Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke born 1982 and gradually becoming a veteran of Nollywood has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She was also the runner up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant of 2002 and the sixth child in a family of ten with seven siblings. She had her primary and secondary school education in Delta State before heading to the University of Calabar, where she graduated with a degree in English and Literary Studies.

Initially it was as if she was unlucky with matrimony as she was married to a former Super Eagles player, Chikelue IIoenuosi, a marriage which a high court in Lagos declared null and void, because at the time they got married, Chikelue was already legally married to another woman in the US.

In April 2005, on her way to the African Movie Academy Awards held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, Okereke was involved in a serious car accident that left her with burns all over and a broken leg. She recovered speedily from the accident and went back to acting.

Later she started dating Linus Idahosa. The two loverbirds were said to have separated due to reasons best known to them, but just when hope was receding, both got back in each other’s arms.

In April 2012 Stephanie Okereke married Linus Idahosa in Paris, France, at a private wedding ceremony that was attended by members of her family and scores of Nollywood actresses and actors.

“I’ve always dreamt of a fairytale wedding, especially as a child growing up. I’ve always imagined a fairytale wedding with my prince charming in a castle on an Island. And thank God that my husband finally made that possible inside this 16th century castle in Cernay, Paris, France,”she stated concerning her multimillion naira wedding.

Confirming that she had finally found love in spite of earlier disappointments and rumours sorrounding her relationships she said: “It’s a beautiful feeling to be in love and be with the one person you wish to spend the rest of your life with.”