Stephanie Chijioke has carved a niche for herself in acting and producing movies. Young and beautiful, she lives and works in Dubai where she owns a big business outfit in the country where she is already making waves as actress and sales representative .

She also owns a big business outfit in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This diva reveals how she has been able to cope with it all.

I am from Ngor-Okpala LGA. I started acting in 2006 and I moved to Dubai in 2007. My first movies amongst others were Golden Fish, Wedding Fever; Love is Pain, The Great, and The Ultimate Risk. I visited Nigeria in 2009 and did a few movies such as Strippers, War against tradition, Separate Mission.

Stephanie Chijioke...The challenge of entrepreneurship lies mainly in the ability to do everything yourself in order to avoid being reaped off
I know l would have done more if l had remained in Nigeria because l still get calls from some producers and colleagues in the industry, but I also have a job in Dubai. I moved to Dubai when l was only 24 years old. I work in a cargo company in Dubai. I am a sales assistant.

I have always loved acting even as a child. I used to talk to my dolls and watch myself act on my parents' mirror at home. As an adult, I watch a lot of Nigerian and foreign movies. I rehearse other people's role to see if l can do those roles they have done. I do this without a script.

Harassment in the movie industry

There is none that I can remember. This is probably because I have not been stable in the country and in the industry. I haven't even really faced any challenges in the industry. As for Dubai, the men there do not harass women. In fact, they respect women a lot!

How I cope as an entrepreneur and a career person simultaneously.

Indeed, it has not been easy. However, I have been able to cope somehow as a result of the assistance I have received from my workers and family members in Nigeria. The challenge of entrepreneurship lies mainly in the ability to do everything yourself in order to avoid being reaped off. So, because it is barely possible for one to be everywhere at every time, the necessity of honest and skillful individuals becomes imminent, though in spite of this, I sometimes lose some business opportunities. But so far, they have been minimal. That is how I have been able to manage .

Coping with dressing in an Islamic country

Dubai is different from every other Islamic state. You are free to dress the way you want to dress here because it is a tourist country. Different people from different parts of the world come to Dubai to do their businesses. So in Dubai you find a different culture.

Can you remember any role you had that was stressful or a little difficult?

Yes I can remember! In War against Tradition, it was a romance scene and my director had to shoot that scene first before any other. It wasn't easy, but we managed, somehow. I just got to the set that fateful day and my director wanted to shoot that scene. I was not even familiar with the person I would play the role with yet and so, I panicked. However, like I said, I managed it at the end.

My love life!

It's not a bad thing having a real man who knows how to take care of his woman, no matter his nationality, I guess (laughs). I am in a very good relationship — the type every woman wishes for and I'm enjoying every bit of it! As for where he stays, he resides in Nigeria. We visit each other when we are on vacation; he comes to Dubai and I also visit him at home, back in Nigeria.

The movie 'Strippers' which I produced in Ghana

Well that's the first movie I have produced. To be honest, I am not impressed by the movie because the story line was far from what I envisaged! But it is my first time in producing a movie, it can be understood. I am a part of the cast alongside a number of Ghanaian actors and actresses. It's movie that cost us more than N6m. My partner and I funded it. We are still working on its production and we hope it will be out by first week of next month.

The rumour about being 'ditched' by Uche Kalu for an ex-beauty queen Stephanie Oforka.

Well, all I have to say is that I am in a healthy relationship. That is one thing I don't wish to talk about: Kalu Uche and Stephanie Oforka, I don't wish to talk about it. It belongs in the past.

How do you see yourself having a role with Jim Iyke?

It's going to be very interesting because I like his acting a lot. But contrary to what you think, I won't be tempted to date him, in spite of his cute looks. I would just do what I am there for, which is to act.

So what is your advice to would-be entrepreneurs?

My advice to them is that they should not be desperate. They should take their time and things will fall into place; like I have always said: 'invest in your personality and money will come running after you.'

The secret of my beauty!

It's natural, it runs in the family! No, I don't work out. As for my colour, I am naturally a fair complexion person. All l do is to maintain it.

The food l love

Oh! I love 'swallow' a lot. I can't go a day without it.

My immediate future plans

I would want to be in my husband's house with my kids, want to own plazas, houses, properties and more branches of my business. I don't ever want to be in politics.