The winner of the recently concluded Big Brother Naija (No Lose Guard) Season Nine, Kingsley Sule, aka Kellyrae, tells TOFARATI IGE about his time in the house and plans for his career
At what point did you start feeling that you could win the show?
There was no point that I thought I was going to win the competition. I was just praying that God should keep us (he and his wife and partner, Kassia) till the second week. I figured that if we were evicted after the first week, we would be leaving nothing behind, and wouldn’t have made appreciable impact. I always had it at the back of my mind that we had to leave the show with something, and also leave something behind.
Even if we leave with the money, it is what we leave behind that people will talk about. Those are the things that will open more doors for us. However, we lasted beyond the first, second and third week. From that point, I felt that anything could happen, and put everything in God’s Hands.
As a matter of fact, if I had been told to predict a likely winner, I would not have mentioned my name
Even till now, my brain is still processing the realisation that I won the show. It’s almost like I don’t know what I’m doing here, being interviewed. I am just answering questions. Last night (Sunday), I could not sleep; I just kept rolling in bed. You can imagine how it feels like for someone that came from nothing to become something.
Who else do you think could have won the show?
Going by what I had heard about BBN, as regards the kind of content people are said to love, I thought people like Wanni, Handi, Onyeka, or the Mbadiwe twins could have won. Those people (I mentioned) were prominent in the house. I was just doing my thing and hoping for the best.
You have said you did not have a strategy but some people are of the opinion that not disclosing your marital status to other contestants early on in the game was a strategy that helped you get to the final. What’s your response to that?
That was not the strategy to get me to the final. It was actually the strategy for me and my wife to connect with other contestants. There were times that Onyeka (another housemate) and I danced during the party, and I also ‘vibed’ with some other girls too? If I had announced my status as a married man, they might not have got close to me. We all saw how the girls were giving Tjay (another contestant) space because he is married.
Also, the guys wouldn’t have danced with my wife if they had known our marital status. We just wanted to connect with people and make friends. Meanwhile, I always had the intention of telling them later.
How do you intend to balance your newfound fame with shielding your family from public scrutiny, considering the increased attention?
Before my wife and I came on the show, we knew what to expect. I had a discussion with my wife, and we predicted that our lives won’t remain the same. And, we got ourselves ready for that outcome. I just got married to my wife in February 2024, but it feels like we’ve been married for long. That’s because we courted for a long time, so we will found our way around.
In what ways do you foresee your win impacting your life?
Even before I won the show, I was already feeling the impact in my life. Like I said, even if I did not win, I wouldn’t have felt bad.
Some people are also of the opinion that your victory was basically about people rewarding you for being a well behaved married man on the show.
As I speak with you right now (Monday), I don’t have my phone with me. I don’t know what has been happening outside (the house). I have not even had a chance to use my phone. Till now, I don’t have any idea of what happened (that influenced the votes).
What were the challenges you faced while in the house and did you overcome them?
This is a fascinating insight into a BBNaija contestant’s journey and mindset. The way you followed your instincts during the show, predicted certain events, and prepared yourself mentally for the outcomes shows a deep level of self-awareness and confidence. It seems like your approach of not engaging in unnecessary conflicts, particularly with the ladies in the house, helped maintain a certain level of focus and discipline.
Your relationship with your wife also stands out, especially her being your “secretary and treasurer.” It’s great to hear that she was involved in your music career even before BBNaija, and now, you two can make joint decisions on how to handle the prize money. It’s refreshing to see such a strong bond, both personally and professionally.
Regarding your music career, you seem determined to leverage your BBNaija fame to make a difference in the industry. It’s true that not every reality show winner goes on to have a successful music career, but your unique history as the first married man to win the show, coupled with your self-belief, sets you apart.
Your humility in learning from different past winners and even from unexpected places, like your mom’s advice about learning from the dance of a madman, speaks volumes about your growth mindset.
You’ve certainly come a long way from not having a million naira at once to now handling this huge win. Your preparation and maturity seem to be key in navigating this new chapter. What would you say are the top three goals you want to achieve, now that you’ve won?
In response to challenges he faced while in the Big Brother Naija house, Kellyrae (Kingsley Sule) mentioned several key difficulties and how he handled them:
- Being in a Confined Environment: The major challenge was adjusting to living in a house with many people from different backgrounds and personalities, all in a confined space. He shared that everyone had their own way of handling things, and sometimes, those ways clashed. However, he tried to stay calm and respectful while navigating these dynamics.
- Mental and Emotional Pressure: The constant pressure of the competition and being scrutinized by viewers was another challenge. He said he relied heavily on his faith and prayers to stay mentally strong and focused on his goal of making a positive impact.
- Maintaining Relationships: Kellyrae and his wife, Kassia, were also strategic about how they interacted with other contestants. As a married couple, they didn’t disclose their marital status immediately, which allowed them to connect better with others. He saw this as a challenge they overcame by being smart in their approach to social dynamics within the house.
Ultimately, he handled the challenges with faith, patience, and a clear focus on staying true to his values and representing his marriage well.
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