As 2025 draws to a close, several Nigerian entertainers are reflecting on a year of tough lessons, personal wins and big dreams for 2026, sharing how they plan to celebrate the festive season and reset for the future. In candid remarks, they speak about body image, career setbacks, business growth, emotional intelligence and the importance of giving back.
Actress and filmmaker Etinosa Idemudia said her biggest regret was living in fear of cosmetic surgery for too long. She eventually went ahead with a body enhancement procedure in 2025 and now feels genuinely happy with her look, describing herself as over the moon and hopeful for a Nigeria where hard work is better rewarded in 2026. She plans to spend Christmas with family and loved ones, organising charity visits and giveaways while quietly planning for a stronger year ahead.
Producer and actress Lydia Usang described 2025 as slow and tough but ultimately a blessing in disguise. She regretted producing her own film with limited resources, saying some colleagues wrongly assumed she had become “big” and stopped calling her for jobs, which left her hurt and discouraged. Despite the setback, she said she has kept praying, recently invested her savings in a new film titled “Rejami (A Broken Promise)” and believes 2026 will bring more roles, endorsements and production deals.
Media and communications coach Joan Johnson said her “regrets” in 2025 were more like gentle lessons. She admitted she sometimes rushed to help without fully sensing people’s emotions and focused too much on facts instead of kindness. In 2026 she hopes to be more emotionally intelligent, using empathy and reassurance to help people navigate doubt, loss and major life changes.
Entrepreneur and pageant/film promoter Sapphire Adaobi said she has no regrets about 2025, describing the year as full of life changing moments. She plans to spend Christmas on vacation in Morocco with family and also watch some AFCON matches while plotting business expansion in 2026. Her goal is to take her pageant and film ventures to the next level and achieve new milestones.
Digital creator Calabar Chic called 2025 a year of awakening. She said she only regretted not moving into business beyond the creative space much earlier, noting that talent must be backed by structure, systems and multiple income streams. Over the year she started laying foundations in media and production, real estate, art, agriculture and technology, and plans to expand those ventures and launch new platforms that empower others in 2026.
For Christmas, Calabar Chic said her focus is on giving and human connection, not glamour. She intends to spend the holidays quietly in her hometown, sharing with children, the elderly and disadvantaged families and helping them enjoy the season.
Actress Patra Bright said her biggest regret in 2025 was putting her acting career on hold to accept a highly paid corporate role as a TV station general manager. She left the job after two months when she realised she missed being on screen and quickly returned to film sets. Looking ahead, she wants to make quality films, build on her appearance in a Netflix project and secure more international collaborations in 2026.
Across their stories, the celebrities emphasise resilience, faith, planning and generosity as they move into 2026. Many say they are using the festive season as a time to reflect, reconnect with loved ones and set clear, intentional goals for the new year.
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