May 11, (THEWILL) – Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has revealed why she rejects Nollywood movie roles, despite efforts to lure her into the industry by practitioners.
Lawani, who features in the ongoing Real Housewives of Lagos reality show (RHOLagos), said that Nollywood filmmakers can’t afford to pay her.
She said: “Nollywood filmmakers have been trying to get me into acting, but they can’t afford me. That’s the problem, and again I am busy. I do a lot of things; how am I going to be able to do a whole movie project, but once in a while, I appear in movies, like The Fate of Alakada, I appear as myself Tiannah.
‘‘There is a new movie in which I starred alongside Dr Sid. I appeared as myself too. So once in a while, when I get to appear as myself in short scenes, I will do them, but I am still afraid to do a whole film.”
On why she joined The Real Housewives of Lagos show, the mother-of-three revealed that she did not join the show for drama, but to showcase her brand.
She said: “I went on the show to sell my brand. I said that I was not here for the drama from day one. I am there to sell my brand, and I am a working billboard. I have over 33 businesses, but nobody is big enough. Until today, even Coca Cola is still doing advertisements to sell themselves, so you can’t tell me that Tiannah is already too big to be on a show like that.”
Before The Real Housewives of Lagos, Lawani had a 20-episode reality show, Tiannah’s Empire which aired on DSTV and EbonyLIfe.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
