This is how it feels to marry a supermodel
Jasmine Atieno @sparkleMine
Yvonne Achieng Odhiambo is a quiet and reserved woman and at the same time a pushy entrepreneur, a go-getter who doesn’t let anything stand in her way to her goals.
She is an independent-minded woman who has been mistaken for a feminist due to her drive to empower girls and women and make them value their independence, which has greatly impacted the value of relationships in today’s generation.
And away from her career life, her husband Philip Oketch, aka Philip Pip, describes his marriage to Yvonne as the most beautiful journey he has ever walked.
He says their union began with an introduction by a close friend. “I met Yvonne through a mutual friend, but we had had several encounters on social media and a few times in real life.
It, however, never occurred to us that we would one day end up together until much later,” he says.
Achieng hails from Kano, Ahero in Kisumu county, but she was born in Nairobi, in Maringo Estate in Eastlands.
She has four siblings; an elder brother who works in South Sudan, two sisters , Thatcher and Caro and a younger brother Sammy.
“In the eyes of many, Achieng has been considered a supermodel and independent entrepreneur, but to us, his family, she is the most fun loving person, easy and wonderful mother to our two children.
Her love for good food would probably come as a surprise to many who believe modelling goes hand in hand with self starvation to maintain the skinny bodies,” he chuckles.
Marriage like any other
Philip reveals that his wife, a lover of travelling, treasures spending time with her siblings and likes dressing up and having fun.
“I wasn’t used to getting new attires whenever there was an event to attend until I met her.
ow my wardrobe is full of clothes that I cannot wear again because she won’t allow me to, since I have been photographed in them,” he laughs.
He says their son has also became a mini-celeb, thanks to her career.
“I go out with him to certain places and people call him out by name and this takes me aback until it downs on me that he is always on Instagram and he has fans that have been following his life since he was born,” he poses.
Being in a relationship with a beauty queen and public figure, however, comes with many challenges, and this happy paradise has not been all roses and sweet waters.
Philip says it has been a beautiful journey because of all the challenges they have been able to overcome together.
Especially when it comes to dealing with public intrusion into their private lives.
“I must admit that the biggest challenge in dating Achieng has been the fact that she is independent and popular. When you meet a girl who has her life all together, it is not the same,” he says.
But he clarifies that they are public figures, only in the eyes of the public, but behind the scenes, they are a couple like any other going through normal challenges.
To unwind, the couple makes a point of taking a holiday once a year for quality time together. Their favourite destination is Paris where they got engaged.
Privacy intrusion
Countless times, Philip admits that handling intrusive fans calls for a lot of understanding, and to not let it interfere with the relationship that they have worked hard to build together.
But he also shares that it has been very helpful getting good mentor of couples who have been in the public eye over years and still running their family institution successfully.
“I have learnt to live with it as I was once there. It can get annoying at times, but when you think of it as ‘it’s part of her work’ then it lessens the bother,” he admits.
He singles out musicians Nameless and Wahu as a celebrity couple he admires most. “People think that marriage is easy, but it’s not.
What people go through together is tough, and this coupled by the fact that we are public figures makes it 10 times as hard to be and stay married,” he says.
He says making their marriage work has been intentional. “It is like coming up with a formular, a formula that works for them!” adds the renowned entrepreneur.
Being an entrepreneur himself, the couple has done a lot of joint businesses together. Unlike many couples who would think mixing business with family is a recipe for failure, Philip shares that in fact, they are currently working on a fashion line project together, and he has no fear because he is sure it is a win for them.
“Achieng’s most outstanding traits are her resilience and perseverance. They are on another level.
I have been in business for a long time and I am the person she comes to for all kinds of business advice.
We are starting a new business together in her fashion line, especially when it comes to decision-making as I am the finance person, while she is the creative one,” he adds.
For Philip, the best advise he can give to any man who wishes to hold on to his marriage and relationship, is learning to be apologetic when they have made a mistake or have offended their women.
The worst advice he ever received on running his relationship was from a friend who advised that as his wife, she was entitled to understanding all situations no matter what.
But what he had come to understand is that wives are as human as they come and when wronged, they get hurt and it gets worse every time it happens.
He also adds that it is a wonderful bonus that she is a good cook.
“Well the thing about men’s hearts and good food has got to be true,” he chuckles.
“However, there was a time pilau refused to cooperate and our dogs ended up enjoying that meal,” he laughs.
