Sunday, January 31, 2016

Guys get in here. Tv presonality Bolanle Olukanni says she is single, ready to mingle.

 
Background
I grew up in Nigeria, Israel and Kenya. As a result, I had a multicultural education which made me inquisitive about people. One of my most memorable experiences was visiting the Dead Sea and also the presumed tomb that Jesus was buried.


Entertainment
I fell in love with radio when I was in secondary school in Kenya. I visited a radio station in Nairobi and then I knew that I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. I studied Communication Studies in America. When I came back to Nigeria, I saw the boom in the entertainment industry and knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Mo’s Search competition
I attended the audition where I was chosen to become a co-host on Moments with Mo. I felt uncertain and overwhelmed by the whole experience, but I had this deep conviction that no matter the outcome of the competition, it was God’s will. I was terrified, but I knew that I wanted to win. It made me realise that no matter the fear you have about achieving something, you should still go after your dreams.

Challenges
Within and outside my career, it is a challenge to be a woman in Nigeria. I have been to hotels where I am not allowed to sit at the lobby because it’s considered inappropriate. My driving skills are regularly criticised because I am a female driver and people assume a man helped me attain my material possessions. These are examples of the gender-based discrimination that majority of women face. In my career, I am blessed because I have had very supportive employers who believe in empowering young women and have created opportunities for me.

Projects
I am extremely excited about my new project, On the Carpet with Bolinto. It allows people to see a different side of celebrities at red carpet events. We always see the images of celebrities, but it is nice to get snippets of who they actually are. We ask those questions people have always wanted to know the answers to. I thoroughly enjoy hosting red carpets; it is always fun because I never know the kind of responses I would get from my interviewees.

Competition
I think competition is present in all career paths. People talk about it more in the entertainment industry because it makes for good gist. I have surrounded myself with friends who are supportive and excited for me when I get a new gig and vice versa. We all deal with insecurities and from time to time we are tempted to compare our success to that of others. Emotions are only as powerful as we allow them to be.

Personality
I am an outgoing, curious introvert. A lot of people are surprised when I say I am an introvert, especially because of my job but I enjoy times I can spend alone. It allows me to read, think and reflect on life.

Fame
It’s a slippery slope being a celebrity. I try as much as possible to remain grounded. I constantly remind myself that what I do is just a job and that the popularity I get from it should not give me a sense of fulfilment or validation.

Relationship
I am not in a relationship, but I am single and ready to mingle. The most important thing for me is being with someone who is thoughtful and keeps his word. God created marriage as union for two people to learn the power of love, how to think less about themselves and more about the other person. A lot of people see marriage as distraction from a flourishing career, but I believe that whomever I marry will bring value to all areas of my life and not be a hindrance to my career.

Hobbies
I love to read fiction novels. I read a lot on my mobile device. I also enjoy writing poetry and watching funny videos on Instagram. Social media fascinates me. I am also interested in development work and the non-government sector.

Style
I am very versatile when it comes to fashion. I dress according to the occasion. My typical fabric choice is Ankara. I really love the colours, the patterns and it is comfortable to wear in our weather. My dressing is an expression of my mood and how I feel on a particular day.

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