‘Prioritise being respected over being liked,’ Venita Akpofure says

Nollywood actress and reality TV star, Venita Akpofure, has spoken up about creating boundaries in personal and professional relationships despite being a public figure.

The BBNaija star, while speaking with Saturday Beats, explained that being overly accessible can be taken for granted. Venita stated that she would rather be referred to as cold, than to be seen as too friendly and approachable.

“You just need not to be too friendly. When you are too friendly, people take your friendliness as a sign of access. It’s better to be called a ‘bitch’, to be feared and respected, than to be seen as too casual. That’s how I see it. My move from modelling to acting isn’t something I’d call reinvention; it’s more of an expansion. And honestly, staying relevant hasn’t been overly difficult for me. We bless God,” she noted.

The actress also spoke about embracing change and growth, revealing that she holds on to every version of herself that has served her at some point.

”All versions of me serve me. I don’t let the baby part of me go. I don’t let the girl part of me go. I don’t let the teenage me go. Many public figures don’t understand that there will be pauses at some point. If you don’t learn how to adapt or flip the script organically, you may end up stuck and forgotten,” she added.