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| Vicky and GDA after the encounter |
Meeting Victoria Pepple the Co-host for Silverbird Television’s flagship program, Today-on-STV could be so interesting and hilarious at the same
time; witty, frank to fault and at times, charming with words. However, you
discover that Vicky as she is fondly
called knows what she wants out of life.
time; witty, frank to fault and at times, charming with words. However, you
discover that Vicky as she is fondly
called knows what she wants out of life.
For years on, she has become one of
the beautiful faces that saunter into people’s homes and sub-consciousness on
the early hour week-day flagship program. Victoria
and her co-host, Chinyere Favor Ejemi
(Her interview ran on this blog yesterday) compliment each other in terms of
ideas and views. She opened up to your
Africa’s number 1 Celebrity Encounter blog, Asabeafrika penultimate Monday morning inside the Victoria Island,
Lagos based STV Studios. The Rivers State Southern Nigeria born
On-Air-Personality gave us a chance to laugh and ruminate when she reeled out a
quality-list for a supposed Mr. Right that might be willing to come her way.
You won’t believe some of the things you will hear and if you want to be her
suitor, better be prepared. Enjoy!
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| Victoria Pepple to Asabeafrika…’I have a long list for the man that will take me to the altar’ |
You are the Co-host of Today on STV,
can we have a brief about you and how you came into broadcasting?
My name is Victoria Pepple, I am from Rivers State. Broadcasting is something
I have always wanted to do. So, I was given an opportunity by Silverbird and I am happy that I took
that opportunity and 7 years down the line as a broadcaster I still have many high places unreached I am
looking up to expand into the future.
I have always wanted to do. So, I was given an opportunity by Silverbird and I am happy that I took
that opportunity and 7 years down the line as a broadcaster I still have many high places unreached I am
looking up to expand into the future.
How did you convince your parent
about becoming a broadcaster?
about becoming a broadcaster?
My father
didn’t understand it initially and he was like ‘no, you cant do this’ but I
would say it was a desire that came to pass because even right now, he is very
much supportive than my mum having come to see my success several years later
and he sees that it was a desire for me to be in broadcasting and as a good parent
he want to support me in every way possible.
didn’t understand it initially and he was like ‘no, you cant do this’ but I
would say it was a desire that came to pass because even right now, he is very
much supportive than my mum having come to see my success several years later
and he sees that it was a desire for me to be in broadcasting and as a good parent
he want to support me in every way possible.
“I started up with the gossip segment
on JAJ’S Top Ten (Jacob Akinyemi
Johnson’s Top Ten) on Silverbird
Television. I was doing well on that show and my mouth was running at the
time and suddenly there was a vacancy on the Breakfast Show and luckily for me
we were called in to fill in the gap”.
What is his name?
Macaulay
Pepple.
Pepple.
Were there people you look up to for
inspiration while growing up?
inspiration while growing up?
I wasn’t
sure where I want to go initially, I didn’t know weather I wanted to go into
advertising, I was not sure weather I wanted to be on the TV, I didn’t know
weather I wanted to act, I wasn’t sure. But having tried several things I can
say that I have found what I am most comfortable with at this point. It is not
an easy decision, some people wake up and say to themselves, ‘this is what I
want to do’ while others spend a number of years, even up to 20 or 50 years to
discover their passion. But I am happy I am not there yet but I am not doing
badly at all.
sure where I want to go initially, I didn’t know weather I wanted to go into
advertising, I was not sure weather I wanted to be on the TV, I didn’t know
weather I wanted to act, I wasn’t sure. But having tried several things I can
say that I have found what I am most comfortable with at this point. It is not
an easy decision, some people wake up and say to themselves, ‘this is what I
want to do’ while others spend a number of years, even up to 20 or 50 years to
discover their passion. But I am happy I am not there yet but I am not doing
badly at all.
At least you are famous?
I am still
playing in the local league I will like to play at the top league some day soon;
I hope you know what I mean. (Laughter)
playing in the local league I will like to play at the top league some day soon;
I hope you know what I mean. (Laughter)
Why Silverbird TV?
