# Zainab Balogun

Zainab Balogun-NwachukwuListen(born 10 October 1989) is a Nigerian actress, model and television presenter. She began modelling at an early age after being scouted at 16. She has been featured in several international campaigns for different brands. She co-founded The J-ist TV, an online entertainment web-series that highlights African culture and a range of topical issues; the series features interviews involving some of Africa's top personalities.
Balogun works as a television presenter for EbonyLife TV, an entertainment television station for which she currently co-hosts and produces The Spot, the channel's leading talk show with Lamide Akintobi. Balogun also appears as a presenter and associate producer on Jumia TV, a teleshopping show.

## Early life and career

Balogun was born in London to Nigerian parents, where she was raised with a large extended family, predominantly in Clapham, a district of South West London. She is Yoruba from the Egba subgroup and claims descent from a family from Abeokuta, Ogun State. Due to the nature of her mother's work, she moved around a lot and spent most of her formative years growing up with relatives.
Her secondary school education was obtained at Sacred Heart RC Secondary School. Her interest in the arts began with her regularly taking part in talent shows and school plays. She studied music and eventually went on to join the school choir and later formed an R&B girl group with two friends called Regné (pronounced "reign"). She attended Christ the King Sixth Form College where she completed her A Levels in Law, Psychology, and English Language & Literature. She then attended the University of Kent in Medway where she received a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB).
Balogun worked as a model after being scouted by Premier Models Management at the age of 16. After obtaining her law degree, she began to appear in shows such as BBC One's Material Girl, Bollywood movie Cocktail (2012) and The Charlatans by Ashley Waters. She soon found herself on set with legendary director Christopher Nolan in 2011 for the film The Dark Knight Rises, which she describes as an "unforgettable experience".
Balogun is now a television presenter, who produces and hosts shows for EbonyLife TV, an entertainment television network. She has also produced shows such as EL Now, a daily entertainment news show for the latest in fashion, music and arts. She is currently joined by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Lamide Akintobi on The Spot, a daily hang-out talk show.

## Personal life

In May 2018, Balogun married Dikko Nwachukwu, founder of Jetwest Airways. The pair were traditionally married on 13 May in Lagos, Nigeria.
Balogun splits her time between London, England and Lagos, Nigeria.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2012 | The Charlatans | Natalia | |
| 2012 | Material Girl | host | |
| 2012–present | EL Now | host, segment producer | |
| 2012–present | The Spot | host | |
| 2013 | Knock Knock | Hawa | Webseries |
| 2014 | VHS: Music Artist Wannabe Skit | herself | webseries |
| 2014 | Verdict | Lavena Johnson | webseries |
| 2014–present | Jumia TV | host, associate producer | |
| 2015– | Before 30 | Fast Girl, Ekua | |
| TBA | The Island | Teni Bowen Cole | |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | The Dark Knight Rises | Dancer | Featured role |
| 2012 | Cocktail | Party Guest | Featured role |
| 2015 | A Soldier's Story | Angela | Supporting |
| 2016 | The Wedding Party | Wonu | Supporting |
| 2016 | Ojukokoro (Greed) Entreat | Linda Linda | Supporting |
| 2017 | The Wedding Party 2 | Wonu | Supporting |
| 2017 | The Royal Hibiscus Hotel | Ope | Lead |
| 2018 | Sylvia | Sylvia | Lead |
| 2018 | Chief Daddy | Ireti | Supporting |
| 2018 | God Calling | Sade | Lead |
| 2019 | Walking with Shadows | Ada | Directed by Aoife O'Kelly |
| 2021 | Fine Wine | Temisan | Directed by Seyi Babatope |
| 2021 | Collision | Lagos City News Reporter | Directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters |
| 2021 | Charge and Bail | Boma Ossai | Directed by Uyoyou Adia |
| 2021 | Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke | Ireti | Supporting |
| 2022 | Kofa | Hauwa | Directed by Jude Idada |
| 2024 | Last Call | | Directed by Shola Thomson-Adewale |
| 2024 | On the Edge | Lola | Directed by Temitope Bolade |
| 2024 | The Beads | Ranti | Directed by Moyinoluwa Ezekiel |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2013 | Exquisite Lady of the Year Awards | TV Presenter of the Year | Won |
| 2014 | Sisterhood Awards | TV Presenter of the Year | Won |
| 2014 | All Youth Tush Awards | On-Air Personality of the Year | Won |
| 2014 | Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards | Sexist On-Air Personality | Won |
| 2014 | Exquisite Lady of the Year Award (ELOY) | TV Presenter of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) | Prize for Acting | Won |
| 2020 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress in a Drama | Nominated |