Susan Pwajok Talks About Acting, Influencing, and Her Journey

Actress, model and content creator, Susan Pwajok, speaks with FAVOUR ABALAKA about her career and more.

You come from a rich cultural background. How has your ethnicity and upbringing shaped you, and has it influenced the roles or opportunities you’ve taken?
My background has shaped me in many ways, especially in how I view family, community, and identity. Growing up as a Nigerian in Northern Nigeria, being connected to my culture has given me a strong sense of my roots and the importance of carrying that with me everywhere.
It has also made me curious about stories and people that resonate with us. When I find a role or opportunity, I naturally lean towards things that challenge me or let me show a different side of myself. But I also love opportunities where I can represent my culture meaningfully.

Many Nigerians know you as an actress, but you’ve also made a name as an influencer. When did you realize social media could be more than just a platform for sharing moments?
There wasn’t one specific moment. It happened gradually.
I started sharing parts of my life and things I enjoyed. I saw that people connected with me beyond the characters they knew. Social media allowed me to show people who I am, not just as an actress.
I enjoyed posting nice pictures and showing my growth and evolution.
Eventually, I realized there was so much I could create with the platform, from fashion and lifestyle to storytelling and talking with people. That was when I began to take it more seriously.

What is the biggest lesson the industry has taught you about resilience and change?
The biggest lesson is that you must be willing to evolve.
This industry is always changing, and you can’t control how people see you or what opportunities come your way. I’ve learned not to let one phase of my career define me.
There have been times when I had to step back, reassess, and decide what I wanted next. That has made me more resilient.
You have to keep learning and allow yourself to become a different version of yourself.

As someone who has acted, influenced, and modeled, how do you decide which opportunities fit your personal brand and which to decline?
I ask myself if I genuinely connect with the opportunity and if it feels like something I would be interested in, even if I wasn’t being paid for it.
I also think about whether it represents the kind of person and career I want to build.
I’m at a point where I don’t want to do things just because they’re available. I want to be intentional about what I attach my name to.

You also tried podcasting for a while. What inspired that move, and is there a chance you’ll return to long-form conversations?
I really enjoyed podcasting because I love conversations.
Sometimes, you learn so much about someone when you give them space to talk, rather than cramming everything into a short clip.
It was another way for me to explore my personality outside acting.
I wouldn’t rule out going back to it. If I do it again, I’d want to approach it differently and create something more intentional.

How has modeling influenced your confidence and your way of expressing yourself?
Modeling has helped me feel more comfortable with myself.
You’re often in different clothes and settings, sometimes asked to embody different versions of yourself.
It taught me that confidence isn’t about feeling perfect all the time. It’s about being comfortable enough to express yourself without worrying about how others will see you.
Fashion has also become a fun way for me to communicate without saying anything.

Your audience is mostly Gen Z Nigerians. What responsibility do you feel with that kind of influence over young people, especially in today’s social media world?
There’s a big responsibility because young people observe a lot.
I’m very aware that what I share online can influence how someone sees themselves, their lifestyle, or what they think they should achieve at a certain age.
I don’t want to pretend I have everything figured out because I don’t. It’s important to show the good moments but also be honest that everyone is still figuring life out.

The entertainment industry is always changing, with creators now competing with traditional actors. How have you adapted to these changes, and what do you see for young creatives in Nigeria?
The lines between being an actor, creator, model, filmmaker, and entrepreneur are becoming less strict, and I find that exciting.
Young creatives now have more chances to create their own platforms instead of waiting for someone to give them a chance.
I’ve learned to adapt because the industry is not just about what happens on set. It’s also about how you connect with your audience and what you create outside traditional entertainment.
I believe the future will belong to those who are versatile and willing to learn.

Do you worry that being an influencer overshadows your acting talent?
I’m aware of that, but I don’t see the two as competing.
I’m grateful that people know me for different things. Acting is a huge part of who I am, and I love it, so I’ll always want to grow in that area.
At the same time, I don’t want to limit myself because people first saw me as an actress.
If anything, I want everything I do to help people see me as a well-rounded creative.

What’s one misconception about you that you wish would go away?
Probably that people think they know exactly who I am because they’ve watched me grow up on screen.
There’s a difference between knowing someone through their work and actually knowing them.
I think people sometimes have a very specific idea of who I am, but I can be quite different depending on my surroundings.
I’m still figuring myself out too, so I don’t expect everyone to have me completely figured out.

Do you think Gen Z celebrities face more pressure than earlier generations because every mistake is online?
Definitely.
There’s so much pressure because everything is immediate now. You can make one mistake, and within minutes, thousands of people have seen it, commented, and formed an opinion about you.
There’s also an expectation to always be perfect because people are always watching.
One of the biggest lessons for our generation is how to make mistakes, take responsibility, and still allow ourselves to grow.

Social media has made celebrities more accessible. How do you balance being relatable and protecting your private life?
Boundaries are really important.
I love being relatable and sharing parts of my life, but I’ve learned that not everything needs to be shared to be real.
Some things belong to me and those closest to me. You can be open without giving everyone full access to your life.
Finding that balance is something I’m still learning, but I’ve become much better at protecting the parts of my life that I want to keep private.

You’ve worked with many actors over the years. Who has challenged or inspired you the most?
I’ve been lucky to work with so many talented people, and I’ve learned something different from almost everyone.
But I really admire actors who can completely disappear into their characters.
Those people remind me why I fell in love with acting. Watching someone take a character and make it feel real always challenges me to want more from myself as an actress.

How has your view of success changed since you started in the entertainment industry?
When I was younger, success was about achievements. It was about getting certain roles, being recognized, and reaching a certain level.
Now, I see success as more personal.
It’s about being happy with who I’m becoming, doing work I’m proud of, and having the freedom to choose what I want my life and career to look like.
I don’t think success has one definition anymore.

Looking ahead, do you see yourself becoming more of an entrepreneur, producer, or filmmaker?
There are definitely parts of Susan that people haven’t seen yet.
I don’t want to box myself in because I genuinely enjoy different aspects of creativity.
I can see myself producing and telling my own stories, building businesses, acting, creating content, and even mentoring younger creatives.
The exciting thing is that I don’t have to choose just one path.
I’m still growing, and I’m excited to see where that takes me.