( CNN ) -- Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is known as the Queen of Nollywood , Nigeria 's booming movie industry . Since her 1995 film debut , the actress has appeared in some 300 movies , selling millions of videos and establishing herself as a Nollywood icon . A prolific film siren , Jalade-Ekeinde has also carved out a successful career as a singer and reality TV star . But there 's more to Nigeria 's beloved celebrity than her glittering entertainment career . Here are 10 things to know about Jalade-Ekeinde . She 's an icon : Last year , she was named as one of the top 100 influential people in the world by Time Magazine , in the Icons category . `` I think that 's what gives me more satisfaction , '' she says . `` The fact that I was n't just recognized as an artist but as an icon -- I 'm very grateful for it . '' She is an activist : Jalade-Ekeinde uses her stardom to speak out about social issues affecting various African countries . An ambassador for the United Nations and an activist with Amnesty International , Jalade-Ekeinde has been on missions to Sierra Leone and Liberia . She 's a family woman : Jalade-Ekeinde is married to an airline pilot and is a mother of four children . The story behind `` Omosexy : '' Her popular nickname , `` Omosexy , '' was given to her by her husband -- and it has caught on . `` That 's my husband 's pet name for me , '' she says , `` and the fans love it and now people call me Omosexy almost more than Omotola . '' Her fans love her : Jalade-Ekeinde has amassed a large following -- in 2013 , her Facebook page has surpassed 1 million likes . Today , it 's 1.2 million , and counting ... Her road to stardom was paved with childhood tragedy : Jalade-Ekeinde lost her beloved father in her early teens . She started working at 15 to help support her family , her first job being a model . Her mother did n't like the idea of her young daughter acting and initially forbade Jalade-Ekeinde from doing so . Finally , she gave in after a film director , joined by the entire movie crew , went to her house to beg her to allow Jalade-Ekeinde to appear in the `` Venom of Justice '' movie . She is part of `` New Nollywood : '' Keen to improve the quality of Nollywood movies , Jalade-Ekeinde is now building a film studio -- what she calls a `` Village . '' `` I 've come to a place where I realize I have to leave something , '' she says . `` I have to have a legacy . `` We need infrastructure ; that 's what we need now in Nollywood . We have the fans , we have the figures , we have people chanting and calling your name but we do n't have infrastructure ... We need studios , we need film villages we need schools and that 's exactly what I 'm doing right now . '' Cameras follow her around : Besides gracing the covers of several lifestyle magazines , the leading actress is also the first Nigerian with her own reality TV show , `` Omotola : The Real Me . '' She can sing too : Jalade-Ekeinde always loved music but decided to launch her singing career after she became an activist and started working with the U.N. World Food Programme . `` I started going on all these missions and I came back and I saw so much I wanted to sing about it , '' she explains . `` I 've always wanted to sing all my life anyway , but that was the motivation I needed . '' Read this : 10 things to know about Lupita Nyong ' o . Read this : Netflix of Africa ' brings Nollywood to world . Read this : Jeta Amata - ' I am Nollywood '
Known by her fans as ` ` Omosexy , '' Omotola Jalade - Ekeinde is a leading Nigerian actress . She has appeared in more than 300 movies over the years . In 2013 , she was included in Time Magazine 's list of the top influential women in the world . More than just a model , she is a U.N. ambassador and an activist .