Nairobi diaries actress Vanessa Chettle has moved her fans into tears after sharing a heartbreaking life story.
In a recent interview with Charles Lwanga, the former socialite opened up about the negative side of fame.
Vanessa's first marriage, to a man she met on Facebook, was a significant turning point. At just 18 years old, she married a man in his 60s, a relationship that attracted much controversy and media attention.
However, the marriage, lasting only two years, ended due to jealousy and the pressures of her rising fame.
Vanessa's life in Nairobi was a whirlwind of parties, relationships with industry bigwigs, and a growing dependence on drugs.
She admitted to giving her car to her drug dealer in exchange for a steady supply of cocaine and pills. This lifestyle drained her finances and strained her relationships, leaving her isolated.
Faced with no stable home, Vanessa's life became a cycle of moving between friends' houses. She even spent time living like a street child in Eldoret.
"My family started looking at me differently. Like a burden. I went to Mombasa. Then I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I was there for about 7 months then came back to Nairobi and stayed with a friend for about a month and gave birth."
Her dark journey over 8 years saw her get a second baby daddy, where she was a housewife. That ended with rumors about the identity of the biological dad to her second child.
Vanessa said after her third-born daughter was born, she died after five days, and she broke up with her baby daddy and had no one to comfort her during her grieving time.
Currently, Vanessa has limited contact with her family, relying mainly on her father, who lives abroad.
Vanessa did not grow up with a mother and promised to give her daughters the best life and be a present mum.