Former bread seller turned model Olajumoke Orisaguna, popularly known as Olajumoke Onibread, has opened up about the domestic abuse that led to the dissolution of her marriage four years ago. Speaking candidly in a recent interview with City 105.1 FM, she pulled back the curtain on the painful reality that existed behind her public success story.
Olajumoke, who captured the nation’s imagination when she accidentally photobombed TY Bello’s photoshoot years ago, transforming her life from a bread seller to a modeling sensation overnight, revealed that her private life was far from the glamorous image portrayed in the media. Her marriage, she disclosed, was marred by violence, unemployment, and alcoholism.
The former bread seller painted a stark picture of her domestic situation, describing how she became the sole provider for her family while her husband remained unemployed, spending his days sleeping. The situation was further complicated by his heavy drinking habits, which often led to violent confrontations. He would come home and physically hurt me after our fights,” she revealed, her voice carrying the weight of years of suppressed pain.
Perhaps most heartbreaking was her revelation about how her professional success became a source of conflict rather than celebration. According to Olajumoke, her husband would accuse her of infidelity whenever she secured modeling assignments, turning what should have been moments of triumph into sources of tension and fear.
When the abuse became unbearable, Olajumoke sought counsel from her mother, only to receive a response that highlighted the complex cultural attitudes toward marriage in Nigerian society. Her mother’s statement that she “wasn’t responsible for her marriage to the man” served as a pivotal moment in Olajumoke’s decision to prioritize her safety and well-being over societal expectations.
The timing of these revelations is particularly poignant as Olajumoke has recently embarked on a new career path, sharing video footage from her new workplace. This transition symbolizes not just a professional change but a broader journey of personal reconstruction and healing after trauma.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder that public success does not shield someone from private suffering. The contrast between her fairy-tale discovery story – the bread seller who accidentally walked into fame through TY Bello’s lens and the reality of her domestic situation highlights how public perceptions often fail to capture the full complexity of someone’s life.
Olajumoke’s decision to speak out about her experiences comes at a time when conversations about domestic violence in Nigeria are gaining more attention. Her status as a public figure adds significant weight to these discussions, potentially encouraging other survivors to seek help and challenge the societal pressures that often keep victims silent.
The revelation of her four-year separation also explains her notably independent public presence in recent years, though she had previously maintained privacy regarding her marital status. This discretion itself speaks to the careful balance public figures must maintain when dealing with personal trauma while in the spotlight.
Her journey from bread seller to model, and now to a new career path, demonstrates remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges she faced at home, Olajumoke continued to work and provide for her family, showing extraordinary strength and determination.
This latest chapter in Olajumoke’s story adds another layer to Nigeria’s ongoing conversation about domestic violence, marriage expectations, and women’s autonomy. Her experience highlights how economic independence, while crucial, doesn’t always protect women from domestic abuse, and how success can sometimes exacerbate tensions in relationships marked by power imbalances.
As Olajumoke moves forward with her life, sharing her story becomes an act of both personal healing and public service. Her decision to speak out challenges the silence that often surrounds domestic violence in Nigerian society and offers hope to others who might be facing similar situations.
The contrast between her accidental rise to fame and the deliberate choice to share her painful experiences shows how Olajumoke has evolved from being simply a symbol of overnight success to becoming a voice for survivors of domestic abuse, proving that true strength lies not just in achieving success, but in surviving and speaking truth to power.
