Must-see photos of Kenyan celebrities who glowed up after fame

Being in the limelight, the glow-up that celebrities get after becoming rich and famous is what inspires many people to want a better life.

Some of the Kenyan celebrities that have experienced such a glow-up are Catherine Kamau (Kate Actress), Sauti Sol, Huddah Monroe, Njugush, Jalang'o, Octopizzo, Akothee, and Vera Sidika.

Here's a before and after:

Catherine Kamau

Catherine Kamau popularly known as ‘Celina’ and ‘Kate Actress’, is one of the Kenyan celebrities whose story has inspired many. The 'Sue na Johnny' actress got pregnant three months after joining campus and had to quit school to take care of her son.

However, she never gave up, when the opportunity arose to act in her first role in 'Mother in Law' she took it by the horns.

She rose to fame as the actress ‘Celina’ in mother-in-law and her star has continued to shine bright ever since. Both her acting skills and her fashion sense have grown immensely and the actress has on many occasions confessed to how much her glow has improved over the years.

Sauti Sol

Sauti Sol, consisting of Bien-Aime, Chimano, Savara, and Polycarp, is now known as the best Afro-pop group in Africa. Starting out, the boy band’s fashion sense was characterized with simple shirts and jeans, best described on their video ‘Soma Kijana’ which was one of their first-ever videos.

However, the boy band has since been raising the bar to achieve a level of sophistication and standard to both their music videos and to also their own brands, which was not always the case.

The Sauti Sol band of now is not the Sauti Sol band of then.

Huddah Monroe

Socialite and Entrepreneur Huddah Monroe, was just a simple girl from the block, and her before photos characterized a lady who was still innocent and naïve. One of the photos that have been circulating on social media shows that Huddah once had a gap in her teeth, which is no longer there.

Huddah is now a fashion inspiration to most Kenyan women, what with posting photos on social media from different countries with different clothing brands such as Balmain, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and flashy jewellery.

Njugush

Comedian Timothy Kimani, popularly known as Njugush, who rose to fame from the show ‘house helps of Kawangware,’ has on many occasions even made fun of himself for his tiny framed body. However, around two years ago, Njugush displayed his abs on social media signalling he had started his journey to fitness.

In terms of his career, Njugush continues to pursue his stand-up comedy career through a show that he started with his wife Celestine Ndinda, 'Through thick and thin', which finalized season two early this year. The comedian has also gotten several endorsements from brands in Kenya and is now a household name in the industry. 

Jalang'o

Comedian Jalang’o, real name Felix Odiwour, has perhaps the greatest glow up career-wise as he is currently running for a parliamentary seat for Lang’ata Constituency. Jalang’o, who rose to fame in the show ‘Papa Shirandula,’ did not always have flashy clothes, shoes, and lifestyle.

Before relocating to Nairobi, Jalang’o was born and raised in Homa Bay county and started out as a fisherman. However, the comedian, with his witty comments and funny character was able to climb the entertainment ladder to now becoming a radio talk show host, Kenyan entrepreneur, and influencer of many brands.

The comedian even pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Community development from Daystar University and graduated last year.

Octopizzo

Kenyan rapper, Henry Ohanga AKA Octopizzo, who is now one of East Africa’s most recognized rappers, grew up in one of the biggest slums in Africa, Kibera. The rapper grew up in gangs and in crime after his parents died by the time he was at the age of fifteen.

The rapper has never shied away from talking about his previous life in his rap songs and now has an ‘Octopizzo foundation’ that seeks to empower underprivileged young people.

Akothee

Musician Esther Akoth also known as Akothee, was not always the rich and powerful woman that she is now. Akothee, who became a single mother at a young age, has always talked about how she was left alone by her baby’s father to fend for her kids and she had to start from nothing.

Owing to her music, and her brand deals, Akothee is now arguably the richest musician in Kenya, after being named by Forbes as the 15th richest musician in Africa and the only Kenyan on the list. Akothee now flaunts her wealth and her glowed-up children on social media for all to see.

Vera Sidika

Lastly, socialite and entrepreneur Vera Sidika, who came to the limelight after her video vixen debut on the song ‘You Guy’ by Collo featuring P-unit, has since created a brand for herself as Kenya’s socialite but now turned entrepreneur.

The socialite’s before photos show a darker-skinned Vera Sidika to which she confessed to lightening her skin and later getting breast implants to restructure her body to her own pleasing.

Vera said speaking on NTV sometime in 2020, "Looking good is my business, My body is my business, nobody else's but mine."