Olajumoke Orisaguna, the Nigerian model who became an overnight sensation in 2016, has bravely shared the painful story of her abusive marriage and its devastating impact on her career.
She is fondly remembered as “Olajumoke Onibread,” a name that became synonymous with an inspiring rags-to-riches tale after she was discovered by renowned photographer TY Bello while hawking bread in Lagos.
Her sudden rise to fame, however, was followed by an equally sudden disappearance from the public eye, leaving many to wonder what happened to the model who once captured the hearts of many.
Speaking candidly on City FM, Olajumoke opened up about her tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband, Sunday Orisaguna, and how it affected her personal and professional life.
Their marriage began in Ire, Osun State, but Olajumoke revealed that it was not a peaceful one. She described the environment as “hostile,” where she faced mistreatment from her mother-in-law and alleged physical abuse from her husband.
Despite these challenges, Olajumoke persevered. She moved to Lagos, where she took up bread hawking to support herself and her children. It was during this difficult time that her chance encounter with TY Bello would change her life forever.
Olajumoke’s life was forever changed when she stumbled into a photoshoot with British rapper Tinie Tempah, captured by TY Bello. This unexpected moment propelled her into the spotlight, making her a household name in Nigeria.
However, her newfound fame came with a dark shadow. Despite her professional success, Olajumoke continued to face abuse from her husband. After Sunday joined her in Lagos, the cycle of violence continued.
“Even in the house that was rented for me in Surulere, he would still beat me up,” Olajumoke confessed. “I didn’t even tell TY Bello what was going on. I could not admit that we were not married. I am a very gentle person, so I did not tell anyone what was going on; I was enduring all of it.”
Olajumoke’s struggle was compounded by the societal pressures she faced as a mother of two. She felt she had to remain silent, not only because of the abuse but also due to the stigma surrounding separation in Nigerian society.
She explained, “Even when I met TY Bello and I told her that I had a husband, my friend was furious when she found out. She was like I do not have sense, why would I say someone who beats me is my husband?”
For a long time, Olajumoke believed she had to endure the abuse in silence for the sake of her children. The societal expectation to stay in a marriage, even one marred by violence, kept her from speaking out sooner.
As time went on, Olajumoke’s life became increasingly unbearable. Sunday’s abuse not only continued but escalated. He would accuse her of infidelity, even monitoring her movements when she went for photoshoots. The emotional and physical toll became too much to bear.
Olajumoke recalled, “He would accuse me of sleeping around with other men. So I decided to finally leave him. It got so bad that he would even start insulting my parents.”
In the end, Olajumoke chose to separate from Sunday, but the consequences were dire. She believes that her ex-husband’s actions began to tarnish her reputation and destroy the career she had worked so hard to build.
After the separation, Olajumoke’s career began to suffer. She claimed that Sunday worked to ruin her name by speaking ill of those who had supported her, including people like TY Bello.
“After I separated from him, that was when everything started going down the drain because he started spoiling my name,” she said. “All those who had helped me then, he started saying bad things against them. Since then, things started going down.”
The model’s career, which had once seemed to be on an upward trajectory, faltered as a result of the damage to her reputation.
Olajumoke’s story is not just about the physical scars of abuse, but also the emotional and psychological toll it took on her. Despite her success, she was often left feeling vulnerable and defeated by the ongoing abuse and the public scrutiny that followed.
She revealed, “While he was beating me, he did not have a job. I was the one who would go out to hustle for us because I did not want my children to suffer.”
Despite the hardship, Olajumoke continued to focus on her children, hoping that one day she would be able to break free from the trauma and rebuild her life.
Olajumoke’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the struggles many women face in abusive relationships. Her story highlights not only the destructive impact of domestic violence but also the resilience it takes to survive such circumstances.
As she continues to heal, Olajumoke’s story is an important message to others who may be going through similar experiences.
“You don’t have to suffer in silence,” she said. “There is always a way out, and you deserve better than living in fear and pain.”
