Never one to follow the crowd, Idia creates her own lane, moves at her own pace, and sparks trends that others follow. The multitalented media personality continues to make an impact in the spaces she occupies. Known for her TV Hosting roles on Spice TV and Arise TV, and for her debut acting role as the lead in the remake of the Nollywood classic Nneka The Pretty Serpent, a Netflix original.
She is undeniably the moment!
Having made her acting debut as Nneka Agu in Nneka the Pretty Serpent, followed by a lead role as Jola in Bad Boys and Bridesmaids, she says she is extremely passionate about her work. This passion is evident in her resilience as she has bounced back from the criticism regarding her on-screen performances. “Since my first two movies, I believe I have grown tremendously as an actor. I’ve been able to show more range, versatility, and depth than many people predicted I could reach. I have so many projects that are soon to be released, such as Hijack 93 on Netflix, Life and Dirt on Prime, Twin Flame, Sons of Wrath, and much more. I also love to study books on acting, and I still have coaching sessions weekly. I can’t watch a movie anymore without studying great actors and analysing their techniques—I’m obsessed!”
Reflecting on a major turning point in her life, she shares that losing her dad changed her priorities. “Everything that seemed important didn’t matter anymore, because I really looked up to him. After healing, I realised that the reason I admired him so much wasn’t just because he was my father; it was because he knew how to make people feel like they were special.” Expanding on this shift, she asserts that as a public figure, she doesn’t want to be admired only for her achievements or the clothes she wears. “I really want to make people feel special and connected to me as a person.”
Considering her roles as a TV host, actor, news anchor, philanthropist, and brand influencer, I’m curious how she maintains a healthy balance between her professional and personal life. “I’m extremely organised, so that has always worked to my advantage. I work with great teams; from my managers, my coach, publicists, fitness trainer, therapist, glam squad, photographer, videographer, and my non-profit. We literally plan out my entire year, our goals for brand partnerships, events, my style, charity focus, and the overall message we are trying to put out. I’d say the trick is to be surrounded by great people who are experts at what they do.”
Being of Nigerian-Cameroonian heritage and working in entertainment, cultural representation is something she’s cognizant of, affirming that it’s important to lead with authenticity. “I want to get to the top as ‘IDIA’ and nobody else. I am fascinated and respectful of traditions all over the world, but I think embracing our own cultures is one of the ways in which people are unique. No matter how far I go as an actor, I am a Benin girl from Edo State, Nigeria, and Yaoundé, Cameroon. I want anyone like me who is watching to recognize that I represent ‘them.’” She emphasises the importance of staying true to who she is, where she’s from, and honouring her core values. Earlier this year, Netflix invited her to the Bridgerton Season 3 premiere in Johannesburg. She honoured the Victorian theme while infusing it with her traditional “Edo” attire. “I thought to myself, ‘if I were to attend a ball, I would definitely go as an Edo queen.’ I felt truly African and regal, but very humbled to showcase my culture on a global stage.”
As a well-known luxury lifestyle influencer and red carpet darling, she has been named among the most fashionable Nigerian celebrities of all time. Expanding on her style inspiration, she shares that she loves fashion and draws from its unpredictability. “I really love my style to be unpredictable on the red carpet. Honestly, it’s one of the reasons why I love fashion icons like Rihanna and Cher—you never know what they're going to wear, but you know it’ll be amazing! I also feel like life as a journey is a marathon, not a sprint; so when I’m off the carpet, I like to be as comfortable, but chic as possible. With that said, would I start a clothing line? I don’t know just yet.” What she is certain about and looking forward to is producing her own films and shows, and travelling the entire world for work. “With my NGO, the International Development Initiative in Africa (The IDIA Project), we are announcing new projects targeting help for people with special needs. One of our initiatives is an adaptive clothing line called FashionAble, and all proceeds will go to people living with disabilities. Next year, I am also launching my own skincare line called Rich Skin.”
Her name is synonymous with success by many standards. But how does she measure success by her own metrics? “I think it’s finally being able to move your focus from the goals you want to achieve for yourself to the goals you want to achieve that will impact other people. These days, I feel very blessed to be working on projects, partnerships, and initiatives that involve training, mentoring, and helping others. When many of these projects are actualized, I will finally be able to truly feel successful.” Idia has achieved a lot, and she’s not about to slow down anytime soon. Expanding her horizons looks like immersing herself in the production space. “Even though that’s a priority, I’d also love to star in a musical, an animation, and maybe host my own shows on TV again.”
As a multi-talented star, her approach to her craft has garnered her fame and recognition. But how does being in the spotlight constantly impact her personal life? And how does she navigate it? “I’m naturally a very private person, so it’s not easy living under a microscope. People recognize you when you go to the bank, church, or hospital. It’s a blessing and a curse at the same time, because it’s amazing to be known for your talent, but it’s also scary to realise that any slight mistake could end everything you’ve worked for. I also struggle twice as hard to keep my love life private.”
With this in mind, when all is said and done, and the cameras are off, who is Idia Aisien? “She is the sweetest but most tenacious person you will ever meet. I grew up as the last of 12 children, so I am very spoiled, but I also work twice as hard because I am in awe of how successful and selfless most of my siblings are. I was raised in a full house, and there was never a dull moment. I am that sibling who would tell on the others when we were growing up (I know, I’m not proud either!).” Reflecting nostalgically on her upbringing, she shares that she travelled a lot because her father was involved in the champagne, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and spirits business. “I was extremely close to him. My mom is from Cameroon and she was a jeweller. She is deeply religious and more philanthropic than anyone I have ever met. I like to say I got my looks and moral compass from her! I am super close to my siblings, and I am very family-oriented. I love ‘love,’ I love movies, and I want to see the entire world while making every moment count!”
COVER CREDITS:
1. Photographer: Felix Crown @felixcrown
2. Make Up Artist: Moyin Ayeni @chariscolours
3. Stylist: Aduke Henry Emeka @styl.addiction
4. Jewelry: @meeyas_jewels
5. Gold dress designed by: Becca @Beccaneedlesnstitches
6. Art Direction: Vivian Olawuyi @theladyvivian___
7. Hair: @lshbeautyhub
8. Videographer: Elisha Johnson @eljon_xpressions
9. Content direction/creation: Peace Irebisi @Hadizarh_photography
10. Lighting assistant: Omolabi Fuhad @Labi_Bio
11. Location: Seattle Residences @theseattleresidencesandspa
12. Public Relations: Euphorique @euphoriquepr
13. Assistant Publicist: Cypress @cypressghana
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