Content creator Erasty Victoria Wanjiru Kunde, popularly known as Baby Elly, has spoken candidly about the painful body-shaming she endured from childhood, revealing that some of the harshest remarks came from people closest to her.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Jambo, Baby Elly said she has been plus-size for as long as she can remember. Because of her body size, she constantly faced criticism from those around her, making her childhood and early adulthood emotionally challenging.
“I’ve been overweight since I was a child. I’ve always been this big. And when you have a bigger body, people always have something to say about you. Everyone has an opinion, whether you’re big or small. But when you’re plus-size, it becomes too much,” she said.
Despite the negativity, Baby Elly refused to let criticism define her. She credited her mother for encouraging her to believe in herself and pursue her dream of becoming a content creator. According to her, those words of encouragement gave her the confidence to step into the public eye.
“There came a point when I told myself I couldn’t keep hiding. I’m a star, and I have to shine. No one can dim my light. Even my mother always tells me, ‘You are a star. Shine, my child,'” she shared.
The influencer admitted that online trolling still affects her, but she has learned to protect her peace by blocking people who post abusive messages instead of engaging with them.
Baby Elly also disclosed that the hurtful remarks began at home after her parents separated. She recalled that her father frequently criticised her weight, comments she says left lasting emotional scars.
“My dad isn’t exactly slim himself, but he never missed a chance to criticise me. He would tell me, ‘You’re too young to have such a big body.’ When those words come from a parent, they hurt so much,” she recalled.
She further alleged that the body-shaming continued during her previous marriage, which she described as abusive. Baby Elly said she was left with physical scars before making the difficult decision to walk away from the relationship.
She also revealed receiving a disturbing message from an online troll who mocked her body size and claimed her former husband should have killed her, a comment she described as one of the most painful she has ever received.