I didn’t start
up with the breakfast show; I started up with the gossip segment on JAJ’S
Top Ten (Jacob Akinyemi Johnson’s Top Ten) on Silverbird Television. I
was doing well on that show and my mouth was running at the time and suddenly
there was a vacancy on the Breakfast Show and luckily for me we were called in
to fill in the gap. Chichi and I became a pair on the show and we have remained the
most consistent presenters on the breakfast show in the last couple of years;
the men have come and gone but the girls have remained. Women are stable
(Laughter)
up with the breakfast show; I started up with the gossip segment on JAJ’S
Top Ten (Jacob Akinyemi Johnson’s Top Ten) on Silverbird Television. I
was doing well on that show and my mouth was running at the time and suddenly
there was a vacancy on the Breakfast Show and luckily for me we were called in
to fill in the gap. Chichi and I became a pair on the show and we have remained the
most consistent presenters on the breakfast show in the last couple of years;
the men have come and gone but the girls have remained. Women are stable
(Laughter)
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| The TV Gal with the Celebrity blogger |
What was your first experience like
on TV?
Basically the
producers had to record several episodes to ensure I became properly schooled
in the art of presentation. It was much more of a herculean task for me but I
was determined to be a perfect presenter. There were lots for me to learn
because I was not even a political person but here I was being prepped up to
present a breakfast show where you have a pot-pouri of issues ranging from
politics, lifestyle and current affairs. I won’t say I got it all at once,
first time on air, I was shaking, the words were not coming out right and I had
no idea of what to say half the time, but today the story has changed. It has
to do with consistent structuring by my producers and the ability to master
what one is doing well. I think at the end I am good for what I do.
producers had to record several episodes to ensure I became properly schooled
in the art of presentation. It was much more of a herculean task for me but I
was determined to be a perfect presenter. There were lots for me to learn
because I was not even a political person but here I was being prepped up to
present a breakfast show where you have a pot-pouri of issues ranging from
politics, lifestyle and current affairs. I won’t say I got it all at once,
first time on air, I was shaking, the words were not coming out right and I had
no idea of what to say half the time, but today the story has changed. It has
to do with consistent structuring by my producers and the ability to master
what one is doing well. I think at the end I am good for what I do.
“I am not even going to miss words
about it, he has to be rich. In addition, because it is not just about money,
he has to posses good looks; I will like to have a man who doesn’t look like a
monkey, thank you”
You are still single and very
beautiful, how do you handle pressure from male admirers?
beautiful, how do you handle pressure from male admirers?
Oh, you mean
what they are telling me could be encouraging right?
what they are telling me could be encouraging right?
Of course, someone needs a lovely
lady in his life?
lady in his life?
I don’t
think mine is above or more than what other ladies get in this days of social
media, every girl you find these days by the time we paint our faces and wear
the clothes, it doesn’t matter, men can love some ten girls at the same time,
it doesn’t make anybody special so to speak, on social media these days you
meet a lot of the annoying ones who have not met or seen what you look like
before and they already telling you how
beautiful you are and how wonderful you could be with them. So, I think I get
about the same compliment any other girl will get.
think mine is above or more than what other ladies get in this days of social
media, every girl you find these days by the time we paint our faces and wear
the clothes, it doesn’t matter, men can love some ten girls at the same time,
it doesn’t make anybody special so to speak, on social media these days you
meet a lot of the annoying ones who have not met or seen what you look like
before and they already telling you how
beautiful you are and how wonderful you could be with them. So, I think I get
about the same compliment any other girl will get.
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| Victoria Pepple to Asabeafrika…’I don’t have role model because i believe nobody is perfect’ |
What do you look out for in a
potential Mr. Right?
Ok, that is
even a good one; you see, you have to have money, I mean m-o-n-e-y! I am not
even going to miss words about it, he has to be rich. In addition, because it
is not just about money, he has to posses good looks; I will like to have a man
who doesn’t look like a monkey, thank you.
I also like a guy who is smart because for the kind of job I do I need
somebody who could think with me and be on the same frame of mind with me.
even a good one; you see, you have to have money, I mean m-o-n-e-y! I am not
even going to miss words about it, he has to be rich. In addition, because it
is not just about money, he has to posses good looks; I will like to have a man
who doesn’t look like a monkey, thank you.
