Big Brother Naija Level Up winner Phyna, whose real name is Ijeoma Josephine Otabor, has opened up about her difficult childhood and the struggles she experienced while growing up.
In an emotional interview, the reality star revealed that her parents named her Blessing, a name she initially disliked because she never felt blessed during her early years.
According to Phyna, she often had to beg for love from family members, friends, and even in romantic relationships, adding that she sometimes faced curses instead of support.
Reflecting on her teenage years, she described her upbringing as very challenging, noting that she lacked many of the opportunities and comforts other teenagers enjoyed.
She said:
“The name given to me by my parents is Blessing. My reason for hating that name was that I didn’t see a sense of blessing in my life.
It felt like I was always begging for love—family love, friendship, even in relationships. In fact, sometimes it felt like they used it to curse me. Growing up was very crazy.
As a teenager, there are things you could get from parents and family, but I didn’t have that. I knew I was going to be big.
I would always tell my aunts, even when they maltreated me, that one day they would watch me on TV and see me with money.”
Phyna also spoke about the Phoenix tattoo on her back, explaining that it symbolizes resilience and strength.
According to her, the tattoo represents her journey through life’s hardships and serves as a reminder that, like a phoenix, she has risen above her struggles, rebuilt herself, and soared higher than before.
