Veteran Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has advised young women against equating sexiness with revealing their bodies, stressing the importance of self-worth, growth, and making choices beyond survival.
Bello made the remarks during an interview on The Morayo Show, hosted by Morayo Afolabi-Brown, which has since gone viral on social media. The full interview was published on the show’s official YouTube channel on May 21, with clips later circulating widely across X and other platforms.
Addressing the pressures faced by young women, Bello said they do not need to chase online attention or expose their bodies to be seen as attractive or successful.
“There are too many young girls out there who need to hear that the seeds they sow matter,” Bello said. “They need to hear, ‘No, you don’t have to show your boobs to be sexy.’ They need to hear, ‘No, you don’t have to shake your bum bum to go viral or get attention.’”
She also spoke about transactional relationships, acknowledging that some women engage in them out of necessity. “If what you’re doing now is being a runs girl to make money, you don’t have to stay there. I understand it. I’m not knocking you. I never judge,” she said.
Bello highlighted that financial pressures, such as supporting family members or paying school fees, often push women into such decisions. “Some girls are doing it because they need to feed mum, they need to send their aburo to school. I understand it. However, my darlings, don’t stay there. You are more than that,” she added.
Reflecting on her career, Bello emphasized her focus on acting, which she considers her calling. “I’m an actor. Every actor doesn’t have to be a producer. I face my lane. I do what God asked me to do,” she said. She also pointed out that while some industry players diversify into production for financial gain, she prioritizes purpose over profit. “If I sit and go do films, I’m looking for more money. No, money is not everything,” Bello concluded.
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