Imisi, born Imisioluwa Opeyemi Ayanwale, is a Nigerian fashion designer, actress, content creator, and reality television star who became a household name across Nigeria and West Africa after winning the tenth season of Big Brother Naija in October 2025.
Her nickname, Imisi, is a Yoruba word meaning “inspiration” or “breath of life“, and for millions of fans who followed her 72-day journey through the BBNaija house, the name proved fitting.
Unfiltered, emotionally intelligent, funny, and fiercely authentic, Imisi won the hearts of viewers and defeated 28 fellow housemates to take home the biggest prize in BBNaija history: a package worth ₦150 million. Her story is one of self-belief, creative ambition, and the power of showing up as your truest self.
| Imisioluwa Opeyemi Ayanwale | |
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Imisioluwa Opeyemi Ayanwale: History · Bio · Photo
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Full Name: | Imisioluwa Opeyemi Ayanwale |
| Stage Name: | Imisi |
| Born: | 24 January 2002 |
| Age: | 24 years old |
| Birthplace: | Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria |
| State of Origin: | Oyo State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Occupation: | Fashion Designer, Reality TV Star, Actress, Content Creator |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Relationship: | Single (as of her BBNaija entry in 2025) |
| Net Worth: | Estimated ₦180 million – ₦225 million |
Early Life
Imisioluwa Opeyemi Ayanwale was born on 24 January 2002 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s most culturally significant cities and the largest city by area in West Africa.
She was raised in Ibadan in a close-knit family environment, and her parents are widely credited with instilling in her the values of hard work, self-confidence, and authenticity that would later define her public personality.
Her Yoruba heritage is something Imisi has always worn proudly, frequently incorporating Yoruba language, expressions, and cultural references into her daily life and her time on the BBNaija show.
From childhood, Imisi displayed a strong creative streak and a natural love of self-expression. She was known among peers for her talkative, playful, and humorous personality, someone who could turn ordinary moments into entertainment.
She was drawn early to fashion, and her interest in design and clothing eventually became the professional foundation she was building long before her entry into the Big Brother house.
Education
Imisi studied at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most established polytechnics and a premier institution for applied sciences, technology, and creative education.
According to Wikipedia and multiple verified sources, she graduated from YABATECH, where she obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND). Some sources have also referenced the University of Ibadan in connection with her studies, though YABATECH is the institution confirmed by the most reliable sources, including her Wikipedia entry.
Career
Fashion Design
Before her television breakthrough, Imisi had already established herself as a working fashion designer based in Ibadan. She ran a growing fashion label that specialised in stylish, affordable clothing designed for young Nigerians, blending modern street style influences with elements of African fashion culture. Her label was building a reputation in Ibadan’s fashion community, and she had been developing it for years prior to her BBNaija audition.
Her deep knowledge of fabrics, cuts, and design meant that inside the BBNaija house, she frequently discussed her craft, explaining her design process to fellow housemates and referencing sewing and fashion in ways that made her brand identity unmistakable to viewers.
Big Brother Naija Season 10 (2025)
Imisi entered the Big Brother Naija Season 10 house on Launch Night 1, Saturday 26 July 2025, becoming one of the 29 housemates competing in the season themed “10/10.” The season aired across Africa Magic Showcase, Africa Magic Family, and Showmax, and was hosted by veteran BBNaija compère Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.
From the moment she walked through the doors, Imisi distinguished herself. Her personality was unique in the house: she operated as a kind of live narrator, offering running commentary on the drama unfolding around her with wit, honesty, and an unvarnished sense of humour that viewers found immediately compelling.
She was unapologetically real, sharing her vulnerabilities, speaking openly about a painful past relationship, and holding firm to her identity even under the pressures of the game.
Throughout the season’s 10 weeks and 72 days, Imisi navigated alliances, competitions, evictions, and emotional confrontations with a composure and emotional intelligence that earned her widespread admiration. Her fanbase, who rallied under the hashtag #ImisiTheQueen, voted in overwhelming numbers during the finale.
Imisi defeated runner-up Dede and second runner-up Koyin to be crowned the winner, becoming the fourth woman to win the BBNaija franchise and the second-youngest winner in the show’s history, after Ilebaye Odiniya who won Season 8 at age 22. She secured an extraordinary 42.8 percent of the final votes, one of the highest vote shares in the show’s recent history.
The grand prize package was worth ₦150 million, comprising ₦80 million in cash and an additional ₦70 million in prizes including a brand-new Innoson SUV, sponsored trips, and endorsement opportunities. At the prize presentation ceremony attended by MultiChoice Nigeria executives and brand sponsors, Imisi, wearing a bright red outfit, received her symbolic cheque beside her prize vehicle as the event dominated social media under #BBNaija10Winner and #ImisiTheQueen.
In her winner’s speech, Imisi said: “I am very happy, I am very excited… Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I am so shocked, I never expected it. May God bless you beyond your imagination.”
Post-BBNaija Career
Following her win, Imisi’s profile expanded significantly. Her social media following grew rapidly, and she attracted brand partnership inquiries and endorsement deals across multiple categories.
She has expressed firm ambitions to grow her fashion label to national scale using her BBNaija platform, and to pursue acting roles in Nollywood. As of mid-2026, she remains one of the most discussed personalities from the BBNaija Season 10 cast, with a reunion episode generating renewed public attention.
Awards and Nominations
- 2025 — Big Brother Naija Season 10 — Winner — Won (₦150 million grand prize)
Social Media
Imisi’s social media presence grew exponentially during and after her BBNaija season. She is active across major platforms where she engages her growing fanbase on fashion, lifestyle, and personal updates.
- Instagram: @imisiofficial
- Twitter/X: @imisiofficial
Personal Life
Imisi entered the BBNaija house as a single woman, having disclosed during her entry interview that she had been single for approximately four months at the time.
During her time in the house, she was open about having experienced a difficult past romantic relationship, speaking candidly about the emotional lessons she had drawn from it. Her honesty about personal vulnerability was cited by fans and commentators as one of the qualities that made her especially relatable and beloved.
Outside of relationships, Imisi’s personal identity is rooted firmly in her Yoruba heritage and her Ibadan upbringing. She uses Yoruba expressions naturally and freely, and has spoken warmly about the cultural values of hard work and authenticity she developed growing up in Oyo State.
Her faith as a Christian is also a stated part of her identity, reflected in her winner’s speech in which she thanked God first.
Net Worth
Following her BBNaija Season 10 victory, Imisi’s estimated net worth stands at between ₦180 million and ₦225 million (approximately $120,000–$150,000), according to entertainment industry sources.
This figure incorporates her ₦80 million cash prize, the ₦70 million in additional prizes and an Innoson SUV, her pre-existing fashion business earnings, social media brand partnerships, and endorsement deals secured after her win.
Prior to the show, her estimated net worth was significantly lower, in the region of ₦30–₦60 million from her fashion label and modelling work.
Works and Contributions
- Fashion label — Ibadan-based clothing brand for young Nigerians (founded prior to 2025)
- Big Brother Naija Season 10 — Winner (2025)
- Brand ambassador and endorsement partnerships (post-BBNaija, 2025–present)
- Acting aspirations in Nollywood (in development as of 2026)
Conclusion
Imisi is the embodiment of what Big Brother Naija, at its best, can do: take a young, talented, authentic Nigerian woman who was already building something of her own, give her a national platform, and watch the country fall in love with her. Her victory in Season 10 was not a surprise to those who watched her every day, it was an inevitability.
With her fashion business, her growing entertainment career, and a fanbase that has already proven it will show up for her, Imisi’s story is very clearly just beginning.
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