In 2013, young and pretty Anna
Banner Ebiere shot into the limelight after she emerged winner of that
year’s edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN). Four years
down the line, the star of popular drama series, Super Story, is still enjoying stardom. Recently, Entertainer caught up with the beauty queen and she opened up on what she has been up to lately.
Banner Ebiere shot into the limelight after she emerged winner of that
year’s edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN). Four years
down the line, the star of popular drama series, Super Story, is still enjoying stardom. Recently, Entertainer caught up with the beauty queen and she opened up on what she has been up to lately.
Growing up, were you a spoilt child or a deprived kid?
I was never a spoilt child and was never
deprived because my folks always did their best to give me the best in
life. I attended the best schools and got whatever I wanted in order to
bring out the best in me, but on the flip side, I have gone through
hardship. I know what living in the slum feels like. I know what
fetching water from the well with paint bucket on your head feels like. I
know what living in a one-room apartment feels like. I know what
sharing a public bathroom felt like. I know what living in a
face-me-I-face-you apartment feels like, but at the end of the day, God
just has a way of turning your story around and transforming you for the
better. People you do not know and have no connection with or have the
least idea you could be meeting someday are sent your way by God to
bless you. It is so awesome!
deprived because my folks always did their best to give me the best in
life. I attended the best schools and got whatever I wanted in order to
bring out the best in me, but on the flip side, I have gone through
hardship. I know what living in the slum feels like. I know what
fetching water from the well with paint bucket on your head feels like. I
know what living in a one-room apartment feels like. I know what
sharing a public bathroom felt like. I know what living in a
face-me-I-face-you apartment feels like, but at the end of the day, God
just has a way of turning your story around and transforming you for the
better. People you do not know and have no connection with or have the
least idea you could be meeting someday are sent your way by God to
bless you. It is so awesome!
How many were you in the family?
I have two mothers. My real mum and my
godmother. They have been with me forever and have always put me
through. They made me who I am today. I had two brothers from my
godmother and one brother from my mum, so I have three brothers.
godmother. They have been with me forever and have always put me
through. They made me who I am today. I had two brothers from my
godmother and one brother from my mum, so I have three brothers.
How about your dad?
That is my dad. He is right here with me today (pointing at a man sitting next to her).
Really? Thought he was your date for tonight. He looks so cute…
He is my sugar daddy for tonight (laughter).
Tell us about him?
He is a father in all its ramifications.
He has such a beautiful soul, and dad will always tell you never to give
up. I remember when I was trying to get into MBGN and trying to get to
work or get a job, he always told me, ‘Anna, there is nothing as good as
waking up in the morning and wanting to go to work feeling happy about
it, because it is what you want.
He has such a beautiful soul, and dad will always tell you never to give
up. I remember when I was trying to get into MBGN and trying to get to
work or get a job, he always told me, ‘Anna, there is nothing as good as
waking up in the morning and wanting to go to work feeling happy about
it, because it is what you want.
‘But then there is another thing, waking
up and you are upset about going to work because it’s not what you want
or love. Anna, you are doing what you love and the best part is that you
are being paid for something you can do for free’. Dad teaches me a
lot. He says ‘Anna, I am just one phone call away; always reach out to
me when you are in distress. I give people advice and they pay for it,
they consult me; but I am giving it to you free and that is why I am
your father and why I will always love you’.
My father is my boyfriend, he is my husband, he is my everything, though
he could be annoying sometimes. Which dad isn’t? (Laughter).
up and you are upset about going to work because it’s not what you want
or love. Anna, you are doing what you love and the best part is that you
are being paid for something you can do for free’. Dad teaches me a
lot. He says ‘Anna, I am just one phone call away; always reach out to
me when you are in distress. I give people advice and they pay for it,
they consult me; but I am giving it to you free and that is why I am
your father and why I will always love you’.
My father is my boyfriend, he is my husband, he is my everything, though
he could be annoying sometimes. Which dad isn’t? (Laughter).
What is the greatest gift he ever gave you?
Calling me his child.
What challenges do you face on a daily basis, being a queen?
