Not many, especially in Nigeria, have heard about Omarosé Manigault-Newman, who was, until Wednesday, the only African-American female holding a top office in the Donald Trump-led United States government.

Omarosé, whose father is of Nigerian descent, resigned from her role as Director of Communication in the Public Liaison office at the US White House.

Before becoming a staff in the White House, Omarosé had worked as a broadcaster, a reality TV participant, an actress and even a preacher.

JOURNALIST

According to Wikipedia, Omarosé graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism in 1996 from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. She later moved to Washington, DC, to attend Howard University, where she earned a master’s degree and worked toward a doctorate in communications but she did not finish.

REALITY TV STAR

Omarosé first became popular in 2004 following her participation in the first edition of ‘The Apprentice’, a reality TV programme sponsored by the NBC, starring Donald Trump, then a billionaire businessman.

She was described as a controversial, and sometimes, acrimonious character, and was ranked 45th in TV Guide’s ‘The 60 Nastiest TV Villains of All Time’.

Omarosé  was the only participant in ‘The Apprentice’ to be re-invited for the sequel, ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ in 2008. She was eventually fired in the 10th episode, after serving as the project manager of the team.

ACTRESS

Omarosé had several roles as an actress but she is more widely known for appearing in Soul Sistahs (2006), Knock ’em Dead (2014) and We Are Family (2017).

She dated late American Actor, Michael Clarke Duncan, whom she met in 2010. Duncan later died of a heart-related ailment in 2012.

PREACHER

In August 2009, Omarosé  enrolled at the United Theological Seminary in Ohio to pursue a Doctor of Ministry degree.

She received a preacher’s license in February 2011 from her church (Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California) and was formally ordained on February 27, 2012.

In February 2012, she was working on finishing her degree at Payne Theological Seminary.

Omarosé narrated how she came to the decision of becoming a preacher when she visited an orphanage in West Africa, where she encountered a little girl who “was dying of AIDS”.

She said: “It was at that moment, looking into the face, in the eyes of this dying child that I received my call to the ministry.

“Upon returning to the United States, I put reality television on hold. I put everything on hold and returned to seminary full-time.

“There were people who felt like because I had done the (Apprentice) show so many years ago that maybe that disqualified me from the ministry. I’m not really certain.

“But boy did I hear from the critics, and to them I have to say that they underestimate the power of God’s ability to transform a person’s life.”

SO WHY DID SHE RESIGN?

Though there are some reports saying she was fired, Omarosé maintained she voluntarily decided to quit. She however would not elaborate more as her resignation takes effect from January 20.

“I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people,” Omarosé said.

Nevertheless, Donald Trump took to twitter to bid Omarosé farewell and wish her better times ahead.

Thank you Omarosa for your service! I wish you continued success.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2017