Big brother Naija star Symply Tacha on Tuesday, November 12 has officially entered the Guinness World Records after breaking not one but two records in the beauty category.

The 29-year-old Nigeria Reality TV star achieved the most cosmetic done in 8 hours (82) and then went on to achieve the most cosmetic done in 24 hours (144).

Although, the record was attempted a month ago, public attention recently surged following Guiness World Records confirmation and publication of the attempt across its platforms. This delayed spotlight, is known with Guineas world records as every detail has to be scrutinized and confirmed before publication.

ANITA NATASHA AKIDE

Anita Natacha Akide popularly known as Symply Tacha is a media personality, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Over the years, she has made several public appearances including appearing as a housemate in the famous Big Brother Naija Season 4 reality show, she also appeared in MTV's The Challenge: Spies, Lies & Allies.

She has been honoured with different awards for her reputation, awards like Net Honour's Most Popular Person, Female Personality of The Year, Celebrity Entrepreneur of the year and among many others.

Natacha beyond all the social media glamour has proven to be a philanthropist that cares for her people. In 2020, she founded the Natasha Akide Foundation which had the motive to serve the underprivileged. Under this, she launched the Pad For Every Girl Initiative (PEG) to educate every girl on female hygiene.

Beyond Philanthropy, Tacha has gained a reputable figure in contemporary Nigerian Pop culture, leveraging her social media presence to shape conversations on beauty, confidence and women Empowerment. Her brand partnerships and influence has set her among the most recognisable young figures in the entertainment industry.

She's also credited with starting the action against hunger initiative which helped to fight the hunger many families faced during the pandemic.

THE GUINESS WORLD RECORD

On Saturday, November 11, Natacha set up her makeup station behind a glass wall at the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Lagos. According to the Guiness World Records, Natacha spent the entire day transforming the looks of 144 women within the span of 24 hours — an achievement that earned her two official world records.

This record attempt, however, wasn't without challenges. Sharing her experience of the attempt, Natacha explained that her and her team faced a nine-hour storm that disrupted everything. According to her, the downpour was so intense that her screen monitors and branded materials fell apart. The wind weren't any merciful — as her team had to rebuild the venue from scratch mid-event.

If that wasn’t enough to drive down her morale and maybe force a stop, Natacha and her team faced series of power outages during the 24-hour attempt. The lights, according to her went off about 3-4 times, but she refused to stop —understanding that she had come this far and couldn't afford to fail. Her team members used put on their mobile flashlights and she had to make do off it to continue the challenge.

For her and the team, it wasn't just about the challenge again, it was proving that nothing could stop them — proving the resilience of African Women and reinforcing their place on the global stage.

Despite these challenges, her determination and skill remained flawless and this was evident in the transformative look she gave these women including influencers like Venita Akpofure, Mitchy, and content creators Wanni and Handi.

GWR ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RECORD

On Tuesday, November 12, great news broke across the social media space when Guinness World Records officially recognised her attempt, awarding her two new world records — making her the only Nigerian to have achieved the feat of holding two World records at the same time.

The record for most makeovers done in 24 hours was formerly held by Sierra Leone's Make-up artist, Mary Yongai who gave makeup services to 111 women. This record, definitely not an easy one was smashed by a new contender — Symply Tacha who surpassed the record with an extra 33 volunteers. Each of Tacha’s 144 makeovers included foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, lip liner, gloss, finishing powder, and eyebrow shaping for it to count towards the record.

Speaking after her recognition, Tacha said she was motivated by her passion for creativity and her belief in the power of African women.

She said, “The idea of daring to be different drove me. Makeup has always been my safe space, it is how I express myself. From childhood, I was fascinated by beauty and colours. I would play around with mascara, eyeliners, and lip glosses even when my mother, a devoted church worker, did not approve. She would throw my products away and I would save up to buy them again. That pattern taught me persistence to keep fighting for what I love.”

She explained that her inspiration for the challenge came from a desire to show that Nigerian women can achieve anything they set their minds to. “This record was born from resilience and the courage to stand out. I wanted to show that creativity is powerful and that African women deserve global recognition,” she added.

She also explained some of the challenges she had faced and how her team came through for her, she also highlighted how every single person that showed up became a beacon of hope for her when it got tough.

The record attempt required lots of volunteers and preparations. Over 100 volunteers, technical assistants and coordinators worked shifts to manage queues and ensure every single move was in line with Guiness World Records' strict evidence rule.

She appreciated her team, including project manager Seun Oluyemi Anthony, known as Otunba, for coordinating logistics and helping recruit models.

The star said her achievement represents “every girl child who has ever dared to start over, every creative who has ever been doubted, and every dreamer who believes that greatness can come from anywhere.”

Ultimately, Natacha's achievement has sparked wide celebrations among Nigerians and the global community. However, discussions have also emerged about how challenges like recurring power outages are still a reality in Nigeria. This has renewed conversations about the structural challenges that creatives and entrepreneurs continue to face and how much it limits them.