Hmmm… people look up to you a lot and try
to mimic what you do. They tell you they want to be like you. They want
to snap pictures with you and you are always careful about what you
say, what you do, what you wear and all of that. But despite all this, I
try to be myself all the time. I always tell people ‘don’t say you want
to be like me. I am not sure you will want to be Anna Banner with all
her baggages. In fact, I am even looking for someone to dash Anna
Banner. So, the baseline is: be yourself, try to look for the best part
of you and be that, and try to aim high’. You see, I have flaws, so if
you want to be like Anna Banner, you also have to accept my flaws. If
you insist you must be like me, explore the brighter side of me and
mimic it instead of saying ‘I just want to be like Anna’. Rather say ‘I
want to be better than Anna’. For my role models, I always say I want to
be like them, but I also want to be better than them, because if I do
that they would be happy for me.
to mimic what you do. They tell you they want to be like you. They want
to snap pictures with you and you are always careful about what you
say, what you do, what you wear and all of that. But despite all this, I
try to be myself all the time. I always tell people ‘don’t say you want
to be like me. I am not sure you will want to be Anna Banner with all
her baggages. In fact, I am even looking for someone to dash Anna
Banner. So, the baseline is: be yourself, try to look for the best part
of you and be that, and try to aim high’. You see, I have flaws, so if
you want to be like Anna Banner, you also have to accept my flaws. If
you insist you must be like me, explore the brighter side of me and
mimic it instead of saying ‘I just want to be like Anna’. Rather say ‘I
want to be better than Anna’. For my role models, I always say I want to
be like them, but I also want to be better than them, because if I do
that they would be happy for me.
Looking back, what has changed about you?
Nothing; I have always been myself.
Any regrets?
I have zero regrets.
Tell us about motherhood.
It has been amazing! It has been an
eventful journey. You get to shout a lot and get upset a lot and
frustrated, but you get the joy of your life when your daughter hurdles
close to you and says ‘mummy, I love you’. That is the most amazing
feeling ever!
eventful journey. You get to shout a lot and get upset a lot and
frustrated, but you get the joy of your life when your daughter hurdles
close to you and says ‘mummy, I love you’. That is the most amazing
feeling ever!
How do you combine showbiz and motherhood?
Being myself, living my life one day at a
time. At school, I try not to pile pressure on myself, because if I do
that, I am going to crash. I try not to do too much at once. I do not
believe in overworking myself.
time. At school, I try not to pile pressure on myself, because if I do
that, I am going to crash. I try not to do too much at once. I do not
believe in overworking myself.
Not many women are able to maintain their shapes after childbirth but you look great. How did you pull it off?
Hmmm… do you know how to suck in your
tummy, right? (Laughter) Anyway, I have always been super-slim and I
think stress also helps you reduce though, it is not a healthy option.
But when I am stressed, I lose a lot of weight. I don’t know why my face
is a bit chubby, but for my tummy, I tried working out but then I got
tired and just stopped. I have a problem with being consistent with
routine, so I just dumped the gym.
tummy, right? (Laughter) Anyway, I have always been super-slim and I
think stress also helps you reduce though, it is not a healthy option.
But when I am stressed, I lose a lot of weight. I don’t know why my face
is a bit chubby, but for my tummy, I tried working out but then I got
tired and just stopped. I have a problem with being consistent with
routine, so I just dumped the gym.
Is there anything you abstain from?
Nope, I eat everything. I love food a
lot. I love to cook and I am sure you know that when you are cooking,
you take a lot of it and that gets you fat (laugher).
lot. I love to cook and I am sure you know that when you are cooking,
you take a lot of it and that gets you fat (laugher).
What project are you working on currently?
My Foundation is about to come on stream.
It is called the Anna Banner Empowerment Foundation. It is going
to come on stream before the end of September. It will empower young
girls who have lost hope. Because they have a child, life has come to an
end. Mostly in the rural areas, you see young girls who have potentials
and talents, but because they got pregnant early, they lost it all and
develop low self-esteem and think they can’t make it anymore. I just
want to give them hope and tell them my story, and see how I can help
them out, because you see, when you are happy, your child is happy.
It is called the Anna Banner Empowerment Foundation. It is going
to come on stream before the end of September. It will empower young
girls who have lost hope. Because they have a child, life has come to an
end. Mostly in the rural areas, you see young girls who have potentials
and talents, but because they got pregnant early, they lost it all and
develop low self-esteem and think they can’t make it anymore. I just
want to give them hope and tell them my story, and see how I can help
them out, because you see, when you are happy, your child is happy.
What’s your relationship with Flavour, the father of your daughter, Sophia currently?
What’s your name?
Tony Ogaga.
Tony Ogaga, bye- bye.