Sonia Irabor
{{Short description|Nigerian writer, actress and filmmaker}}
{{Orphan|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sonia Irabor
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|01|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
| nationality = Nigerian
| education = University of Leicester;
Drama Studio London
| occupation = Writer, Filmmaker, Actress, Editor
}}
Sonia Irabor (born 3 January 1990) is a Nigerian writer, actress, and filmmaker. She is the editor of Genevieve Magazine.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-03|title=Genevieve magazine editor, Sonia Irabor clocks 30|url=https://allure.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/sonia-irabor/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=Vanguard Allure|language=en-US}}
Biography
Irabor was born to Soni and Betty Irabor, both media practitioners.{{Cite web|title=SONIA IRABOR: How I Evolved, Built My Own Identity|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/03/01/sonia-irabor-how-i-evolved-built-my-own-identity/|date=2020-03-01|access-date=2021-12-01|website=ThisDay|language=en-US}} Her mother is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Genevieve Magazine{{Cite web|date=2019-01-26|title='Depression…what we need is more talk therapy, empathy'|url=https://guardian.ng/features/health/depressionwhat-we-need-is-more-talk-therapy-empathy/|first=Chukwuma|last=Muanya|access-date=2021-12-01|website=The Guardian|language=en-US}} while her father is a radio and TV broadcaster.{{Cite web|last=BellaNaija.com|date=2016-12-08|title=Soni Irabor: Celebrating a Quintessential Media Icon|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2016/12/soni-irabor-celebrating-a-quintessential-media-icon/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}} In 2011, she graduated from the University of Leicester where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Media Studies.{{Cite web|date=2017-07-28|title=Betty Irabor’s Daughter, Sonia Becomes The New Editor Of Genevieve Magazine|url=https://g9ija.com/2017/07/28/betty-irabors-daughter-sonia-becomes-the-new-editor-of-genevieve-magazine/|first=Benedicta|last=Robbins Patrick|access-date=2021-12-01|website=G9IJA.com|language=en-US}} She later attended the Drama Studio London where she obtained a Diploma in Professional Acting and graduated in 2016.{{Cite web|title=Alumni {{!}} 2016 Graduates|url=https://www.dramastudiolondon.co.uk/choose-year/2016-graduates|access-date=2021-12-01|website=www.dramastudiolondon.co.uk}}
Career
Irabor began her career by managing the "Teen Zone" column of Genevieve Magazine at the age of 13.{{Cite web|date=2017-08-19|title=My mother's shoes are too big to fill, I am carving my own path - Sonia Irabor|url=https://guardian.ng/guardian-woman/my-mothers-shoes-are-too-big-to-fill-i-am-carving-my-own-path-sonia-irabor/|first=Tobi|last=Awodipe|access-date=2021-12-01|website=The Guardian|language=en-US}} She has worked as a radio presenter and producer and also in PR, Upon graduation from university, Irabor became Assistant Editor/UK Correspondent for Genevieve Magazine{{Cite web|last=Tolu|date=2017-02-26|title="I don't have much of a personal life" {{!}} Genevieve Magazine's Sonia Irabor speaks on being Assistant Editor and parental influence|url=https://ynaija.com/i-dont-much-personal-life-genevieve-magazines-sonia-irabor-speaks-assistant-editor-parental-influence/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=YNaija|language=en-GB}} after which she was appointed Editor in 2017.{{Cite web|last=BellaNaija.com|date=2017-07-29|title=Sonia Irabor named Editor of Genevieve Magazine|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/07/sonia-irabor-editor-genevieve/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}} As an actress, Sonia has appeared in a number of plays, films and TV series including Man Of Her Dreams,{{Cite web|last=BellaNaija.com|date=2019-03-08|title=WATCH the Season Finale of Victor Sanchez Aghahowa's "Man of Her Dreams" starring Sonia Irabor & Folu Storms|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2019/03/watch-the-season-finale-of-victor-sanchez-aghahowas-man-of-her-dreams-starring-sonia-irabor-folu-storms/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}} Inspector K,{{Cite web|date=2017-04-15|title=The Media Blog: The first episode of Inspector K is pretty cool|url=https://ynaija.com/first-episode-inspectork-cool/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=YNaija|language=en-GB}} and Table.{{Cite web|date=2018-06-04|title=Under 30 Creatives|url=https://www.forbesafrica.com/under-30/2018/06/04/under-30-creatives/|first=Forbes|last=Africa|access-date=2021-12-01|website=Forbes Africa|language=en}}
Filmography
- Slum King (2023)
Recognition
In 2018, Sonia was named as one of Forbes Africa's 30-under-30 creatives. She was named as one of the 10 most powerful young persons in the media space on the YNaija power list.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-16|title=#YNaijaPowerList2018: Mercy Abang, Fisayo Soyombo, Instablog9ja… See the 10 most powerful young persons in the media space|url=https://ynaija.com/ynaijapowerlist2018-mercy-abang-fisayo-soyombo-instablog9ja-see-the-10-most-powerful-young-persons-in-the-media-space/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=YNaija|language=en-GB}}
Alongside her mother, Sonia was recognized as number 11 on the 2021 "25 Most Powerful Women in Journalism" list by the Women in Journalism Africa.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-02|title=Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Stella Din, Kadaria Ahmed named among 25 most powerful Nigerian female journalists|url=https://www.thecable.ng/ijeoma-nwogwugwu-stella-din-kadaria-ahmed-named-among-25-most-powerful-nigerian-female-journalists|first=Bolanle|last=Olabimtan|access-date=2021-12-01|website=TheCable|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-06-04 |title=Yemi Alade, Sonia Irabor, Falz, others make 2018 Forbes Africa Under-30 list |url=https://punchng.com/yemi-alade-sonia-irabor-falz-others-make-2018-forbes-africa-under-30-list/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}