Beautiful, flawless and adorable Beat FM’s On Air Personality, Maria Okarende has over the years built a name for herself in the industry. Maria co-hosts the Morning Show with Olisa and OC. Maria was also in Season 3 of MTV Shuga. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, she talks about life, her career, role in ‘Shuga’ and more
Growing up in London was fun…
It was fabulous as I was born in London, UK and I have a little sister and my parents. They had only us two. It was great I had lots of friends and some best friends still live there. It was good but the only thing I didn’t like was that in my school, since I have full lips, I was made fun of so much. In the school, the minority were blacks. And as black, your features were so different and they used to bully me; it was so bad. Apart from that, it was great.
I wanted to Be a Police Woman…
Can you guess what I wanted to be while growing up? A police woman. I don’t know why, but I guess when we were at school, we used to have a lot of people come in and normally, I used to see police people on television. Then, this woman came and said she used to enjoy looking after the community and chasing after bad guys and I was like yeah I like this. When I went to tell my mum, she said I should forget about it. No one took me seriously. When I was like 20 or 19, I knew I wanted to do something in media but I didn’t know if I wanted to be in front of the camera or radio or whatever; so when I was about 22, 23, started doing some internships in the UK like BBC, Choice FM, Capital FM to get some experience in the Industry and it was absolutely great to write scripts for some shoots they did for UK celebrities. I was quite good at it and they gave me a production job but I realised I wanted to be in front of the camera and they were like at the moment what we can offer you is like a full time production job. So, I was coming up and down to Lagos for Christmas with my family and at that time, I was introduced to Olisa who was the Programme Director of the Beat and I was like oh my gosh I want to be on air. He asked me to audition and I was picked.
I Was Quite Nervous Because of My Accent…
I will be three years in Beat FM this July. When I came here, I was new and had no friends. I had my family and I didn’t have friends of my age but as time goes on, people tend to understand you more; get close to you like Toolz, Gbemi and we kind of cool. These are people I speak to quite regularly here but it was a bit difficult actually as Beat FM was quite popular and I was quite nervous because of my accent, I wasn’t too sure people would understand what I was saying; but over time, with guidance from Olisa and stuff I got better.
When I come on radio, I am usually myself…
I feel that apart from me, everybody that works in media has something that sets them apart. As OAPs, you can’t come on radio without being yourself. What I feel that sets me apart is that when I come on radio, I am usually myself. The kind of jokes I make on radio is what I make outside. What I say is what I say outside of radio and I just come in and be Maria. wIf I pretend to be someone else and they don’t like it, they won’t get to know the real you. I’m just being myself and happy people have taken likeness to my personality.
My show on Beat FM…
It’s called the Morning Rush every week day from 6am – 11am. We talk about the latest news, topical issues, political, entertainment, celebrity interviews and business entrepreneurs.
We also get to go to events and report in and outside Nigeria. It’s a fully packed entertainment show. You find out what’s going on around the world, hear music and all the latest stuffs.
‘Shuga’ is the 1st acting ever in my life…
‘Shuga’ is the 1st acting ever in my life. I didn’t even want to go for the auditions because I was so scared but I think I was recommended to someone for the show and I auditioned. So, I went in there and decided to be myself whether they like or not as I was so nervous and I was. I’m just thankful they liked it. But I am not in the new season. I played a character called, ‘Foye’ who was a young student at a university.
Her biggest issue was her career path and wanting to be a DJ. They shared a story of me being in entertainment and my parents didn’t want to accept it. On top of entertainment, I wanted to be a DJ but I got to present a radio show at my university to get me the experience and I had personal troubles. I had my mum, current and ex-boyfriend fighting over me which was amazing because I never had that in real life. No one is ever fighting for Maria; so that was really interesting and good because of the issues that were highlighted in the society. ‘Foye’ ex-boyfriend had HIV. I wasn’t knowledgeable in the subject and you get to hear her thoughts and that of so many other women in the society not very sure what HIV is about and how it can be contracted, medications to take and prolong one’s life. It was a learning experience and good one.
I don’t want to take anything off the very talented actors out there…
You know what? I have thought about it, I’m still thinking about it. If I find the right role, I will, but I don’t think it’s anything I want to put my time into because I don’t want to take anything off the very talented actors out there dedicating time to their fields. I want to educate myself more.
I have hosted quite a few events…
I have hosted quite a few events. Last year, there was a contest called, ‘Fame’. It was a talent show. I hosted that with Uti. I also did with Cuppy who released her 1st Mix tape last year and I was the host of that. I used to host another show that happens once a month and the MTV All Star that had like Davido, Ice Prince. I hosted that with Ehis. I don’t host shows every week but I have done quite a few.
I’m looking at getting myself a stylist…
I style myself. I would say 85% of the time I style myself and 5% I copy and 10% I get styled majorly for big events. But later on this year, I’m looking at getting myself a stylist. The older you get, you will realise you only get one life and you don’t know when it would end. I have dedicated myself to achieving happiness given what it is I want to achieve because I don’t want to look back in regrets. I pray and strive to achieve my goals and if I don’t achieve it all, I would know that at least I tried. I want to be happy in my life and it’s doing what I want.
I’m not in a relationship…
I’m single and I don’t search but am not saying am hot like Rihanna or Beyonce, not that I don’t need to search, it’s just that sometimes if you go looking for something, you go looking for what you don’t want to see. You meet people in your day to day life and if they like you enough, they come to get your attention. I’m not searching and not looking. Am just single.
I see myself producing my own TV shows and web series. Am currently working on something now and I see my brand growing bigger. And also giving back and like to hopefully open a foundation that people will come and get media experience in achieving their dreams. I also plan going into fashion and designing. I love clothes and am getting to have my love for fashion again.
Source: thisdaylive
