By Abiodun Adebola
She spoke with our editors last week, on the mystery that has always surrounded her, her deals with Etisalat and Amstel Malta and why she’s not a Glo Ambassador.
What are the challenges being an Amstel Malta ambassador?
Challenges.. none so far, thank God. It’s been a smooth ride. I’m working with very competent people and a great team and Amstel has been very kind. It’s been a blessing and it’s been a positive experience.
Why the choice of Amstel Malta?
Well as a person, I chose Amstel a long time ago as a drink that I like so for being an ambassador, Amstel chose me.
Can we have an idea of the signing fee?
Of course not.
So, are you saying you chose Amstel because you drink it?
This is a drink which is also a health drink and a successful brand at that, plus it’s something that I consume, so it’s not a new thing or I’m being introduced to something new, so it just feels like I’m just settling in.
How do you compare this with other brands that you have been an ambassador?
Well for other brands that I’ve been an ambassador, I actually am a customer of every brand that I represent or have been an ambassador for.
A large percentage of your colleagues are ambassadors for a top Nigerian brand, why weren’t part of it?
You have to mention because I’m not sure of what you are talking about.
It’s been bandied about town that you turned down the Glo offer to be an ambassador and that you even referred Dr. Mike Adenuga to your manager when he personally called you. How true are these tale?
I’m an Etisalat ambassador. I have never spoken to Chief Mike Adenuga and it would be an honour to. And no, speak to my manager; I think it’s only professional for people to speak to managers when it’s to discuss business. But I don’t believe that was the issue but let’s just assume it was, is there a problem in speaking to my management? Of course not, so you should know there is more to the story.
So, what happened?
Well, I was approached in negotiations and it didn’t work out. It’s very simple
Was it that you requested for a higher fee than your colleagues?
I don’t believe so, I don’t know anybody’s rate or fee and I don’t believe so because I wasn’t told the rates of others maybe for comparison.
So, what do you look out for in signing an ambassadorial role for a brand?
First of all, as a person I need to appreciate the brand, I need to have some sort of appreciation and respect for the brand. I need to believe in the brand as a person to be able to successfully represent it without feeling forced. Aside these, there is quality, and then just make sure that it is customer friendly and easy on the consumers because at the end of the day, I’m a brand and role model to several people and whatever I do would affect them. So, I believe that whatever I represent should be friendly to my followership.
Your number of appearance in movies have reduced, Is this deliberate or you have been blacklisted?
It’s not deliberate. There is no strategy, I read scripts day in day out, I just haven’t found anything worth my while.
So are you disappointed in the scripts or you felt after your appearance on top films like Half Of A Yellow Sun, the stake has been raised?
Well, to be honest, I have done quite a number of amazing stories in Nollywood that would give HOAYS, ‘Mirror Boy’ and ‘Ije’ a run for their money, so you can say because of bigger project or foreign project but it is still me looking for a script that is attractive, a script that cuts my name internationally, I know it’s entertainment but it’s a job for me and it’s a job I love so much and a job I respect and the only time I have fun so much with my job is when I’m on set. It has to be comfortable and right with the product when completed.
It’s said in some quarters that you thrive on the mystery that surrounds the Genevieve personality. How true is this?
I would have thought you guys know so much about me than I do. Well, I don’t know, I do my work, I mind my business and I make my personal life my business.
Is that why you are hardly spotted around town unlike some of your other colleagues and not media friendly as it is been alleged?
Am I not friendly to you now?
But getting in touch with you seems more than a herculean task
Well to be honest, I have realized that verification of stories don’t really matter because if they call to confirm a story, you guys are still going to go out and publish it anyway and put both stories side by side and people start playing the guessing game so, I don’t see the essence. You have a story on Genevieve and you think it would sell, print it and I go on minding my business.
So, would it be correct to say you have issues with Nigerian media?
No, I don’t have issues with the Nigerian media.
Is there a story that disappointed you when you read it?
Nope.
But there is this tale about you and a particular music star, D’Banj to be precise…
This is where the interview ends. We are deviating from Amstel.
There are several Nollywood stars going into producing their own personal movies, aren’t you looking at that too?
Why do you think I’m not?
Because I have not heard anything of such in the offing
If you know me well, you would know that you won’t know anything until the time is right!
