Former Nairobi Diaries actress Maya says she has never been hooked on Miraa, contrary to how she was portrayed on the reality television show.

“I have used miraa four times only, but I was never an addict. I am a businesswoman now and I have people who want to partner and expand my business with me, but because of the history and the picture that was painted about me, some fear,” Maya said on Tuesday.

Maya explained that she tried the stimulant for the first time out of curiosity.

“Out of curiosity, I asked my friends why they were using it. They said it helped them feel better after drinking alcohol. That is when I took miraa for the first time,” she said.

She says she was with her fellow cast member Barbie, who recorded her, and that is how people got to know that she took miraa.

“I have used it like four times and the last time I took it was when I had a shoot at night. I called a friend who brought it to me,” she said.

Maya also revealed that some of the lowest moments for her in the ratchet show were when she was involved in fight scenes.

“I could be shooting and the time we engaged in fights was so low for me. Coming from a fight and mingling with people after the show was so hard, especially because I came from a clean background,” she said.

“It was degrading and low for me. I fought twice in the show and the respect people had for me was lowering. You have to interact with a lot of people so when you are in their midst, they are talking about you for the worst reasons ever.”

She explained that she was not happy being in the show and wanted to quit before the season finale.

“A lot of the shoots were cut but I would never plait my hair because we would always start a fight. I would have liked to quit before but because I am not a quitter, I had to wait until the last season comes to the end,” Maya said.

The businesswoman said her father even questioned her why she was in the show because he feared she could be harmed.

Maya has now turned her focus on her boutique business as well as managing a family business.