Bose Alao: How I Became a ‘Side Chick’ to My Husband During Our Separation

Popular Nollywood actress and producer, Bose Alao, has opened up about her difficult marital journey, revealing that she once found herself playing the role of a ‘side chick’ to her own husband during a prolonged separation that lasted three years.

Speaking during an emotional interview, Alao detailed how her marriage, which began in her early twenties, quickly descended into a troubled union filled with abuse, neglect, and emotional pain. She recalled a turning point in 2018, when she sustained a serious injury during a domestic altercation. That incident led her to walk away from the marriage in search of peace and healing.

Despite the separation, she explained that she and her husband maintained a complicated relationship, particularly because of their children. However, during that period, her husband began seeing another woman who, according to Alao, eventually moved into the same neighborhood. The new woman, she claimed, openly mocked her and referred to her as “an old taker.”

Amidst this, her husband continued to visit the family home to see their children, and over time, Alao said the dynamics shifted in a way that made her feel like she had been pushed to the sidelines in her own marriage.

“During the separation, I became his side chick,” she said. “Imagine being the mother of his children, still sleeping with him occasionally, but there’s another woman fully occupying the place I once called mine.”

The actress also shared the extreme measures she took to survive and care for her children during this emotionally draining period. She admitted to sending nude photos to acquaintances in exchange for financial assistance and luxury items, sometimes receiving as much as ₦700,000 from a single transaction. According to her, these actions were driven by desperation, a shattered sense of self-worth, and the pressure to survive alone with four children.

In a moment of unexpected breakthrough, her path to recovery began when actress Iyabo Ojo spotted her anchoring at a traditional wedding and was impressed enough to offer her a chance to host her daughter’s wedding. That opportunity marked the start of a new chapter in Alao’s career, restoring not only her finances but also her confidence.

Reflecting on her experience, Bose Alao emphasized the deep lessons marriage taught her about identity and resilience.

“You don’t know who you truly are until you get into marriage,” she said. “But life has taught me to never become who I don’t want to be—not for love, not for survival.”

Her story has since sparked a conversation about emotional endurance, the hidden struggles many women face in silence, and the societal expectations placed on wives and mothers. For Alao, however, sharing her truth is part of a healing process and a reminder that survival should never come at the cost of self-respect.