Actress Monalisa Stephen has shared her experience of being in an abusive relationship.
In an interview with Punch Saturday Beats, she revealed that she didn’t initially recognise the abuse for what it was until it turned physical.
“I didn’t realise it was happening to me,” she said.
“I’d heard other women talk about abuse, but I never thought it could happen to me. I used to think, ‘I’m a big woman, why would anyone want to hurt me?’ But abuse isn’t about your size.
“Anyone can be a victim, whether you’re large or not. When I got that first slap, I was in shock. It came out of nowhere and over something so insignificant.
“I was dazed. The whole experience was unexpected and painful because I trusted him.”
She also mentioned how she lowered her standards to date him, despite knowing he wasn’t on her level.
“This person continued to beat and humiliate me. When I confronted him, asking why he was doing this, he told me his friend advised him that women like me needed to be ‘bent’ to be dominated. That completely changed how I saw some men.”
Monalisa further noted that contrary to popular belief, public figures also face personal challenges.
She explained that some people, especially those seeking to date celebrities, see them as easy targets.
