MTV Shuga star, Helena Nelson Ikoi, has taken to social media to celebrate being able to pay for her rent in Lagos Nigeria, three years after squatting with friends.
Helena who revealed she once had a home of her own in Lagos, opened up on how she became broke, homeless and lost most of her friends after her former relationship ended.
She hinted on how her ex almost ruined her life, made her poor, talked bad about her to her friends after they broke up.
In one post she wrote;
I finally paid my first rent after falling from glory. I am so happy I can afford to pay my rent again after 3 years of failing myself because of situations I couldn’t control at the time. I accept congratulations, gifts, money, a bed and furniture you’re not using please. Thank you to my family and friends for supporting me all through my homelessness.
OMG edited to add as requested from the comment section:
My account details in case you want to support me. Thank you so much!!!
0153148382
Gtbank
Ikoi Helena Nelson
Thank youuuu!!!
In another post, she wrote;
I’ve lived in Lagos since 2013 and lived alone from 2015. I’ve been paying rent since 2015 till 2021 and then I met a man (a man I had no business doing more than hook ups with and made poor choices that led to ripple effects of struggles) and my life went downhill from there. I was homeless and stranded since 2021 and today, I can finally call a place my home.
The least rent I ever paid since 2015 was 250k and my first rent money was even given to me by one very sweet lady I have in my life. So believe me when I tell you, this might be small for you but right now it literally means the entire world to me. I’m so so happy. I’m so so grateful. Gosh!!!. I’m screaming!!!!! I hope my new neighbors know they have a noise maker around now!
She added;
When I met this guy, I thought we wanted the same things and for someone like me without a support system, every mistake I made with this guy took me many steps back and held me down.
For someone like me who is very independent and literally do everything for myself, turning a blind eye to his red flags really affected me a lot because if I had a support system and I was jobless and homeless, my people will look out for me and cover my nakedness. I mean, because I wasn’t even speaking with my mum at the time, it took me a whole lot of audacity to call her and tell her I was stranded and she immediately asked me to come home and even sent transport 3 times before I was able to come.
I made poor decisions by trusting the wrong people even when the signs were clear and I have been learning my lessons.
As a young lady without a support system reading me right now, any mistake you make will always affect you more than it would affect people with support systems. You literally have to go back to scratch and build yourself again. Some of these people are coming to take your cement and building materials. You have to open your eyes. Naivety and ignorance is not an excuse.
I take responsibility for my actions and I’m happy that I can fully breathe again.
Helena Nelson starred as ‘Diana’ in MTV Shuga. The rising star also graced our screens before as an extra in MTV Shuga since season 3. She has featured on productions such ‘Clinic Matters’, ‘Until You’re 16’ and ‘Jenifa’s Diary.’ Helena took a break from acting after she met her ex-lover and relocated with him to Ghana.
In one of her interviews where she was asked why she wanted to be an actor, she responded;
I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I like the idea that I can take up any character I am given and make it so believable. I like the thrill of watching people relate to whatever character I’m given and that is what I enjoy about acting. Nobody inspired me to be an actor. I’ve always been the type of girl that talks to herself. Talks to her reflection in the mirror. Growing up there were lots of drama groups in church so it was easy for me though my mum didn’t want that.