Beautiful, smart and talented are words that come to mind when you think of media personality and actress, Nancy Isime
The entertainer who spoke in a chat with BBC Pidgin said she attempted suicide as a child.
“I lost my mum at five. I didn’t really have a smooth childhood. I suffered from depression and attempted my first suicide in childhood. It was actually the only but I was able to go through all that and I’m still here today.
“Some people had time to grow through life but I had to mature in time. Losing your mum at the age of five, you’re exposed to a lot of things you’re not supposed to experience. I started working at the age of 17.
“I worked as an usher at events. From there, I started modeling. Some of the things I did, I didn’t expect would get me to where I’m today, I was trying to save money here and there to exit the country and start working abroad.”
On the state of the nation, Isime said: “As much as Nigeria is, there are still opportunities. Sometimes I get tired of seeing what is going on with the government. I call myself mental health advocate because I preach it.
“I’m a staunch believer in meditation, I work out as much as I can and I go for therapy, which I just began not long ago. For someone like me who acts, hosts events, it takes a lot out of me. I act in series, TV, and cinema.”.
Sharing her dissatisfaction about how female entertainers are labelled and misjudged in the industry,Isime said: “In Nigeria, we have a lot of work to do especially mentally. When we see a girl in a nice car, without even asking her what she does, we just totally write her off”.
Asked how she manages to maintain her sanity, Isime who studied Social Work for two years at University of Lagos revealed that she goes for therapy.
”I go for therapy which I just began not too long.I have apps on my phone that helps me to balance my moods. Your mind is everything, if you get your mind right, you will get your life right”.