Nigerian music video director Praise Onyeagwalam, widely known as Director Pink, has opened up about why she abandoned her acting ambitions.

The award-winning filmmaker revealed that experiences of humiliation and sexual exploitation at auditions pushed her to pursue a different career path.

In a recent interview with Hip TV, Director Pink recounted the demeaning long queues at movie auditions and inappropriate calls from male filmmakers inviting her to compromising locations, which ultimately led her to step away from acting.

“I wanted to be an actress, but the humiliation was too much. Long queues, shady ‘come to this location’ calls—I said ‘No.’ That’s when I decided to become my own boss,” she explained.

She acknowledged that directing music videos comes with its own set of challenges but said she is ready to make sacrifices for her career.

Director Pink advised aspiring music video directors to be patient and embrace delayed gratification, noting that it often takes years for industry professionals to reach the top.