Chinonso Arubayi (born May 24 1987, age 36 years old) is a Nigerian actress, TV presenter, producer, beauty entrepreneur, and mental health advocate popularly known for her movie production debut, I am Nazzy. She is from Awka, Anambra State.
Chinonso Arubayi has been on the screens as far back as the early 2000s but she started to gain recognition in 2018 when she joined the popular cooking TV show, Urban Kitchen. She has gone ahead to feature in a lot of movies and series, including the popular comedy series My Flatmates. Chinonso is also a producer and has produced her first film I am Nazzy which has been well-received among critics. Find out more about the actress below.
Summary of Chinonso Arubayi’s Bio
- Full Name: Chinonso Arubayi
- Gender: Female
- Date of Birth: May 24, 1987
- Age: 36 years
- Ethnicity: Igbo
- Nationality: Nigeria
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Widowed
- Husband: Late
- Children: 1
- Instagram: @chinonsoarubayi
Where Is Chinonso Arubayi From?
Chinonso Arubayi is from Awka, Anambra State but was born in Warri, Delta. The beautiful actress spent a greater part of her childhood in Lagos. There is a little confusion in the media about her state of origin, especially due to the fact that she grew up in Lagos but had her tertiary education in Anambra; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka to be precise.
Chinonso started from her school days to indicate her interest in arts. She worked with her school campus radio station as a presenter. Another shot she had in show business in her early years was when she contested and won in the Miss Teen Nigeria beauty pageant in 2005.
How Old Is She?
The talented actress is 36 years old as many sources have reported. She was born on May 24, 1987, and is a Gemini. Chinonso started out her career at the age of twenty seven with the popular comedy series The Johnsons. Although the recognition she got at the time was not sufficient to launch her into stardom, she got some positive reviews for her role.
The young actress continued to make her own way in the industry by working with small TV platforms to boost her portfolio. She was in her 20s when she got gigs with shows like Project Swan and You’ve got Issues.
She Got Her Breakthrough In Film and TV In 2018
Chinonso Arubayi witnessed a huge boost in her career in 2018 as she began hosting major shows with high viewership. That year, she joined Filmhouse TV Show as a host and was also unveiled as the host of the popular cooking show ‘Urban Kitchen’.
It is recalled that the elegant actress got enrolled at the Pan Atlantic University where she studied filmmaking at the institution’s School of Media Studies. In the course of her studies, she bagged a lead role in the feature film ‘Beyond Pardon’ produced by Mary Remmy Njoku.
Chinonso was greatly commended for her excellent portrayal of her character in the film; as a result, boosting her relevance in the industry. This boost saw her land more notable roles in productions such as ‘Rumor Has It’, ‘Lockdown’, ‘My Flatmates’, and lots more.
The actress has gained recognition on some platforms in the industry for her work over the years. In 2021, she was nominated for Next-Rated Actress of the Year at the Africa Choice Awards. She was awarded the Distinguished Actress of the Year at the Nigerian Women Achievers Awards in February 2023.
Chinonso Arubayi Made Her Production Debut ‘I am Nazzy’ in 2022
The beautiful actress produced her first film ‘I am Nazzy’ in 2022. Apparently, her stay at the Pan Atlantic University equipped her with the essential knowledge she needed to embark on her journey as a producer.
The movie directed by Kayode Peters was released in April 2022 and premiered in March 2022 at the EbonyLife Cinemas. I am Nazzy projected the virtue of contentment with its theme. The movie starred different popular actors like Jimmy Odukoya, Jidekene Achufusi, IK Ogbonna, Denrele Edun, and many others.
List of Chinonso Arubayi’s Movies
- Crazy Grannies
- Warmth in Despair
- Deathly Obsession
- Loving Amanda
- 3 Can Play
- Killing Eva
- 3 Brides
- Fated to Love
- The Real Us
- Grim
- Denial
- Keeping Daniella
- It’s Complicated
- Fantasy
Chinonso Arubayi’s Husband Is Late
Before Chinonso became popular in the industry she was married to Eric Arubayi. He was a singer and the 3rd runner on the music reality show West African Idol in 2007. Late Eric died at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara in 2017 after suffering complications from taking an expired drug. He was 34.
Losing her husband at such a young age was a heavy blow to the actress. Chinonso and the late Eric got married in 2014 in a beautiful wedding ceremony with family and friends present. However, after only three years of marriage, she lost her husband to the cold hands of death in 2017.
Chinonso admits in an interview that her late husband’s death caused her to question God at some point as she had felt she was betrayed by God. The actress also went on to reveal she struggled with societal expectations regarding how she grieved her late husband.
Speaking #WithChude she revealed how people complained that she was not seen crying for her husband. Others would complain about her hair, make-up, and color of clothing as not meeting up to the expected appearance of a grieving woman.
Who Is Chinonso Arubayi’s Son?
Chinonso and the late Eric Arubayi have a son together; his name is Jayden Arubayi. Jayden is their first and only child as a couple. He was born in January 2015. The talented actress often posts photos of endearing and heartwarming moments with her son. The actress lives together with her son and has not made any statements regarding getting married again.
Chinonso Is A Successful Beauty Entrepreneur And Mental Health Advocate
Apart from being an actress, Chinonso is also a beauty entrepreneur. She revealed that her husband’s death taught her that life is short which is why she is spending time doing the things she loves and the beauty business is part of it. She is the CEO and founder of Lookartmebeauty, a skincare brand for all skin types.
Chinonso is also a wellness and mental health advocate. She is known for giving speeches at mental health conferences as well as creating wellness platforms of her own. Her biggest motivation comes from her fortitude and resilience through her widowed years.