Big Brother Naija ‘Level Up’ winner, Phyna, has challenged the idea that former housemates should rely on their celebrity status and wait for brand deals to secure their future.

The reality star made the remarks while responding to her colleague Tochi’s advice to former BBNaija housemates who may be facing financial difficulties while trying to maintain the lifestyle associated with celebrity status.

Rather than simply accepting brand deals as the ultimate measure of success after the reality show, Phyna questioned the pressure placed on ex-housemates to build their identities around the number and value of deals they secure.

Why Phyna Challenged Tochi’s Advice

Phyna said she had previously questioned the idea that participating in BBNaija should automatically mean a former housemate becomes a celebrity who no longer needs to work hard outside brand partnerships.

According to her, the emphasis on celebrity status and brand deals can create the impression that going on the reality show should eliminate the need to continue hustling.

She wrote on X:

“Finally someone said it I thought they said we are stars and them dey build brand, and that you have to just carry celebrity on your head and wait for one brand deal, since most of them decided to measure bbn stars by the number of deal they have and that because u go bbn you no suppose hustle hard again.”

Phyna’s response therefore goes beyond Tochi’s advice, as she questions the broader expectations surrounding former BBNaija housemates after leaving the show.

What Phyna Said About BBNaija Brand Deals

Phyna also criticized the practice of judging a reality star’s success primarily by the number of brand deals associated with their name.

She argued that publicly announced figures may not necessarily reflect what a celebrity ultimately takes home after other deductions and expenses.

She added:

“I love the realizations thou, make una keep deceiving una sef with brand deals, popular brands go sign you with 5m them go say make una announce 50million then you as the star go con dey feed on bragging rights and little with empty pockets after management don comot their 25% from the 5m.”

The figures and example cited here are Phyna’s claims and illustration, rather than independently verified financial information contained in the report.

Her broader point was that a former housemate should not mistake the public appearance of celebrity success for actual financial security.

Phyna Questions the Pressure Behind Public Deal Figures

Phyna further argued that the emphasis on brand deals can contribute to what she described as a culture of classism among celebrities.

She concluded her post by saying:

“This idea of classism don too chop into people head, but we go dey okay.”

Her comments suggest that she believes former housemates should remain willing to pursue other opportunities instead of allowing the pursuit of celebrity status and brand partnerships to define their success.

The argument also highlights a distinction between being publicly recognised as a celebrity and having sustainable income after leaving a reality television programme.

The Pressure Tochi’s Advice Highlights

Tochi’s advice, as described in the report, centres on former BBNaija housemates who may be struggling financially while trying to maintain the expectations that come with celebrity status.

Phyna’s response challenges one aspect of that culture by questioning whether former housemates should be expected to depend heavily on brand partnerships.

Her position is that going through BBNaija should not be interpreted as a reason to stop working hard or pursuing other opportunities.

That makes the discussion less about one particular brand deal and more about how success is perceived after reality television.

What Phyna’s Argument Means For BBNaija Ex-housemates

Phyna’s comments point to a wider tension surrounding life after BBNaija.

The show can provide contestants with visibility and a large audience, but the supplied material does not establish that every former housemate will achieve long-term financial success through brand partnerships.

For Phyna, the problem is the assumption that celebrity status itself should be enough.

Her response instead promotes continued hustle and a more cautious view of publicly announced achievements, particularly where financial figures are concerned.

At the same time, the specific examples she gave about deal values and management deductions should remain understood as her claims, since no independent financial evidence is provided in the report.

Key Takeaways

• Phyna challenged the idea that BBNaija ex-housemates should simply rely on celebrity status and wait for brand deals.
• She questioned the practice of measuring former housemates’ success by the number and value of their brand partnerships.
• Phyna argued that publicly announced deal figures may not always reflect what a celebrity ultimately receives.
• Her ₦5 million, ₦50 million and 25% examples are claims made by Phyna and are not independently verified in the supplied report.
• Her broader argument is that former housemates should continue working and pursuing opportunities instead of assuming BBNaija fame guarantees financial security.
• The discussion highlights the difference between public celebrity visibility and sustainable financial success after reality television.

Ultimately, Phyna’s response to Tochi has turned the conversation toward a broader question about what success should mean for former BBNaija housemates — and whether celebrity status and brand deals alone are enough to sustain that status.