I also like a guy who is smart because for the kind of job I do I need
somebody who could think with me and be on the same frame of mind with me.
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| Vicky to Asabeafrika…’I will love to use all my talents before I die’ |
Maybe somebody who can tame you?
I don’t need
a tamer I am okay enough to understand myself; I just need a man that we can
talk together, reason together who is smart to understand me and who I know I can talk to about anything. Then,
I also advise that he has a great sense of humor. My list is long ooo.
(Laughter) I wouldn’t mind a guy who will also help sometime with a walk-out
because I love exercise. I also want a God fearing man, somebody I can pray
with and he has to love to eat ooo, because I love to eat. Please, so that we can
be eating together and walking out together. Character, he has to be an honest
person, I live on character. I can’t do the job that I am doing, lambasting
some people over bad reputation when the man I am leaving with or the man I am
dating has a bad reputation. So, reputation means a lot to me.
a tamer I am okay enough to understand myself; I just need a man that we can
talk together, reason together who is smart to understand me and who I know I can talk to about anything. Then,
I also advise that he has a great sense of humor. My list is long ooo.
(Laughter) I wouldn’t mind a guy who will also help sometime with a walk-out
because I love exercise. I also want a God fearing man, somebody I can pray
with and he has to love to eat ooo, because I love to eat. Please, so that we can
be eating together and walking out together. Character, he has to be an honest
person, I live on character. I can’t do the job that I am doing, lambasting
some people over bad reputation when the man I am leaving with or the man I am
dating has a bad reputation. So, reputation means a lot to me.
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| Heart-to-Heart with the GDA |
What has kept you long at STV,
working without leaving for other stations?
Well, Silverbird
is a station I have always wanted to work even as a child, I just discovered
that I wanted to work with STV. I know how many auditions I went for before I actually
got the job here. So, for me, it has been always Silverbird or nothing. As
a child growing up, when I decided to be a broadcaster, it was Silverbird
it wasn’t anywhere else. And I personally love my bosses, they are real people,
they are people you can talk to, people you can laugh with, it is like home
here. So, having to go and start elsewhere is not a dream because my work place
is cooler than that, it will make you want to stay and put your best into it.
is a station I have always wanted to work even as a child, I just discovered
that I wanted to work with STV. I know how many auditions I went for before I actually
got the job here. So, for me, it has been always Silverbird or nothing. As
a child growing up, when I decided to be a broadcaster, it was Silverbird
it wasn’t anywhere else. And I personally love my bosses, they are real people,
they are people you can talk to, people you can laugh with, it is like home
here. So, having to go and start elsewhere is not a dream because my work place
is cooler than that, it will make you want to stay and put your best into it.
“The thing is that it is hard for me
to have one role model because I really don’t keep up with people’s lives like
that but I know that there are fantastic people in this media industry. I know
them, I can mention a few names but I wouldn’t use the word role model because
I think nobody is perfect”
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| L-R; Gbenga Dan Asabe, Victoria Pepple, Mr. Kanmi Olatoye (Producer, Today on STV) Mrs. Chinyere Favor Ejemi & Chairman, Nigerian Bloggers Association Mr. Chris Kehinde Nwandu (CKN) |
What are the challenges of co-running
a breakfast show like Today on STV?
Keeping
abreast with what is going on and also for me, I will say that even though you
want to come across with your occurrences, you don’t want to be boring. There
is a market for everybody, I know my personality and you also want to reach as
many people as you can. Especially the young people because you want them to be
ideological about the country and have their own opinion. You don’t want to
come across as boring, you want to pass on the information you need to pass and
it is about respect as well. And presentation I think add a lot of respect to
you and your organization because the kind of people you meet and relate with
enables you to build new relationships. This job has exposed me to a lot of
people that I would never have met, because it is like a bank job and the
exposure is okay, it is not just about knowing them and appreciating their
various ways of life, characters, philosophies and idiosyncrasies. It is also
about using them for value driven purposes on the show.
abreast with what is going on and also for me, I will say that even though you
want to come across with your occurrences, you don’t want to be boring. There
is a market for everybody, I know my personality and you also want to reach as
many people as you can. Especially the young people because you want them to be
ideological about the country and have their own opinion. You don’t want to
come across as boring, you want to pass on the information you need to pass and
it is about respect as well. And presentation I think add a lot of respect to
you and your organization because the kind of people you meet and relate with
enables you to build new relationships. This job has exposed me to a lot of
people that I would never have met, because it is like a bank job and the
exposure is okay, it is not just about knowing them and appreciating their
various ways of life, characters, philosophies and idiosyncrasies. It is also
about using them for value driven purposes on the show.
