By Ayo Onikoyi

Actor and mixologist, Kay Ojay, has opened up about the side of his life many people do not see online, revealing that behind the confidence and creativity is a softer, more reflective person who often carries his struggles privately.

In an interview with Potpourri, Kay Ojay said his off-camera personality is very different from what many expect.

“When the camera is off, Kay Ojay is a sweeter, softer, vibrant and caring person — a lot more reflective than people expect. I’m not always ‘on,’ not always confident or loud or polished,” he said.

He explained that he values moments of stillness and introspection, noting that the public often sees only the strength, not the process behind it.

“I’m someone who needs moments of stillness to reset, someone who feels deeply and carries things privately so the world only sees the finished strength, not the process,” he stated.

According to him, the internet rarely captures the in-between moments — the doubt before the wins and the exhaustion behind consistency.

“People see the glow, the creativity, the confidence, but not always the courage it takes to show up again after setbacks, heartbreaks, or quiet fears,” he said.

Speaking on his journey into mixology, Kay Ojay revealed that he did not even know the meaning of the word until 2018 when he attended his first class.

“It’s funny because I didn’t even know the word mixology until the very day of my first class in 2018,” he said.

At the time, he was squatting with a friend in Ogudu while navigating a difficult season.

“I was squatting with a friend, Trust Nkem, in Ogudu. He was learning photography, I was working at Planet TV — a station that was struggling — and I was actively job hunting. As a theatre arts graduate, that season was tough,” he recalled.

On blending mixology with acting and storytelling, he explained:

“At the core of everything is service. I genuinely love serving people. That’s when it clicked: why not merge my passion for mixology with my talent for acting and storytelling?”

Kay Ojay also addressed his long-standing friendship with content creator Nonsmiraj, describing it as grounding and impactful.

“We’ve been friends for over 11 years, so she’s literally my sister. Having someone who truly sees you — not just as ‘content,’ but as a whole person — does something powerful for your confidence,” he said.