It is joy to a woman when she knows she is beautiful and good looking. So, it is for Sylvia Chinyere Udogu who is grateful to God and nature for making her a beautiful, tall and elegant lady. To her, God does not owe her anything because He made her a queen.

She is the only woman that could make a man’s heart Yori Yori according to the Nigerian popular song by Bracket. She is also a TV presenter and an actress. She is a happy girl, always smiling and soft. In a chat with NFC, she reveals who she is.

Acting
I started by doing little jobs like modelling, because of school. I hadn’t the time to go into movie proper till I graduated. I got information from Bisola Wild Honey, to go for an auditioning that they were searching for a lady that would appear 16 and 24 at the same time. That was how I got involved in Lux advertisement, Super Story and then Soul Sisters Show. Wild Honey Models is a very good friend of mine and it was she that gave me the hints and assurance that I will do well in the entertainment industry and here I am.

Is acting rewarding?
Yes, if you have passion and enjoy what you are doing. It is rewarding to me because I enjoy the acting job, not that I cannot do anything else like many people have asked me. If I am taking it as a career, but what I know is that I am not going out soon.

Inspiration
No one actually inspired me. When I was growing up, I loved watching movies and then, I used to criticize them. I am a good critic; I used to criticize what most actresses were doing. I would stand then and do what the person was supposed to do. Even in my house, I am known to be a critic. I can criticize what you wear and how you eat at any given time. That was how the motivation came.

Role models
I have a lot of Nigerian role models, they are Joke Sylvia. She is one woman I respect a lot. Rita Dominic is my kind of lady. She is doing the kind of things I like doing. She can go extra mile to really hit it big. I love her so much. Kate Henshaw is just too good. Chioma Chukwuka is perfect. Among the males, RMD stands out. He is a great model. He encourages, tells you what to do and what not to do. Desmond Eliot is a young artist but he is very good. Olu Jacobs is a father. I love them all and I aspire to be even greater than them.

First experience on set
It wasn’t scary like other people say because I am bold and outspoken. I enter places and I talk without being scared. But working with two directors was tough. It was Everything It Takes and I worked with Antar Olaniyan and Andy Amenechi, two tough directors that can bring out the best in you. It was well challenging because the role I played was not my kind of life. I am not the kind of corporate lady that had to wear suits and be so ambitious, but I played that role and I think I did well.

Aside acting
I work. I am a make-up artist; I make people up for events like weddings, fashion shows, etc. I am also a co-organizer for show businesses and I am into show business generally.

About Soul Sisters Show (SSS)
It is a family entertainment where we have different segments like Kids, Adults, Sisters act (drama) and interviewing other celebrities like us. We bring out other part of them that people have not seen, like watching them dance on the show. When Rachael Oniga and Jide Kosoko came, they danced and people were surprised that they could dance so well. Then we have the Public Opinion Pull (POP) where we ask people their opinion about certain questions. We have fashion for the people that love fashion. We treat the do’s and don’ts of fashion. We also have music. In SSS we pass message in different angles.

Ambition
One dream I have is that Soul Sisters will really hit it big and we are getting there. My desire is that we become among the top people in entertainment both in Nigeria and abroad.

How she came about Yori Yori
They are my friends. I actually appeared in their first album, Happy Day but it was not a hit like yori yori. Their aim was that since the audio is good, the visual too should be good, so they needed a beautiful girl that will bring out the song and they called me. Apart from using me, I have always known that I am a beautiful girl and whoever comes close to me will testify that I make people feel Yori Yori.

Her notion about Nollywood
Nollywood is doing very well. It is one industry that can never die no matter how hard people try to bring it down.

Love roles
Professionals don’t have limit. They go extra mile. They go for everything that has value and passes message across to individuals. I can do anything because I am a professional. I can go extra mile because I believe Nollywood is going very far and I am sure that I am going far. Therefore, I can play my role to pass message across to my viewers.

Hooked
I have been answering all your questions but I will take this one to be my business.

Marriage intention
Every woman is planning to settle down. I am like every other woman. We artists are humans and not wood. We all desire to settle down. I will send invitation to you press first so that you stop embarrassing me.

Background
I am second in the family of seven. Five girls and two boys. I come from a beautiful family. I love my dad and mum. They are perfect couple. I am a Christian from Catholic denomination and I graduated from the University of Nigeria in 2002 where I read Economics. I hail from Okija in Anambra State of Nigeria.

Growing up
My growing up was tough and at the same time fun, because my family nearly saw me as the black sheep. This is because while my elder sister wanted to be a Medical Doctor, my younger sister a Lawyer and my brother an Engineer. But when they asked me, I said I wanted to be a designer and they were all disappointed. My father was furious. He said after all I spent on you, you want to throw them off and become a common designer? Today I am happy because I am still doing my show business.

Memorable day
It was the day my daddy and mummy looked into my eyes, called my full names, Sylvia, Chinyere Udogu and said, “we your parents are proud of you”. I was fulfilled.

Regrets
I don’t have regrets. No matter how bad you hurt me. People see me as a tough girl but they don’t know I am emotional. I am the open type. I accommodate people a lot and people hardly tell my weakness. I don’t regret things. I only see them as lessons.

Turn on and off
I like honest and sincere people and I hate liars and hypocrites

Challenges
There are a lot of challenges but it is likewise in every other endeavors of life. God is my strength, and with God I will succeed.

Word of encouragement
To my friends out there I say, don’t be afraid of falling. Fall, get up, dust yourself and continue your journey. Don’t be afraid. If you think it’s hard, try harder. I sat, crawled and walked and I am getting there. The last laugh is the best laugh. Good things are hard to get so keep it up.