Namibia's Dillish Pearl Mathews Wins 2013 Big Brother Africa (The Chase) U.S.$300,000 Prize

  Dillish Pearl Mathews

Namibia's Dillish Pearl Mathews has won the Big Brother Africa (BBA) reality TV show and will smile home with the $300,000 prize money.

In a finale of many shocks and twists, the undergraduate from Windhoek beat five other housemates who made the grand finale of the show.

Dillish Mathews, who finished in second place in a Miss Universities pageant held in Benin, Nigeria, was saved five times from possible eviction by Africa. She never won a Head of House (HoH) task nor any 'Power of No' over the 13-week period of the show. Five countries: Angola, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda voted to ensure Dillish's triumph.

Nigeria's Melvin Oduah, the man touted by many to win, in a shocking twist, finished a distant third runner-up spot. He could only secure Nigeria and the Rest of Africa's country votes. Beverly Ada Osu, the other Nigerian in the finale, got the Ethiopian's vote to finish just behind Melvin in 5th place.

Many Nigerians had expected Melvin to go all the way after finishing in second place in both the 'Mr Nigeria' and 'Gulder Ultimate Search' competitions in his home country. In finishing 4th, the second-place syndrome tag is something he has to still live with.

Ghanaian tailor, Elikem Kumordzi, finished as the 2nd runner-up with votes from Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and home country Ghana. He also won the Most Romantic Gesture prize that comes with $10,000 cash to splash over the course of an all-expense paid trip.

In winning Big Brother Africa, The Chase, Dillish becomes the third female winner after the triumphs of Zambia's Cherise Makubale in the first season and Nigeria's Karen Igho in the sixth.

Zambia's rap diva Clementina Mulenga finished closely in second place behind Dillish with votes from Botswana, Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.

The grand finale of shocks ensured that the three West African representatives who made the top 5 finished in positions way below expectations.

This may not be unconnected with a fight back from Southern and East African countries who felt the West Africans were bragging too much about their winning prowess on Africa's biggest reality TV show.

Dillish had promised to buy a house so she can live together with her siblings like real family if she won the $300,000 prize money.

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East Africa went all out to vote for her. Out of 15 country votes  Dillish got 5, Cleo 4, Elikem 3, Melvin  2 and Beverly = 1.

Below is how countries voted.

Angola: Dillish

Kenya: Dillish

Namibia: Dillish

Tanzania: Dillish

Uganda: Dillish

Botswana: Cleo

Malawi: Cleo

South Africa: Cleo

Zambia: Cleo

Sierra Leone: Elikem

Zimbabwe: Elikem

Ghana: Elikem

Nigeria: Melvin

Rest of Africa: Melvin

Ethiopia: Beverly

http://allafrica.com/stories/201308260104.html

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/lifestyle/2013/08/26/bba-the-chase-dillish-takes-home-the-big-bucks/