The Mommy Club NBO star Lynne Njihia on being a Gen Z mother

Award-winning commercial model and content creator Lynne Njihia has faced relentless online trolls since stepping into the spotlight as the ex-fiancée of Kenyan comedian-turned-activist Eric Omondi.

The couple welcomed their first child in 2023 after what Lynne revealed to be a challenging pregnancy, giving birth prematurely at just 34 weeks. But the challenges didn’t stop there.

Lynne bravely opened up about her struggles with postpartum depression and her post-pregnancy weight-loss journey, which quickly became a hot topic on social media. Despite the mixed reactions and online criticism, Lynne remains resilient, proving she’s unstoppable in her journey of recovery and self-love.

In an exclusive with Showmax, the 24-year-old discusses dealing with motherhood struggles in Showmax’s reality show The Mommy Club NBO.

Balancing motherhood and a relationship in the public eye can be tough. How do you navigate that?

First, being a mom in the public eye is tough. You have an audience that expects content from you every day - you must deliver. But at the same time, you have a baby. You have this little person looking up at you, like, "Yeah, it’s me and you, girl!"

Sometimes, it gets hard. Like today, I haven’t even seen my daughter for hours. We slept in the same house, but I still haven’t seen her. It’s not something I’m proud of, but these are the sacrifices I must make. The future I’m working so hard to build – it’s not just for me; it’s for her too. I want to make sure she has a good life, a good future.

Honestly, I’m also blessed to have a good nanny. I pray for her too because she plays such a big role in this journey. For me, it’s all about grace and focus. That’s what keeps me moving forward.

How do you and Eric balance your relationship?

We are actually very open, and I’m so glad I found someone who values that as much as I do. You know how some couples have all these weird rules? Well, we don’t.

For us, it’s all about support and communication. As long as we are there for each other, we are good. If I want to do something, like go for a shoot, he’s always there to support me. Whether it’s helping me find equipment or a location, he’s got my back. And I do the same for him.

That’s what keeps us going. It’s the little things, the mutual support, and knowing we’re both rooting for each other every step of the way.

You have been so open about your postpartum journey. What advice would you give to other new moms?

Postpartum was hard for me. I felt lost, even with support from my mom and Eric, as I tried to rediscover myself after giving birth. That’s why I have been open about it – because postpartum depression is real, and moms need to know it’s okay to take care of themselves.

For me, taking time for myself was crucial. After gaining weight during pregnancy and facing harsh comments online, I decided to work on myself. I started with the gym but had to quit due to health risks associated with C-section delivery. I turned to dancing instead, which became therapy for me.

The journey taught me the importance of self-care. Moms often focus on everyone else but taking even a couple of hours to prioritise yourself – doing your hair, makeup, or anything you enjoy – is vital for your well-being. Now I feel more like myself again, and I am proud of how far I have come. My advice to new moms: it is not selfish to put yourself first sometimes. It’s necessary.

What’s the most rewarding (and challenging) thing about being a young mom?

The most challenging thing about being a young mom is that you’re a mom, but at the same time, you’re still trying to figure yourself out. As for me, I have someone who is fully dependent on me, yet I’m only 24. I still feel stuck sometimes, like I’m not sure if I want to focus on modeling, content creation, or something else entirely. I’m still figuring it out. That’s the hardest part – trying to discover who you are while also balancing motherhood.

But honestly, the best thing about being a young mom is that you’re still young yourself. You are kind of a child too, so it’s easier to vibe with your child. That’s my favourite part – it makes everything feel a little lighter.

What are some of the craziest DMs you’ve ever received since becoming a public figure?

When I first got into social media, I used to cry a lot. People would body-shame me and call me all sorts of things, and it really got to me. But over time, I think I’ve developed thick skin. These days, I don’t mind the conversation. If people are battling it out in my comments, I’m okay with it. At the end of the day, it just doesn’t affect me the way it used to.

What are some of the misconceptions that you have heard about yourself?

People might think I am naïve, but trust me, I’m not! Yes, I’m soft-spoken, and I’m introverted, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing.

I get a lot of advice from people saying things like, "Lynne, you don’t know what you’re doing!" But here’s the truth: I know exactly what I’m doing. Everything I post, everything I say, every move I make – it’s all well-thought-out. So no, I’m not as naïve as I might look.

What’s your take on showing the world your daughter?

Before Kyla was born, I remember seeing a celebrity couple trying so hard to hide their baby’s face, and then the face ended up being exposed on a blog anyway. That’s when I decided: You know what? Let me just show my baby’s face.

I want her to grow up feeling free, but I’m also very intentional about balancing her childhood and content creation. I don’t see my child as content. I only post her when I take a nice picture, and even then it’s not forced.

If you had a mommy’s night out with no kids allowed, what’s the first thing you’d do?

First, I would definitely go out to dance. Then … after that, I’d go home and sleep (laughs). Because honestly, sometimes all a mom wants is a quiet night with no responsibilities.