Several actors who were part of the renowned TV series Tahidi High have recently shared their struggles with alcoholism and depression, which emerged soon after their departure from the show. This issue has raised concerns among their fans. One of the actors, Angel Waruinge, known as Miss Morgan to her fans, openly admitted to battling depression and alcoholism.
During a recent interview with media personality Massawe Japanni on Radio Jambo, Miss Morgan shed light on the prevalence of addiction among Tahidi High cast members. She explained that during that period, individuals had ample money and leisure time, often leading to indulgence in alcohol consumption as a form of recreation.
Nonetheless, she urged Kenyans to refrain from solely targeting Tahidi High actors, as there are others who face similar challenges but have not yet come forward to share their experiences.
“I fail to understand why they focus on Tahidi High. They should let us be. In the beginning, Tahidi High was the top show during 2005 and 2006. Alcohol became a source of enjoyment.”
“Youthful, famous, and financially well-off, receiving attention from various influential people. The reason why people are distancing themselves now is due to the multitude of entertainment options available. Back then, we only had KTN, Citizen, and Nation. Nothing else,” she expressed.
Depression and alcoholism often go hand in hand. Discussing her personal struggle, Miss Morgan emphasized that many individuals in the entertainment industry experience depression due to their unpreparedness in handling fame and wealth.
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what triggered my depression. However, I felt compelled to speak out about my battle with depression and alcoholism, particularly within our industry. Speaking for myself, I believe most celebrities fall into depression primarily because they are unprepared for fame. Once you become famous, you become an easy target for judgment, even for the smallest things. Consequently, you live your life according to societal expectations while attempting to be true to yourself.”
“As a result, when you return home, you remove the mask you’ve worn all day to fit in, even though that is not who you truly are… I am not Miss Morgan; I am Angel Waruinge. These are two distinctly different individuals,” she revealed.
For Angel, separating her celebrity persona from her personal life proved to be challenging and had a significant impact on her well-being.
“Depression felt like emptiness to me. Before anything else, Massawe, please stop referring to me as Miss Morgan. I am not Miss Morgan. The flawless woman you see on TV is not who I am. I am Angel, and in my own way, I might be perfect. For the longest time, I struggled to distinguish between these two personas, living as Angel and as Miss Morgan. It affected me greatly due to the expectations of numerous people,” she explained.
Addressing her significant weight loss, the actress admitted to desiring weight reduction for an extended period as it had negatively impacted her self-esteem and hindered her chances of securing job opportunities.
“My weight gave me a tremendous lack of confidence, and it also cost me numerous job prospects. Being plus-size, light-skinned, and having a youthful appearance worked against me,” she acknowledged.
