Marya Okoth, the former partner of comedian YY and mother of one, has shared her experiences navigating life in the public eye.

In an interview with Nairobi News, she opened up about the blessings and challenges of fame, her lessons from social media, and the impact of her personal life being in the spotlight.

“Social media has completely changed my life. I never thought it could become a source of income or a career path for me. It has given me a level of fame I never imagined, but being in the spotlight comes with challenges. You have to live a certain way because people are always watching.”

Marya revealed the importance of self-perception amid public scrutiny.

“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t control how people perceive you. While you can shape your actions and carry yourself well, you can’t dictate what others think.”

She added that both positive and challenging moments have shaped her.

“I see both the good and the bad as important reminders of the choices I have made. I don’t want to forget any part of my journey because every moment has contributed to who I am today.”

Marya also admitted that her career in social media has come at the cost of personal privacy.

“One of the biggest sacrifices I’ve made is trading my personal life for my career. Social media requires a certain level of openness, and sometimes that means letting people into your personal space.

There is also the pressure to appear perfect in public. People don’t expect you to make mistakes, and when you do, they’re quick to judge.”

Marya’s candid interview comes two months after she and YY announced their separation on social media in September 2024.

While Marya has maintained a relatively private stance, YY has been more vocal about the split.

In a late October 2024 interview with SPM Buzz, YY spoke about his approach to healing and moving on.

“I love to build a family for myself, and one thing I know as a man is that if you give yourself more than six months after a long-term relationship ends, you will never move on. If you get used to it, you will never want someone beside you,” YY said.

He added, “If I stay single for eight months after a breakup, I cannot settle down. You get comfortable. Relationships are a risk. My mum is happy, and I am happy. I’m not doing this for anyone; I’m doing this for me.”

The ex-couple shares a 3-year-old daughter together

YY also clarified that he and Marya were not legally married but shared a bond that resembled a traditional marriage.

“In as much as we didn’t get married legally, we respected each other. It’s just the documents we didn’t have, but we treated each other as husband and wife. The papers are just a formality,” YY explained in an interview with Ankali Ray.

He dismissed claims that their relationship was a casual arrangement, insisting, “I don’t want people going around disrespecting what Marya and I had by saying it was a come-we-stay marriage. No, it was not.”