From Marriage to Massage | I Became a Masseuse to Survive My Husband’s Betrayal

Maryann Awino was raised in Ngomongo by her single father. After he passed away, life became extremely difficult for her. Struggling with poverty, she entered into an early marriage, hoping it would offer some stability—but it turned out to be anything but easy. Her husband was abusive. He beat her severely, sometimes even pulling out her hair. Despite the violence, Maryann stayed because she had nowhere else to go. When she became pregnant, the abuse continued. He threatened her constantly, and although she feared for her safety, she didn’t have the courage to leave. One day, after visiting a friend, she returned home to find her husband furious that she had gone out. He demanded she lie down so he could inspect her, accusing her of infidelity. Terrified, Maryann fled to his brother’s house. Her husband followed her there, armed with a knife, and stabbed her in the back. Thankfully, she survived and the knife was removed. Later, a friend called to inform her that her husband had been shot in the leg by police. When Maryann called him, he pleaded with her never to abandon their child. She tried calling again, but his phone was off. The next day, she went to the police station and was told that he had died the previous night. His body was at the City Mortuary. After his death, Maryann moved into a cheaper house. There, she met a friend who introduced her to work in a brothel. On her first day, she was taught how to catwalk in front of customers so they could choose who they wanted. Maryann was asked to do things she had never imagined. She encountered clients with various fetishes and had to adapt to their demands. In this episode, she will share her experiences—how she navigated the world of sex work, the kinds of clients she met, and ultimately, what led her to leave that life behind.