodun Oyebanji, Governor of Ekiti State, to shine on the night were the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his counterpart from Enugu State, Mr. Peter Mbah,who received the governors of the year awards.
In the same vein, the Minister of Works, who doubles as the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. David Umahi, was recognized as Minister of the year just as the retinue of Prof. Tam David West, Chief Alex Akinyele, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, and Prof. Dora Akunyili were posthumously honoured. Their contributions to the development of the country in their various fields, cannot be overemphasized.
Other awards recipients on the night include prolific music producer, promoter, song writer and singer, Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, who received the extraordinary achievement award, and popular actor, who fits the tag, veteran, Richard Mofe Damijo, receiving the lifetime achievement award.
Other awardees were veteran actors Toyin Abraham and Chidi Mokeme, who were crowned with the trailblazer awards.
Others were Victory Wilson, and Habeeb Hamzat aka Peller, who won the Influencer of the year award in company of his content creating partner, Jarvis, whose real name is Elizabeth Amadou.
It was for all intent and purpose, a night to remember!
Photos: Koya Adegbite
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