Reality TV star and 2022 Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) winner, Phyna, has announced her decision to drop her family surname, citing a lack of connection with her relatives.
In a heartfelt post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Phyna opened up about her emotional struggles and ongoing quest for clarity about her origins.
“I am publicly dropping my family surname OTABOR... It has been proven that I actually have no family, and nobody knows how I came about,” she wrote. “I’m still searching for answers though... Things have been rough lately. I’m in a place where I can’t even describe how I feel or what to call what I’m going through. Growing up and the way I was tossed around relatives should have been a sign, but I guess I was too young. Omo, my head wan tear!”
Phyna’s decision follows a widely publicized rift with her family last year. During the fallout, her father claimed in an interview that she had distanced herself and stopped taking their calls. Her reaction to the allegations sparked heated discussions on social media, highlighting the strained relationship.

I am publicly dropping my family surname OTABOR… it has been proven that I actually have no family and nobody knows how I came about…. I’m still searching for answers though… it’s been rough with me lately…… I’m in a place where I can’t even describe how I feel or what to…

— UNUSUALPHYNA🎙(phynix🔥) (@unusualphyna) November 21, 2024