Content creator Elizabeth Amadu, better known as Jarvis, has shared a deeply personal account of her difficult upbringing, financial hardships, unexpected rise on TikTok, and the circumstances that led her to meet her partner, popular streamer Peller.
Jarvis revealed that she was largely raised by her grandparents after growing up in a turbulent home. Her mother, who lives with bipolar disorder, created an unpredictable and often traumatic environment.
“I was already exhausted. Grandpa was sick, and I came into a family through a mother who has bipolar disorder,” she said. “Today, she would be nice and good; the next minute, she could become violent, destroy things and insult us. She would say things like, ‘Oh, you stupid child. What are you doing here? Your father is mad.’”
She also disclosed that she never knew her biological father. According to Jarvis, her mother travelled outside Nigeria, became pregnant, and returned home to give birth to her.
“I didn’t grow up with my dad because I don’t know who my dad is. So, I don’t know anything about my father. But she would keep saying, ‘Oh, your dad is this, your dad is that.’ Growing up without a dad was not easy, especially because my mum was not mentally stable,” she added.
Despite the challenges, Jarvis credited her grandparents for providing the discipline and stability that shaped her. “I grew up with my grandma and grandpa, and they did their best to raise me well. They were very educated and strict. That strictness was what tamed me, and I appreciate them because it really helped shape my life.”
Financial struggles were a constant part of her early years. Jarvis and her sister frequently went hungry and struggled to pay school fees. Determined not to drop out or turn to questionable means of earning money, she resisted peer pressure.
“Because we were always hungry, we would go on TikTok and watch food videos just to feel satisfied. We would salivate and, at the end of the day, cry and pray, saying, ‘God, please help us.’”
A friend she met on TikTok later introduced her to live streaming as a way to earn income. On her first attempt with her sister, they attracted about 200 viewers and made $5.
“I was like, ‘Wow!’ … But when we went live and saw that we had made five dollars, we were happy.”
The sisters continued streaming regularly despite opposition from family members who viewed social media negatively. Their main goal was to fund their education and meet basic needs.
Jarvis also recounted how she first encountered Peller during a livestream. At the time, he showed interest in her sister, and she initially tried to redirect his attention.
“I met Peller on a livestream. He was wooing my sister. He was also liking me, but I was like, ‘Bro, don’t talk to me. Talk to my sister. You and her would have that connection.’”
Her shyness, concern about her family’s reaction, and the age difference made her hesitant. She viewed their early interactions purely as content creation opportunities.
“For me, it was simply, ‘Let’s create content and have fun. Dey your dey, let me dey my dey. If we meet in front, we’ll just be friends.’ I never expected all of this to become reality.”