Omono Okojie is a Nigerian-born American actress who attracted the attention of fans when she appeared as Cleo in Legacies(2018), the sequel to the Vampire Diaries. Aside from this, she is also known for her many off-screen roles as a multi-talented woman that sings, dances, and writes.
While the world and followers of series like the Vampire Diaries and its sequels can’t get enough of Okojie, it seems that she has so much to offer looking at how far she has come. Here is everything to know about the stunning actress cum dancer.
Fascinating Facts About Omono Okojie
1. Her Early Life and Background
Omono Okojie as you would easily find was born to Nigerian parents in the port city of Lagos in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Though she has not revealed her date of birth, there are speculations that she may have been born on March 9, 1988.
Okojie has managed to keep details about her parents and personal life private making it hard to know their identities. Moreso, it is unclear whether she was is an only child or not. It is gathered that she migrated to the US at a tender age and now lives in Los Angeles.
2. She Was Named After her Grandfather
Her name Omono is an Esan name that means my precious jewel. She was named after her grandfather.
Often, the name is confused with the Yoruba version which means a child is a child. However, looking at her Esan surname, Okojie, it is clear that hers is the Esan version. As to why her parents gave her such a name, it is not far from the family’s expectation of having a male child.
However, when her parents realized that she was not the male child that they had been expecting, they chose to give her the name Omono which means they had accepted the daughter they had regardless of its gender.
3. The Lagos-born Wrote Her First Novel in Primary School
As mentioned earlier, Omono’s parents were journalists and this influenced her taste in arts. Apparently, she started writing at that age to express her talents. She wrote her first novel when she was in primary 4. While such a feat was quite unmatched, the book made her think of quitting school. While she never did, she gave her classmates the novel which she wrote in a notebook to read.
Regardless of not publishing it, it helped her to remain fearless. As you would find on her social media updates, she puts this skill to practice in the content she creates.
4. Okojie was Exposed to Arts from a Young Age
From a young age, Omono was influenced by her parents who were journalists. Aside from being good at what they do, they also helped her to appreciate the artistic works around her. It is not surprising that this helped her to choose a career in the entertainment industry.
5. She Started Her Career as a Dancer
Omono is a dancer as can be seen in her social media uploads. Yet, not many people know that it was through her flexible body movements that she started her career. The Legacies actress has shared her dancing on different social media platforms like Tiktok and Instagram and on her website.
While she has not showcased her dance steps at contests, her moves celebrate her rich Nigerian heritage. Some songs she danced to include Iyanya’s Kukere and Leg Over by Major Lazer and Mr. Eazi.
6. Omono Made her First TV Appearance in NCIS
Her appearance in Saviors, an episode of NCIS in 2015 marked the beginning of her Television appearance. Prior to this, she had taken a small role in the 2014 film Accents for Actors.
At the time, she appeared as a pupil in the film which was directed by Tyler Wolfe and Elaine Loh. Soon after, she took on more roles that soon introduced her to a larger audience.
7. Her Breakout Role was in Legacies
As you would easily find, her breakout role was as Cleo Sowande in the fantasy drama series Legacies. The show is a sequel to the Vampire Diaries and the Originals. Notably, she appeared in the 3rd and 4th seasons. While she gained popularity from Legacies, it was canceled in the 4th season because it could not match the durability of The Vampire Diaries. She has appeared in other works like;
- Trees of Peace(2021)-as Akimana
- The Road Not Taken(2019)-as Kim Short
- Lift(2018)-as Judy
- Gook (2017)-as Regina
- Country Road 12(2017)-as EMT
- Her Side of the Bed(2017)-as Bea Davis
- Bella and the Bulldogs 2016-as Space Girlfriend
- NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (2015)-as Bahar Tambai
8. The Nigerian-Born Actress cum Dancer is Outspoken
Omono’s many talents do not only get to be seen on the movie screen and in dance videos, she is also an activist. A look through her social media updates shows that she is not afraid to lend her voice to causes that affect humans.
Some of these causes revolve around social justice issues as well as the need for people to vote for the right politicians. She is raising awareness for black people to succeed in the arts without being limited in her collaboration with the Breathing Room, a non-profit organization.
Her choice to be an activist may be due to the racism she encountered when she moved to the US. The actress revealed that it was in the 11 grade that it dawned on her of how people were treated for having a different color of skin. Since then, she has been a firm advocate of promoting blacks.
9. She Has Modeled for Brands
Considering all her social media poses, one would assume that she has an eye for fashion. It turns out that she also does modeling. In a July 2020 Instagram update, Omono revealed that she now does modeling for brands.
Apparently, she used to do rooftop photoshoots and this move to pose for brands marks another aspect of her many talents. Her fans and followers were quick to congratulate her on the fit.
See Also: Sharon Ooja: Bio Of The Actress, Is She Married? Other Facts
10. How Much is Omono Okojie’s Net Worth?
The 5feet 2 inches tall actress has an estimated net worth of over $200,000 which she made from her career. Though she has not verified this, Omono’s social media activities give credence to this amount.
