Award-winning Nigerian music video director and cinematographer, Praise Onyeagwalam, better known as Director Pink, has opened up about why she abandoned her dream of becoming an actress.
The filmmaker, known for her creative visuals and bold storytelling style, said the sexual exploitation and humiliation faced by aspiring actors in Nollywood pushed her to give up acting altogether.
Speaking in a recent interview with Hip TV, Director Pink revealed that repeated sex-for-role propositions and degrading audition experiences made her walk away from the movie industry.
“I wanted to be an actress, but the humiliation was too much,” she said. “Long queues, shady ‘come to this location’ calls — I said, ‘No.’ That’s when I chose to be my own boss.”
Now one of Nigeria’s most respected female music video directors, she said the challenges of filmmaking are just as demanding, but she is determined to succeed through discipline and patience.
She advised up-and-coming directors to embrace delayed gratification, stressing that success in the industry takes years of hard work and consistency.
“Those at the top didn’t get there overnight,” she added. “It takes time, focus, and sacrifice to make it.”
Director Pink’s revelation adds to the growing number of female creatives speaking out against sex-for-role culture and power abuse in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
