Stephanie Coker :To be successful, women should surround themselves with those who champion their aspirations’

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Stephanie Coker is an award-winning television host, actress, producer, content creator and entrepreneur passionate about philanthropy, storytelling, family, women and womanhood. She is bridging the gap between home and the Diaspora, championing and documenting the stories of women and the challenges they face. She holds a degree in communications and media from Brunel University, London. With a passion for advocacy, she embarked on a journey to shed light on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), through her documentary ‘Where The Heck Is My Period?’ premiered at AFRIFF in 2022. Through her storytelling prowess and commitment to raising awareness, she shines a spotlight on the challenges faced by those affected by PCOS, while offering hope and inspiration to countless individuals worldwide. Using her skills and influence in the entertainment industry, Coker has been a vocal advocate for gender equality, women’s empowerment and increased awareness on issues affecting women’s health. In 2016, she launched her NGO, The Future Is Her, through which she has empowered young girls and women on mentorship, health and education outreach. In this interview with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA, she speaks on her commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive and equitable world.

You have made a mark as a TV host, take us through your career path?
My presenting career began with a flurry of auditions in the UK.  Landing my first audition at the BBC was a huge confidence boost – it showed me I had real talent in this field.  Fast forward a bit, I was on holiday in Nigeria when an audition opportunity arose.  I went back to the UK after I auditioned, and decided to return to Nigeria when I got a call back from that audition for a short while. That ‘short while’ turned into a year! My first gig was on radio at Cool FM. Next came an audition at MTV Base, where I thrived for five years.  But I wasn’t one to stay idle.  Concurrently, I was at Ebonylife TV, co-hosting ‘Moments with Mo’ and appearing on shows like ‘Star Search for a Presenter’ (which launched the careers of Bolanle Olukanni and Dolapo Oni).  Oh, and I dabbled in acting, appearing on ‘Tinsel.’  The icing on the cake? Co-hosting ‘The Voice’ alongside IK. That’s the whirlwind story of how I got into presenting.

With your different sides as an actress, producer, content creator and entrepreneur, how have they helped you evolve over the years? 
Presenting feels effortless, almost second nature, for me. In contrast, acting requires intense study and dedication to character development. I approach acting with great seriousness because I understand the commitment it takes to deliver a role effectively. However, presenting has been incredibly beneficial. I’m comfortable in front of the camera so it translates easily to acting. As an entrepreneur, I recognise that my brand is my business – I’m a walking enterprise.  The self-management skills I’ve honed in building my brand serves me well across all my endeavours. I understand the business aspects of each field, whether it’s presenting, acting or producing.  Furthermore, I’m a continuous learner; I’m always seeking to learn new things and improve in each field. While presenting, producing and acting may seem distinct, they are surprisingly intertwined. Each has a strong business element. Building my brand as an entrepreneur in the media industry shares similarities with building a business. Both require creating a strong brand and marketing yourself. In that sense, these skills work together and support each other.

In the women’s month, you released an inspiring documentary on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). What informed this?
My decision to use my platform as a TV presenter stemmed from my own experience with PCOS. Diagnosed at 17, I felt overwhelmed by the lack of information available. It was a confusing time, and I knew so many other girls would be facing similar challenges. Having a platform and a voice, combined with my personal experience with PCOS, made creating awareness a natural choice. The statistics are alarming; one in six women of reproductive age in Nigeria have PCOS, yet awareness and research funding remain woefully inadequate. Considering its prevalence and potential side effects such as infertility and type 2 diabetes, this condition deserves far greater attention. With my platform, I felt compelled to shine the spotlight on this syndrome affecting so many women and girls, myself included.

Since its premiere at The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in 2022, how much impact has the content made?
The documentary’s success extends far beyond the AFRIFF premiere. I have received countless messages from women struggling with infertility. It’s incredibly rewarding to connect some of these women with specialists and even more so to have been able to directly support their treatment.  One of these women conceived and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl after we connected through the documentary. I believe this is the documentary’s greatest gift – the gift of life itself.

As a passionate advocate for women’s health, especially those living with PCOS, how can they leverage this information to build on their understanding and management of the condition?
The documentary serves a dual purpose. By watching it, women can gain a deeper understanding of their own experiences with PCOS. They will see others openly discuss the same challenges they are facing. This isn’t just an educational resource; it’s a powerful portrayal of real women from diverse backgrounds – different tribes, religions, age groups and marital status. There’s guaranteed to be at least one woman with PCOS our viewers can identify with. I encourage them to listen to these women’s stories and consider their advice, especially viewers who are just starting to navigate life with this condition. The documentary can be a valuable tool for managing PCOS.

Share with us some of the challenges you may have experienced, especially dealing with PCOS, and how you have scaled through?
PCOS has impacted many aspects of my life including conception and childbirth. PCOS made conceiving a child a challenge, requiring IVF intervention. With regards to weight management, even though I’m naturally slim, I tend to store fat around my midsection due to the hormonal imbalance caused by PCOS. Recently, I even learned about a possible link between PCOS and fat deposits at the back of the head. Adult acne is another symptom I have had to live with. However, the most challenging aspect for me is the excessive hair growth on my face and other areas where women typically don’t have hair. This has not only been emotionally difficult but also financially burdensome due to the high costs of laser hair removal treatments.

What inspires and drives you?
Speaking about the documentary, the women in my circle inspire me immensely to keep thriving. I enjoy the support of family and friends. On a broader level, the messages from women with this syndrome and similar conditions are truly inspiring. Seeing them succeed against all odds is incredible.

How do you combine your many sides with being a wife and mum and still be at your best?
When it comes to balancing work and personal life, I just try my best to prioritise what matters most. For example, with my daughter, I make sure I’m there for her important events, like sports day. Those are moments I can’t get back. I might need to wake up earlier or plan my day differently to be present for the things that are truly important to me, like family and friends. It’s not always easy, but it requires a special skill I know many women already have. They say you can’t have it all, but I believe you can achieve everything you want, just not necessarily at the exact same time.

What key parenting tips do you have for a mother of a girl child?
Mothers, listen to your daughters. I can’t emphasise this enough. Make time to be with them, and always be intentional about creating memories together. They are not you. Allow them to be their own unique individuals. They are their own beings, separate from yourself. It’s incredibly important to bond with your girl. Let her know you will always be there for her, no matter what. Don’t create a relationship based on fear. Instead, build a friendship based on respect, where she feels comfortable talking to you about anything. Remember, a girl’s best friend should be her mother. Always affirm her, let her know she’s beautiful, both inside and out.

How can we get more women to become successful and rise to the top as you have done?
Oh wow! I am very flattered by that. I think the first thing is to believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who will believe in your dreams, as crazy as they might seem. Surround yourself with people who champion your aspirations, no matter how ambitious. Avoid those who project negativity or limitations. It’s very important not to let someone project their fears on you, so keep your circle very healthy.

Unfortunately, some women are surrounded by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Having a good network of people around you is crucial. Don’t let society dictate what’s important or what should be important to you. If you want to be a mother, a wife or a career woman, go ahead; if you want to be all three, do that, because at the end of the day, you know what you will be happy with when you go to bed at night. So, don’t allow society to tell you that you need to be a career woman making six figures and that you don’t need a man or you do need a man. Just decide the life you want and be true to yourself. 

What life philosophy do you live by?
Yes. Rainy days don’t last forever.