Image: Risper Faith

Socialite and entrepreneur Risper Faith has opened up about the lengths she once went to in order to project an image of wealth and success online.

Speaking in an interview with Dr. Ofweneke, Risper confessed that much of her glamorous lifestyle during her early days in the limelight was staged.

“Mi nilikua na fake sana, by the way. For instance, I didn’t have a car, but I used to go to Eastleigh to buy a Mercedes Benz lighter,” she revealed, referring to dummy car keys she flaunted as props on Instagram.

Risper first gained fame as one of the breakout stars of reality show Nairobi Diaries, which showcased the dramatic lives of socialites and entertainers. But behind the glitz, she admitted, came pressure to live up to the expectations of fans and brands.

She revealed that despite not owning a car, she wanted to be seen as living a high-end lifestyle — a strategy she believed was necessary to thrive in the competitive influencer world.

To keep up appearances, Risper often took cabs to maintain the look of affluence, only to switch to matatus later in her journey. It was a balancing act designed to make her life seem richer than it really was.

“It was all about appearing rich and successful, even when the reality was very different,” she admitted.

The socialite acknowledged that her polished online persona was far removed from her day-to-day struggles. In an industry where only those who appeared wealthy seemed to advance, exaggerating her lifestyle felt like survival.

Her candid revelation has triggered a wave of online reactions. Some praised her honesty, saying it sheds light on the hidden pressures of influencer culture. Others, however, criticized the practice, arguing that such illusions mislead audiences and fuel unrealistic expectations.

Today, Risper says she has left the pretenses behind, focusing instead on her family and business ventures. By choosing authenticity over appearances, she hopes her story will highlight the lessons learned from chasing clout.

Her journey adds to a wider conversation about the cost of social media fame — and the value of authenticity in a world built on curated illusions.