By Christy Anyanwu
Rachel Eghoghon Akowe of BBNaija Season 7 (Rider) is an interesting personality. Aside her featuring in Big Brother Naija, she has equally done well for herself in the beauty and entertainment industry.
She is a makeover and Nollywood artiste.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, she confessed that she entered the BBN to become famous , which has now paid off as she’s easily identified by as BBNaija Rachel in movies. 
She also went down memory lane on her growing up, among others.
Tell us more about you?
My names are Rachel Eghoghon Akowe. Eghogho means happiness. I’m from Edo State. But people know me as Rachel Edwards on Instagram because my dad’s name is Edward Akowe. I’m from a family of seven. I’m the 6th child. I studied theatre and media arts at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. I was born in Kano State. I did my youth service in Anambra State, but I later redeployed from Anambra to Lagos after my three weeks in camp. It was in Lagos here that I fully started my acting career. I was acting in Abuja before I came to Lagos. I acted for a while in Abuja when I was doing my industrial training. I was in 300 level, but Abuja did not work out because most of the scripts I did, didn’t really come out. When I got to Lagos, I was a bit discouraged based on that, so, I majorly ppursued makeup business until acting find its way to me again. My neighbour was a Nollywood script writer. Each time, he would send me his script to read and I would analyze it and tell him this is how I feel, or understand this character. Sometimes, I would act out roles and he starts encouraging me to start going out for auditions. That was how I started going for auditions again. I did a scene in Basket Mouth comedy series on African Magic, ‘My flat mate’. That was my first role, it was a scene and I was there. I did the film, A long way down, different strokes (I did just one scene there). The producer saw me (physically) and gave me another sub leading another film , titled: “Along way down.” This was in 2019. That was how it all started basically from one set to the other.
What motivated you to go into the BBNaija Reality show?
My career. As an actor, every actor wants to be seen, every actor wants to be known. Before the house, I have been doing movies. You should agree with me that it was after I went into the house you could easily see me in the film and single me out, that’s Rachel of ‘Big Brother show’. So my career has moved tremendously because of the show and that was my major motivation and nothing more.
What challenges did you face when you got out of the Big Brothers house?
Before going into the House you are not known. Your business is not out there. So coming out of the House you realized that everybody has their own analysis to whatever it is you may have done in the House whether they were wrong about it or they are right. The most challenging is everyone now has an opinion in your business. You are just in the public eye. Being in the public eye is the most challenging when I came out of Big Brother.
Did your parents kick against you when you went to the House?
Not at all. Since childhood I have always told my parents that I’m going to be a star. They were already getting set to that knowledge. Initially, as a kid, they were not intrigued when I told them I wanted to be an actor. They did not like the profession. My father actually wanted me to be a lawyer, but that was years ago. So far, he has accepted me and he is very happy for me.
You were a Rider in the House. Were you told what to do as a Rider, was there a script to it?
There was no script to it. The basic thing I was supposed to do is, be myself. I was myself most of the time.
Any threat in the House?
There was no threat because I knew nobody could kick me out. So there were really no threats for me because I was a Rider.
Now that you are famous, how do you feel being a star? How have you been able to handle it?
I think it is fulfilling. The important thing is for me to live my truth and how you feel about whatever is going on in your life and not what people think. Living my truth, being me and not minding what people would say.
As a star do you still buy boli, roasted plantain?
Of course. I may be in my car and just ask for the boli, I don’t necessary need to come down. I still do my normal life. I think the most important thing is to do the right thing accordance to the law. I could buy suya along the road; I don’t think anybody could stop me from doing that. The most import thing is that I’m not caught doing something that I shouldn’t be doing. Right now, people now look up to me sort of. So I make sure that I uphold that goodwill or good deed that they expect. Living my normal life as per buying boli along the road or suya, I don’t think stardom can stop me . That would be slavery and not stardom anymore.
Advice for young people, who want to be like Rachel?
Just believe and work. First, believe in yourself. First you have to dream, work and have faith in whatever it is that you are doing before you know the sky will be your limit.
Besides Big Brother, what else do you do?
Aside acting, I’m a makeup artiste, and interior designer. the movies I have featured in are” Cross path, Empathy, a long way down, Mustapha series, Third wheel, Someone like her, Jennifer’s diary for a couple of episode.
What do you do now?
I’m still acting.
Suppose you had won N100 million in BBN, what would you have done with the cash?
I would open my own makeup studio where I could train people to work for me and also have an academy for makeup; and also have my makeup line. I will also give some money to my mum to invest.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Kano. I was about seven years when we moved to Edo State. Most of my life was in Edo State.
What is your relationship with old friends, do you still keep them being a celebrity?
Before Big Brother, it’s not that I even have lots of friends, but my relationship with them is still good.
What challenges did you face in the Big Brother House?
My very first challenge was freedom of movement. I’m a very free person. I like to move around the house naked. I don’t like to wear clothes when I’m inside the house. Because there’s camera 24/7, I have to wear my clothes all through. It was something else.
Secondly, imagine living in the House with people of different character, with different traits. That’s a huge problem, but it’s usually coming together to understand yourselves, coming to agree and overtime, you just learn how to cope with them. Thirdly, cold was another challenge that I face in the house because of the air conditioners 24/7.