Nigerian Afrobeats star Yemi Alade has opened up about a difficult period in her life when lying about her age led her into depression and mental distress.

Gossip News Now reports that the award-winning singer made the revelation during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where she reflected on her past struggles and the pressure that came with fame.

According to the “Knack Am” crooner, she had repeatedly claimed to be 22 years old for three consecutive years, until she later realized she was actually 25 — a truth that hit her harder than expected.

“There was a time someone asked me my age, and I kept saying for three years that I was 22. Then I realised I was actually 25. I took out my phone, did the mathematics, and it hit me hard. I was depressed for a few days — my mind couldn’t process it,” Yemi Alade confessed.

“It was mental. For three years, I didn’t even know my real age,” she added.

The singer said the episode caused her mental strain that lasted several years, as she struggled to reconcile her public persona with her reality.

Meanwhile, in a related story, Nollywood actress Nancy Isime recently recounted a touching experience from her early hustling days in Lagos, revealing how Yemi Alade came to her rescue during one of her toughest moments.

Isime shared that she started working at 17 as an usher and model, often finishing late and having nowhere to sleep. On one occasion, she reached out to Yemi Alade — then an acquaintance — asking if she could stay temporarily at her off-campus apartment.

The actress revealed that Yemi Alade welcomed her without hesitation, allowing her to stay for weeks without ever complaining.

Nancy wrote that Yemi’s kindness during that period left a lasting impression on her, calling it a defining act of friendship and compassion during her struggle to build a career in the entertainment industry.