…Opens up on life after BBNajia show
…Says, ‘I’m not what the show painted me to be’
Anita Natacha Akide, popularly called Tacha, is often likened to “a cat with nine lives.” After her disqualification from the 2019 edition of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show following her altercation with Mercy Eke, winner of that edition, many thought it would be the end of the road for her.
But rather than sinking, Tacha has continued to flourish, building her brand and breaking boundaries.
Just last November, she made history as the first African to break two Guinness World Records for cosmetic makeover sessions in a single day, a feat she achieved in under 24 hours.
Tacha is soaring higher, and she attributes her breakthroughs to hard work, dedication, and resilience. In this engaging encounter, the Kalabari, Rivers State-born reality TV star talks about her growth after leaving the BBNaija house, her UK trip and return to Nigeria, her love life, and the launch of her cosmetic line, Tacha Beauty, among other issues raised by our reporter.
Why I moved to the UK
I moved to the UK because of my Guinness World Record. You know I recently broke two Guinness World Records. The initial idea was to break it in London. But travelling to the UK and seeing how much of a cultural difference there is, I needed to rethink my decision. Another reason I rethought my decision was because of the historic moment. I didn’t want to break a Guinness World Record outside Nigeria, especially as a Nigerian.
This is because the message of me breaking that record back home is to prove that Nigerian women can do whatever they put their minds to achieve. It was significant for it to happen here in Nigeria. So, I had to return home to break those records. Since then, I have been in Lagos, currently working on my cosmetic line called Tacha Beauty. It’s launching in September this year. I’m also working on an academy as well, Tacha Beauty Academy, and a couple of initiatives. It has to do with empowering young ladies and young boys. There’s just a lot to do back home, and that’s why I’m still here.
Allegation of your returning to Nigeria because of the high cost of living in the UK
I know my reason for moving to London, and I also know my reason for changing my decision to break the record back home. People will always allege things. That’s why I’m a celebrity.
Oh, I’ve never had issues with men. I’ve always had men in my life and they have never been my problem. Finding my purpose is my primary focus.
Cultural differences between UK and Nigeria
British people are workaholics because of how hard the country is. I didn’t just want to do a Guinness World Record, I wanted to empower people through that Guinness World Record. So what I did was turn it into a three-day beauty festival. I had masterclasses where I taught over 3,000 students in Lagos. I brought in the likes of Dabota Lawson and Estiaga, a videographer. I also brought heads of industries in different fields to come teach people what they know how to do best.
I didn’t just want people to come and support my Guinness World Record, I wanted to empower them through supporting me. So I needed to make it three days. And I looked at how much of a workaholic the people in the UK are, and I said, these people will not give me three days. And I don’t want to do 24 hours because there’s no momentum in that. You need to be able to build momentum. The cultural difference is that they work too hard because of the hardship in the country, and because of how extremely expensive things are in London.
What I was doing while in the UK
Apart from being a Guinness World Record holder, I am a global influencer, meaning that I travel to different countries. I spend months in different countries for content creation. So while I was in the UK, I was constantly creating content. And I was finding people on my journey. I was also doing makeup on the streets of London too. I did about 30 random girls’ makeup. So I walk on the street, I see you, I stop, I ask you, can you give me 10 minutes of your time for me to do your makeup? They accept. I do their makeup in 10 minutes.
No, I wasn’t interested in the money. I was interested in the exposure of letting people know my Guinness World Record attempt was coming up. So I needed to pull different stunts, and all the stunts I needed to pull were stunts with makeup. I didn’t want to create awareness for my Guinness World Records the usual way. I wanted to do something extraordinary. And walking on the street and doing makeup was definitely extraordinary.
What changed about me after my disqualification from the BBNaija house
A whole lot has changed about me. There’s no housemate from the BBNaija franchise who has ever broken records. And I broke two Guinness World Records. I’m officially the first African to break two records in one day. I hit that milestone. So a lot has changed actually since I left the BBNaija house. Especially being disqualified from the show. And it’s been seven years since then. God has shown me mercy and reversed the disqualification to approval. I’ve grown. I’m doing well by God’s grace. And I’m breaking boundaries.
Breakdown after disqualification
Yes, for like two days. And after two days, I got back on my feet and I said, no. When you fall once, you rise up ten times. I’m grateful for the disqualification because I wouldn’t be where I am today without that disqualification. The disqualification has made me push myself beyond boundaries to achieve what I want to achieve in life.
Was I fairly treated by BBNaija
Well, it’s not a topic I would like to go into at the moment because at the end of the day, it’s not my father’s company. You know? And I feel like when you have a company or an organization, you run it how you want to run it.
Has it been rosy for me
There’s no way it would be rosy for me or for anybody else. But God will never give us challenges we cannot overcome. As much as there are challenges, God always finds a way to help me overcome them. So, I always grow higher. And even when there are challenges, I don’t break down because I understand challenges are part of life.
People think you are naturally wild
That’s what I’m saying. If they don’t create different narratives about me, how would they feed? I feed a lot of people indirectly. They have to lie, come up with negative narratives. But it’s all not true. And why I’m not bothered is because when people see me in person, or experience me in person, they will get to know Tacha for who she is, and not what BBNaija painted me to be.
A lot of the mistakes Nigerians make is that the show only gets to show each of the housemates 10 percent of the time. So, anybody would be very foolish, and I say it again, very foolish to actually judge me or draw conclusions about me from 10 percent of my personality. Ten percent can never define me. Ten percent is not me. There’s a whole 90 percent that nobody understands. And people are starting to experience that with me.
Secret of my being unstoppable
The secret has to be God and consistency. And thirdly, it would have to be home training. My mom did a whole lot when it comes to my upbringing. I saw a hardworking woman while I was growing up. And that made me know that I have to be hardworking to achieve certain things I want to achieve. So, the brands come to me not because I was affiliated with BBNaija, but because they see the value in my brand.
What fame has done for me
Fame has given me two Guinness World Records. It’s not something a lot of people can boast of. It’s giving me a new trajectory. It’s giving me life.
Do I have a love life
Yes, I have a love life, a relationship with God. But when it comes to dating and relationships, no, I’m actually single for now. Yes, and that’s because I don’t think I’ve met the right guy who would make me not want to be single anymore.
What happened to your past relationships
Life happens. You know, sometimes people just get together and along the line they find out that they are not meant to be. You know, a broken relationship is better than a broken marriage.
Meaning your heart has been broken several times?
I did not say that. I’m just saying it’s better you do away with that toxic relationship than for you to get into marriage and begin to experience marital crisis. The only man in my life is Christ Jesus. But I have friends of all genders.
How do I describe myself
I’m the most hardworking black woman on planet Earth, a go-getter.
I don’t like men who talk too much. Yeah. I don’t like somebody who talks too much.