Vera Sidika: Filming ‘Real Housewives of Nairobi’ while pregnant was exhausting
Socialite Vera Sidika has opened up about her post-breakup life and the fresh perspective she brings to the new season of The Real Housewives of Nairobi reality series.
Vera and her ex-husband, Brown Mauzo, announced their separation in 2023.
Reflecting on the challenges of filming the first season in 2022 while pregnant, she expressed relief at returning for the new season feeling revitalised.
“Being pregnant during the last season was quite demanding. I often felt exhausted and had very little energy left. But now I’m back with renewed vigour. I feel like myself again,” Sidika says.
Sidika suggests that viewers should expect to see a different aspect of her personality in this new season.
“Certainly Season 2 shows a different side of Vera. It’s dynamic, exciting and engaging, and I’m still the same Vera that everyone knows – the vivacious and fun Vera”.
Returning as a single mother, Vera reflects on her status following her split from Brown Mauzo.
“In Season 2 it’s just Vee, a single mum who’s gone through a divorce. I feel like I’m presenting the most authentic version of myself this season. I’m embracing life and enjoying it because divorce is not the end of everything and I want people to understand that. In fact, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” she told Nairobi News.
On being a mother of two, Sidika said she is excited that people will see more of her as a mother and how she handles motherhood with two babies, both under two years old.
Sidika says filming this new season was fun.
“You know there’s a difference between drama and madness and this Season is just a mix of everything. It’s different kinds of emotions – happiness, sometimes it’s sad and sometimes people go crazy”.
Her relationship with fellow housewife Minne Kariuki has been one of the most refreshing things to watch on the show.
Sidika says: “Minne is amazing – I feel like last season we didn’t get that close because we had someone in the middle trying to stop us from being friends. Our friendship was very neutral – it was like we were friends, but then there was some distance and a lot of trust issues because there were so many sides.
“But when we finished Season One, we built a very great friendship outside of the show. It was beautiful, and now, coming back for Season 2, we are best friends in real life and not just for the show. And that’s the best thing is that we’re close, and people get to see our friendship, and they get to see us together as a family, you know, her family and my kids. She’s a sister to me now, and of all the Housewives, she’s my best friend.
The first two episodes of the hit reality series are now available on Showmax.