I Was Limited to “Side-Chick” Roles Because I Am Curvy and Dark-Skinned — Actress Bolaji Ogunmola

Nollywood actress Bolaji Ogunmola has opened up about the early challenges she faced in the film industry, saying she was often stereotyped and restricted to certain roles because of her appearance.

In an interview with social media personality and content creator Jay On-Air, Ogunmola explained that she was frequently boxed into specific character types during a period when light-skinned actresses were more dominant in the industry.

She said being dark-skinned and curvy led to her being repeatedly considered mainly for “side-chick” roles.

“It was almost like they wanted to put me in a box. I am dark-skinned, they told me I was very curvy and tried to limit me to ‘side chick’ roles,” she said.

Ogunmola said she remained focused on her craft despite the typecasting, adding that consistency eventually helped her move beyond the limitations placed on her in the industry.