The Nollywood film industry like any other entertainment industry in the world has its share if drama, scandal and controversy. However some of Nollywood’s finest seem to be plagued by controversy and hit the news with a new scandal more often than others. One of such celebrity is Tonto Dike, the talented, confident and beautiful actress and singer has been involved in more controversies than any other damsel in Nollywood. This light-skinned actress who has graced the screen in several movies has been in the limelight for controversial issues almost as much as for her acting career. This however does not overshadow the fact that she is an exceptional actress and is very daring, taking on roles that many would not. The following 10 things you didn’t know about Tonto Dike may come as a surprise.
1. Even though Tonto Dike got her big break after becoming first runners-up on the reality show, The Next Movie Star, her second movie titled Holy Cross is what persuaded producers and directors to start casting her in more productions. This movie is also what made her very popular among her fans.
2. One of the most controversial movies in Nollywood, Dirty Secret, was actually based on a true story and Tonto Dike agreed to act in it after meeting the girl who inspired the writing and production of this film.
3. The Nollywood actresses started smoking at the age of 14 and it was no secret in the Nollywood scenes that she was a chain smoker. However, after prayers with T.B Joshua, the pastor of The Synagogue, she confessed that she had quit the habit.
4. Tonto has been linked romantically to a lot of superstars including Iyanya, Wizkid and 2Face. However at the ELOY Awards she made an entrance flanked by Sexy Steel and Michael Awolaja. Michael is the man behind all of the customized Rolex and diamond iPhones that Tonto rocks. In her acceptance speech she said that he was her boyfriend keeping in line with the high-flying men she has been associated with.
5. 2face Idibia’s Unforgettable concert got tongues wagging, thanks to a rather racy performance with Tonto Dike. The performance was released by Flytime TV showing the two getting hot and heavy.
6. These are not the only celebrities she has been linked with. Rumors that Tonto Dike is a lesbian have made their rounds linking her to Ini Edo and Halima Abubakar. A scene in Strippers in Love has her kissing another girl fueling the rumors. She once admitted to having a crush on Rita Dominic but that can be summed up to admiration or twisted to mean something else. There have been too many things said on this topic to know what is true and what isn’t.
7. She has had a raging feud with another famous actress; Mercy Johnson which reports say is due to demand. Mercy Johnson had taken time off to give birth to her daughter Purity during which time, it seems that Tonto Dike raked in the bucks. After Johnson’s return reports say that the already present rivalry escalated, with Tonto Dike taking a stab at her and her husband. This led to backlash, but it’s safe to say that she has developed a tough skin for the critics.
8. On a sad note, Tonto Dike revealed that she had attempted suicide. She later wrote on a social page about it encouraging people to talk to God about their problems if they have no one else and that people are bigger than their pains and problems and that suicide is for cowards.
9. Tonto Dike is a big fan of body arts and has a large tattoo on her back which caused controversy with people saying that it had an illuminati element to it. She also has 57 letters tattooed on her body, 57 stars and 570 lines and curves as well. She admits to being in love with her body and showed off her back tattoo to the world on her Twitter page.
10. The light-skinned diva has admitted to bleaching her skin but says the key is in doing it right to avoid the health implication. She gave her reason for bleaching as wanting to enhance her skin’s lightness as she likes being fair. However, many believe this was an attempt to make her more eligible for movie roles.