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| Victoria Pepple to Asabeafrika…’To start it, my man must be handsome and fit’ |
Do you have a role model?
The thing is
that it is hard for me to have one role model because I really don’t keep up
with people’s lives like that but I know that there are fantastic people in
this media industry. I know them, I can mention a few names but I wouldn’t use
the word role model because I think nobody is perfect. I am not saying they can
not be my role model but I am just saying I haven’t had that close interaction
with them. If I should have role models, it will be those who have…. Please, I
don’t want to answer this question.
that it is hard for me to have one role model because I really don’t keep up
with people’s lives like that but I know that there are fantastic people in
this media industry. I know them, I can mention a few names but I wouldn’t use
the word role model because I think nobody is perfect. I am not saying they can
not be my role model but I am just saying I haven’t had that close interaction
with them. If I should have role models, it will be those who have…. Please, I
don’t want to answer this question.
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| Victoria Pepple to Asabeafrika…’My husband to be must love to eat because I equally love to eat’ |
If you are to give a very important
advice to a thousand displeased young people in a ball room what would you say
to them?
Life is full
of ups and downs and what you see is not always what you get. What life
promises is not a sweet journey weather you are a Christian or you are a
Muslim, you have to fight for what you want and money is a lot of thing; I
personally like money. Where I am right now I am not rich but I know I am not
going to die poor. Life is about keep
doing what you do, building on what you have, and working towards your dream;
never give up on your dream. In the Bible we learnt Sarah became a mother at 99 that means if it can take that long for
God to answer prayer it means He is not sleeping on your matter. So, it is just
about patience, perseverance, being diligent and being able to continue to do
what you do and one day your story will change.
of ups and downs and what you see is not always what you get. What life
promises is not a sweet journey weather you are a Christian or you are a
Muslim, you have to fight for what you want and money is a lot of thing; I
personally like money. Where I am right now I am not rich but I know I am not
going to die poor. Life is about keep
doing what you do, building on what you have, and working towards your dream;
never give up on your dream. In the Bible we learnt Sarah became a mother at 99 that means if it can take that long for
God to answer prayer it means He is not sleeping on your matter. So, it is just
about patience, perseverance, being diligent and being able to continue to do
what you do and one day your story will change.
Have you ever been embarrassed on TV
before?
before?
Ah, the
embarrassment plenty o but I no fit remember the next embarrassing one but that
is life, that is life. Everybody has an embarrassing moment and since the
television is my job, it will happen on TV. It is basic.
embarrassment plenty o but I no fit remember the next embarrassing one but that
is life, that is life. Everybody has an embarrassing moment and since the
television is my job, it will happen on TV. It is basic.
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| Victoria Pepple to Asabeafrika…’I had challenges of professional choice before i settled down for broadcasting’ |
What is your fashion sense like?
I like to
look good but I have to be comfortable with my style I hate not to be
comfortable in looking good. One thing that annoys me is body shaming. I know
that there are certain things that certain people shouldn’t wear but people,
especially our ladies should be polite on social media. You don’t have to type
everything you feel and you don’t have to wear anything in the public domain.
look good but I have to be comfortable with my style I hate not to be
comfortable in looking good. One thing that annoys me is body shaming. I know
that there are certain things that certain people shouldn’t wear but people,
especially our ladies should be polite on social media. You don’t have to type
everything you feel and you don’t have to wear anything in the public domain.
Lastly, tell me your philosophy of
life?
life?
Live your
life to the fullest and don’t let anything keep you down. It is easy for you to
be bothered about something but do not let it keep you down and be a blessing
to other people.
life to the fullest and don’t let anything keep you down. It is easy for you to
be bothered about something but do not let it keep you down and be a blessing
to other people.
