Olajumoke Orisaguna, the Nigerian model popularly known as “Olajumoke Onibread,” has opened up about the devastating impact of domestic abuse on her career and personal life.
The model, who gained overnight fame in 2016 after an unplanned appearance in a photoshoot with British rapper Tinie Tempah, later captured by renowned Nigerian photographer TY Bello, became a household name almost instantly. However, her unexpected rise to fame was followed by a disappearance from the public eye, leaving fans wondering about the reasons behind it.
The Struggles Behind Her Fame
In an emotional interview on City FM, Olajumoke shared the painful details of her troubled marriage to her ex-husband, Sunday Orisaguna. She described their life in Ire, Osun State, as a “hostile” environment, citing the mistreatment she received from her mother-in-law and the alleged physical abuse by Sunday as key factors that worsened her situation.
After moving to Lagos, Olajumoke began hawking bread to support herself and her children. It was during this challenging time that she unexpectedly crossed paths with TY Bello, which led to the photoshoot that would change her life forever. Despite her newfound career success, the abuse continued after Sunday joined her in Lagos.
“I had to explain that I had to say that because I have children,” Olajumoke recalled, describing the tough situation she faced while balancing her personal struggles and professional life. She further revealed, “Even in the house that was rented for me in Surulere, he would still beat me up.”
The Fallout From Separation
Olajumoke admitted that the stigma of separation, particularly as a mother of two, kept her from speaking out for a long time. She also claimed that her career suffered due to Sunday’s deliberate attempts to ruin her reputation, as he allegedly spread lies about her and her supporters.
“What I am saying now, I have never said it out before,” Olajumoke confessed. “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?”
She continued, “I did not even tell TY Bello what was going on. I could not even 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.” According to Olajumoke, the abuse would escalate when Sunday returned home after drinking, and any small disagreement would result in physical violence.
The Strain on Her Career and Personal Life
Olajumoke explained how, despite being the sole breadwinner, her ex-husband’s behavior continued to worsen. “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,” she revealed. “He would just stay at home and sleep or go out to drink.”
The tension reached a breaking point when Sunday began to accuse her of infidelity whenever she returned late from photoshoots. “He would accuse me of sleeping around with other men,” Olajumoke said. She ultimately decided to separate from him.
However, the fallout from their separation only worsened her situation. “It got so bad that he would even start insulting my parents,” Olajumoke shared. “It was when I separated from him that everything started going down the drain because he started spoiling my name.”
She concluded, “All those who had helped me then, he started saying bad things against them. Since then, things started going down.”
