Winner of Big Brother Naija season 4, Mercy Eke popularly referred to as Lamborghini say her relationship with fellow housemate; Ike is more than just a relationship in the house. After 99days of excitement, intrigue she has to beat off competition from 26 other housemate to be crown the first female winner of the reality show. In this interview with STATESMAN, the Imo state-born video vixen revealed how she intends to spend her N30m prize money, that fight with Tacha and relationship with Ike
So how do you feel been the first female winner of Big Brother Naija?
I feel more than amazing, I feel blessed, I feel loved, yeah the love was too much, I didn’t even known I was this lucky. I didn’t even notice people likes me, someone is voting for me somewhere. I said winning big brother is everything I’ve ever wanted, so for somebody like me coming for the fourth time, it was a dream come true.
What was the game plan, coming into the house, did you have any particular game plan?
There was no game plan. My main plan was to come in and do my best, just show in and show off. I think I’ve accomplished it because this has been a dream for me to be in Big Brother House. So, I was amazed when I got there I kept on surviving every eviction, it was all a miracle.
So, at what point did you suddenly realise you could actually go for the ultimate prize?
There was no point. All I was doing was just be into existence. I was just feeling all the housemates we were all participating to win. And there were strong personalities in the house, I must say everybody in the house are potential winners. There was no point I thought I was going to win I was just being myself.
Was there any housemate that was evicted that really touched you?
It is not just one, like Ike and Diane eviction killed me, Ike was on a Sunday, Diane was on Monday in fact I felt like God was not listening to my prayer. I felt like God has abandoned me at that point, people who I love we’re leaving the house.
What was your lowest and highest moment in the house?
My lowest moment in the BBNaija house was when Ike was evicted and my highest moment was when I was announced the winner of BBNaija 2019 Pepper Dem.
Let talk about your relationship with Ike in the house. At what point did you notice your chemistry clicked?
Sixth week in the house. Yeah, that was when we started bonding.
Was there any point you were scared that another female housemate could snatch him away?
No! You should trust Mercy, de Lambo, no, I was not, no.
Now that you are richer than Ike, would you still continue with the relationship or are you considering dumping him?
Winning the money has nothing to do with my relationship with Ike, What I share with Ike is more than BBNaija. It’s bigger.
Were you not into a relationship before coming into the house?
No, I was single and it was obvious until the time I started dating Ike.
So, what should your fans expect between you and Ike?
Laughs… Ike love! We are hoping for the best. Ike and I we are hoping for the best going forward.
Let’s talk about your fight with Tacha, which led to her disqualification. Was it a game plan to get her off the road?
It wasn’t a game plan. I feel very bad my action led to her disqualification. I would say it was just anger issues and we allowed anger to take the better part of us and we were very good friends in the house until that time, we called ourselves “babes”, “babes”. It was a down time for me, I wanted to talk to her.
Have you really thought of making up with Tacha?
Tacha and I are still friends, what happened in the house has happen. I don’t carry grudges and I know she doesn’t carry grudges too so think we have to move on. I don’t think there’s any make up when you are still friends.
Have you communicated with her? Or has she communicated with you?
Yes she has. Remember friends fight! Families fight! But it’s just weird, things happening and you just show your reactions, we are humans! And then you come back to your senses. I think that is just what happened between Tacha and me. It doesn’t change the fact that we are still friends. You guys will even be seeing us soon, together (laughter).
Despite the words she said to you in the house
It had nothing to do with our friendship, when you are angry you can say anything in anger. Yeah, I think we are good.
What is the biggest sacrifice you made to get into the house?
Nothing rally, just that I have to travelling from Lagos to Owarri to do an audition. I think that’s, it.
I have tried three times to get into the BBNaija house. Why did you keep trying?
Yes, the first time I watched the show I fell in love with the show and since then I started pursuing it, I wanted to be a housemate and even when countless times they said no to me, it didn’t stop me. I still went for audition till this last time that I was taken.
So, what do you think you did differently this time to be taken?
Nothing! I think I was still being myself and maybe this time it was the right time. I believe God knows why I was not succeeding the previous time.
Do you really expected to get to the final or win BBNaija?
No! No!! No!!!…I never expected it, yeah.
Do you feel falling in love in the house played a major role towards your winning?
No, no, no. In the first place I never wanted a relationship, I wanted to play this game alone. Yeah, so I think, it was just the will of God. I don’t know where the love think came from.
If you are to take away something from the house, what will it be?
What will I take from the house? (Laughs) I’ll take away the camera.
So are you sure you can and ready to shoulder the responsibilities that come with stardom?
Yeah, God has been my biggest motivation. All I just want now is the grace of God to continue from here. Everyday, every morning when I wake up I pray to God to grant me His grace, because I know if God grants me His grace I’ll be fine.
One of the past winners came up some time ago, not too long ago, and claimed that he shared his winnings, with fellow housemates. Would you like to share the winning prize with your housemate?
No! The gain is for the winner’s take.
Not even with Ike, your lover in the house?
No! Not even with Ike.
Tell us more about your personal fashion sense, your style, in the house, we saw the way you dressed and everything, it was just so much like you came prepared, you wore different clothes throughout. You never wear one cloth twice.
I like to be comfortable in my outfits. I like to be confident of whatever I put on in my body. I have taste for what I wear. Even, before the house I have clothes, casuals, I have clothes for Saturdays, I have clothes for Fridays. The location determines what I wear.
Talking about fashion styles, it’s obvious you love tattoos. How many do you have on your body?
I’ll count it and I’ll get back to you. (Laughs)
Most of those tattoos symbolize something, what does it mean?
They are just flowers and butterflies. They symbolize roses and butterfly, meaning I can fly, everybody has their way of flying, however I want to fly without limits.
What were you doing before going into the BBNaija house?
I’m a designer. I design before I come to the house.
What is the label name?
It is called M & M Luxury. My clothing brand has been my biggest dream to get it out there, to get established stars to work on my fashion show. So that’s the big dream for me and I am going to get it done. I’m a goal getter, I go for what I want.
So, speaking about acting, Funke Akindele visited the house to get your interest about acting, are you planning to pursue that?
Acting, if it comes, yeah. My first baby is my business. Getting my clothing brand out there and then I’ll take it from there
There’s the rumour, they even said you revealed it at a point in the house, that your bum, you did it for five million?
Chuckles! I never said that, I never said that, I don’t know where that came from.
Some people wonder, somebody even came to me here and was asking ‘this her backside, is it real’?
I really don’t know what to say. What can I say? People are lousy. I don’t think I have anything to say, until the right time. They can say whatever they want. I’m actually enjoying it. It’s my body.
Is your bum real?
Yeah.
It’s very real?
Maybe or not. Like I said, believe what you want to.
You have some stuffs before the house?
No, before the house I abandoned everything. Now it’s in progress I intend to work with my team to build one of the biggest brands
What is it about?
It’s about clothing brand, female brand and women. I want women to look good with little money, that’s what is on my mind.
That means it’s a strictly female brand?
For now, although I will expand it a little with time.
This Lamborghini idea, how did it come about?
It was while I was in the house.
What is your fear?
Fear of failure. Like I said, I am goal getter, I don’t every want to hear failure in my life.
Tell us about your background, growing up, siblings, family. Do you have their supports?
My family is very private. I will like to keep everything about my family private. I don’t want to talk about my family at this point.