2025 Week 40 Women Crush Monday - Bisola Aiyeola

This week, our Woman Crush Wednesday is the multi-talented Bisola Aiyeola — actress, compere, singer, songwriter, TV/radio presenter, mimic, and founder of Brown Girls Magic.

Many people know her as the Bisola from Big Brother Naija 2017, but her career started long before entering the BBN house. She has been in the entertainment industry for years, appearing in MTN Project Fame West Africa in 2008, acting in movies like Sababi (2010) and Picture Perfect (2016), and anchoring Billboard Nigeria on Silverbird Television from 2011 to 2013.

Big Brother Naija gave her career a major boost. She went in determined, having auditioned for eight years, and emerged as the runner-up in 2017. On that experience, Bisola said:

“I wish I knew that I needed to be patient. When I initially joined, I was a bit entitled. I didn’t think that I had to be patient. I just felt like if people knew me, I would blow automatically. But that didn’t happen. So, I had to be patient, and finally, here we are.”

After the show, her fame expanded even further. She won the AMVCA Trailblazer Award, became an investor in Amaze, an app that makes endorsement deals easier for celebrities, and moved into movie production with credits in Introducing the Kujus, The Kujus Again, and her most recent movie Gingerrr.

Bisola is also a singer. She has released a couple of songs, an EP, and contributed to the 2022 University of Lagos Nigerian University Games theme song. All her music is available on streaming platforms.

Her journey to Big Brother Naija was not easy. She explained:

“I had been auditioning for about eight years before I finally got it last year. The truth of the matter is that I didn’t know anybody but I was determined to make the best from that experience. Right now, I am having auditions here and there. From all the experiences, I would say that no two auditions are the same. Everyone is different and it was always a refreshing experience. So for Big Brother Nigeria, I went for the audition and gradually I was selected. Fourteen of us contested, and I got in, tried my best. The truth of the matter is that it was a tough contest, not like a music contest. Here, you can’t really tell how it was going to go.”

After her BBN experience, Bisola decided to complete her education. She obtained a Business Management degree from the National Open University of Nigeria, proving that she values education alongside her entertainment career.

Aside from her professional life, Bisola is also a proud mother to her daughter, Leyla Olakitan Joan Olanrewaju.

From auditioning for years to becoming a household name in acting, hosting, singing, and producing, Bisola Aiyeola’s story is one of determination, patience, and versatility. She continues to inspire young people across Nigeria and beyond, showing that talent, persistence, and hard work truly pay off.