Zainab Balogun

Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu (born 10 October 1989) is a Nigerian actress, model and television presenter. She began modeling at an early age after being scouted at 16.[1] She has been featured in several international campaigns for different brands. She co-founded "The J-ist TV", an online entertainment web-series that highlights African culture and a range of topical issues; the series features interviews involving some of Africa's top personalities.[2]

Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu
Zainab Balogun in 2019
Born
Zainab Balogun

(1989-10-10) October 10, 1989
London, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish Nigerian
EducationBachelor of Law (LLB) from the University of Kent in Medway
OccupationActress, television personality, model
Years active2006-present

Balogun works as a television presenter for EbonyLife TV, an entertainment television station, for which she currently co-hosts and produces The Spot, the channel's leading talk show, with Lamide Akintobi.[1][3] Balogun also appears as a presenter and associate producer on Jumia TV, a teleshopping show.

Early life and career

Zainab Balogun was born in London to Nigerian parents,[1][2] where she was raised with a large extended family, predominantly in Clapham, a district of South West London. She is an Egba, and claims descent from a family from Abeokuta, Ogun State.[4] Due to the nature of her mother's work, she moved around a lot and spent most of her formative years growing up with relatives.[5]

Her secondary school education was obtained at Sacred Heart RC Secondary School. Her interest in the arts began with her regularly taking part in talent shows and school plays. She studied music and eventually went on to join the school choir and later formed an R&B girl group with two friends called Regné (pronounced "reign").[2] She attended Christ the King Sixth Form College where she completed her A Levels in Law, Psychology, and English Language & Literature. She then attended the University of Kent in Medway where she received a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB).[5][6]

Balogun worked as a model after being scouted by Premier Models Management at the age of 16.[1][6] After obtaining her law degree, she began to appear in shows such as BBC One's Material Girl, Bollywood movie Cocktail (2012), and The Charlatans by Ashley Waters.[6] She soon found herself on set with legendary director Christopher Nolan in 2011 for the film The Dark Knight Rises, which she describes as an "unforgettable experience".[6]

Balogun is now a television presenter, who produces and hosts shows for EbonyLife TV, an entertainment television network.[6] She has also produced shows such as EL Now, a daily entertainment news show for the latest in fashion, music and arts.[3][5] She is currently joined by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Lamide Akintobi on The Spot, a daily hang-out talk show.[6][7]

Personal life

In May 2018 Zainab married Dikko Nwachukwu; Founder of Jetwest Airways. The pair got traditionally married on Sunday 13th May in Lagos, Nigeria. She splits her time between London, England, and Lagos, Nigeria.

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Charlatans Natalia
2012 Material Girl host
2012–present EL Now host, segment producer
2012–present The Spot host
2013 Knock Knock Hawa Webseries
2014 VHS: Music Artist Wannabe Skit herself webseries
2014 Verdict Lavena Johnson webseries
2014–present Jumia TV host, associate producer
2015 - Before 30 Fast Girl, Ekua
TBA The Island Teni Bowen Cole

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Dark Knight Rises Dancer Featured Role
2012 Cocktail Party Guest Featured Role
2015 A Soldier's Story Angela Supporting
2016 The Wedding Party Wonu Supporting
Ojukokoro (Greed) Linda Supporting
2017 The Wedding Party 2 Wonu Supporting
2017 The Royal Hibiscus Hotel Ope Lead
2018 Sylvia Sylvia Lead
2018 Chief Daddy Ireti Supporting
2018 God Calling Sade Lead

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result
2013 Exquisite Lady of the Year Awards TV Presenter of the Year Won
2014 Sisterhood Awards TV Presenter of the Year Won
2014 All Youth Tush Awards On-Air Personality of the Year Won
2014 Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards Sexist On-Air Personality Won
2014 Exquisite Lady of the Year Award (ELOY)[8] TV Presenter of the Year Nominated
2018 The Future Awards Africa (TFAA)[9] Prize for Acting Won
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gollark: it makes some things neater.
gollark: Your face is like 1-based indexing.
gollark: Don't be an octahedron.
gollark: It's already used as an insult so I can't use it for plausible deniability reasons.

References
  1. Ade-Unuigbe, Adesola. "Fab Interview: 'I Have a Little Crush on D'Banj' Zanaib Balogun, Ebony Life TV Presenter Talks Life, Love & Work". Fab Magazine Online. February 7, 2014. December 5, 2014.
  2. Roosblad, Shomara. "Interview with Zainab Balogun". The Black Blog. Vogue.it. September 29, 2014. December 5, 2014.
  3. "Zainab Balogun's Interview with Zen". Zen Magazine Africa. 2013. December 5, 2014.
  4. "Secret lives of Baba segis wives author Lola shoneyin & the Trio discuss attitudes & their altitudes". YouTube. Ebonylife Television.
  5. Igew, Miles. "StyleVitae Meets - Zainab Balogun". StyleVitae. April 28, 2014. December 5, 2014.
  6. "Zippy Zainab". Our Blogazine. October 24, 2013. December 5, 2014
  7. Ngomba, Joan. "EbonyLife TV's Zainab Balogun Spills Secrets Behind 'The Spot'". Pulse.ng. March 19, 2014. December 5, 2014.
  8. "Seyi Shay, Toke Makinwa, Mo'Cheddah, DJ Cuppy, Others Nominated". Pulse Nigeria. Chinedu Adiele. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  9. adekunle (2018-12-17). "Simi, Zainab Balogun, Mark Angel, Ahmed Musa win at 2018 The Future Awards". Vanguard News Nigeria. Retrieved 2018-12-17.


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