Former Josephina Otabor, widely known as Phyna, became emotional during a recent social media livestream as she opened up about financial struggles and family pressure following her Big Brother Naija victory.

In the viral video, the reality star explained that many of her relatives only valued her for the financial support she could provide. According to her, tensions within the family began when she started refusing some requests.

Phyna revealed that after winning the ₦100 million grand prize from BBNaija, she spent much of the money helping relatives facing financial difficulties. She said she supported family members in various ways, including drilling boreholes and assisting anyone who approached her for help, until the funds were exhausted.

She expressed disappointment that no one guided her on how to properly manage or invest the money after her win, claiming that most people around her were more interested in benefiting from her success.

The reality star also alleged that her relationship with her father became strained after she began setting boundaries. She claimed he once spoke negatively about her in a media interview after she refused to purchase an expensive roofing material he requested, choosing a more affordable option instead.

Despite the sacrifices she said she made for her family, Phyna lamented that her efforts were rarely appreciated.

Reflecting on her experience, she said that although many people celebrated her success after leaving the BBNaija house, nobody taught her how to sustain or grow her wealth. Instead, she focused on solving family problems and making others happy until the money eventually finished.

Her emotional outburst came shortly after she addressed criticism online following a viral video showing her working as a waiter in a restaurant. During an Instagram Live session, she defended the dignity of honest work and questioned why service jobs are often looked down upon in Nigeria while similar jobs abroad are respected.

Responding to rumours that she had become broke, Phyna insisted there is nothing shameful about earning a living through legitimate means. She also noted that endorsement opportunities for reality TV stars are no longer as common as they used to be, making it harder to maintain financial stability after fame.

She added that even conventional 9-to-5 jobs may not provide enough income to meet her needs, highlighting the financial realities many public figures face after their time in the spotlight.