Osariemen Martha Elizabeth Ighodaro (born 26 October 1990), better known as Osas Ighodaro, is a Nigerian-American actress, television host and philanthropist. She won the 2010 Miss Black USA Pageant and founded the ''Joyful Joy Foundation'', a fundraising organization for

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

. Ighodaro emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood actress of 2018 and was awarded Best Actress in a Drama consecutively at the 2022 and 2023 AMVCA for her roles in '' Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story'' and '' Man of God'', respectively.

Early life and background

Ighodaro was born on 26 October 1990 in

Bronx, New York The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

, United States, to Nigerian parents of Edo origin. She obtained her degree in Broadcast Journalism with dual minor degrees in Entrepreneurship and Theater from

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsyl ...

. She further obtained her MA in Fine Arts from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is a member of

Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. () is an List of African American fraternities, historically African-American Fraternities and sororities, sorority. The sorority was founded in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. Alpha Kappa Alpha ...

sorority and the founder of ''Imuetinyan Productions''.

Career

Ighodaro began her acting career in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

after graduating college. She started with performing in theatre plays and indie films. In 2012, she moved to Nigeria where she played acting roles in

Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...

films including Adanna in ''

Tinsel Tinsel is a type of decorative material that mimics the effect of ice, consisting of thin strips of sparkling material attached to a thread. When in long narrow strips not attached to thread, it is called "lametta", and emulates icicles. It was o ...

''. Since then, she has starred in ''

Cadillac Records ''Cadillac Records'' is a 2008 American biographical drama film written and directed by Darnell Martin. The film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record-compa ...

'', '' The Smart Money Woman'' and '' Gbomo Gbomo Express''. Following her performance in Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story and Man of God (2022), she was awarded the Best Actress in a Drama' awards at the 2022 and 2023 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards respectively. Ighodaro co-hosted

The Headies 2022 The Headies 2022 was the 15th edition of Nigerian music awards The Headies. It was held at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on 4 September 2022. Hosts were by Anthony Anderson and Osas Ighodaro. Wizkid lead ...

, The Headies 2023, 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and the family show ''Maltina Dance All''.

Personal life

Ighodaro was married to Gbenro Ajibade in June 2015 and had their first child in 2016. They divorced shortly after.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Official website
*
Osas Ighodaro Ajibade
biography with

Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers ...

Osas Ighodaro
interview with

Toke Makinwa Toke Makinwa (born 3 November 1984) is a Nigerian radio personality, television host, vlogger, entrepreneur, actress, author, and fashion influencer. Makinwa is known for hosting ''The Late Morning Show'' on Rhythm 93.7 FM Lagos, Rhythm 93.7 FM ...

Pace University alumni Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications alumni American people of Nigerian descent Nigerian television actresses Living people Actresses from the Bronx Miss Black USA delegates Nigerian beauty pageant contestants Nigerian film actresses 21st-century Nigerian actresses African-American beauty pageant winners American film actresses 21st-century American actresses American emigrants to Nigeria 1983 births American television hosts Nigerian television producers Pennsylvania State University alumni American television producers Actresses from Edo State American beauty pageant contestants Nigerian television presenters {{authority control