I Was Bullied For Being Myself | Legally Clueless Ep 385

I Was Bullied For Being Myself | Legally Clueless Ep 385

Author: Legally Clueless July 5, 2026 Duration: 48:20
I Chose Myself Every Time | Jony The Hairdresser (Part 1)

Many know Jony The Hairdresser as the celebrity hairstylist behind some of Kenya's biggest names. Others know him as the hilarious Sister Nancy and Brother Bernard from social media. But before any of that, he was a little boy from Naivasha trying to understand why simply being himself made him a target.

In Part One of Jony's story, he takes us back to his childhood, growing up in a home where he felt accepted, navigating school as a feminine young boy, surviving relentless bullying, and the violent attack in high school that changed his life forever. He also shares why he made the unexpected decision to turn down university and pursue hairdressing instead, a choice that would eventually shape the rest of his life.In this episode, we cover:
  • Growing up in Naivasha and embracing his identity from a young age
  • Finding acceptance at home while navigating judgment outside it
  • How excelling in school became a form of protection
  • The emotional and psychological impact of bullying in high school
  • Surviving a violent mob attack just before sitting his KCSE exams
  • Why he never told his family what had really happened
  • Processing failure after KCSE
  • Walking away from Strathmore University despite being admitted
  • Choosing hairdressing over a conventional career path
  • His first experiences training as a hairstylist
  • Landing his first salon job and learning difficult lessons early in his career
Upcoming Wellness Talk
Divorce Care: When the Marriage Ends, Finding Yourself Again 
Divorce is rarely just the end of a marriage. It can also mean grieving the future you imagined, rebuilding your identity, navigating family dynamics, finding community again, and learning how to move forward with hope.Join us on 25th July for a virtual Wellness Talk with accredited psychologist Faith Guchu as we unpack:
  • The grief nobody talks about
  • Rebuilding your identity
  • Healing before the next chapter
  • Rebuilding your village
  • Co-parenting and new family realities
  • Creating a life you genuinely love again
Get your ticket here:
legallycluelessafrica.hustlesasa.shop/products/6a3e9f14658513739e5d9e0f

Connect With Jony The Hairdresser
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonyhairandmakeup/
For bookings: 0705808139
Studio: Viking House Waiyaki way ,second floor ,room2

Share Your Story
Have a story you'd like to share on Legally Clueless? Submit it here:
https://forms.gle/JMrQD55jcrazKFKX7

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If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your shares help these stories reach the people who need them most, and we truly appreciate every one of them.

Each week on Legally Clueless, Adelle Onyango turns the microphone toward the beautifully messy reality of growth. As a well-known Kenyan media personality and social activist, she doesn't offer polished advice from a stage, but instead documents her own unvarnished experiences, framing her life as an evolving and unapologetically African woman. This creates a rare and welcoming atmosphere where uncertainty isn't a flaw but a shared starting point. The heart of this podcast lives in the stories-Adelle opens the space for a chorus of African voices to share personal narratives that might teach you something one moment and have you laughing or crying the next. These aren't theoretical discussions; they're authentic accounts from everyday lives, full of the specific textures and truths that often go unheard. Tuning in feels less like attending a lecture and more like sitting in on a powerful, ongoing conversation where the only requirement is to be human. You'll find a sense of connection in hearing others navigate the same complexities you do, all within the candid and compassionate world this podcast builds every episode.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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