Chebet Ronoh reveals the dark truth behind ‘functional’ adults with high status
By Paulette Mboga, January 9, 2026Content creator Chebet Ronoh has said that many adults who appear successful are emotionally immature beneath the surface.
The content creator on an Instagram video on Friday, January 9, 2026, said people often look normal and functional, yet lack emotional depth.
“The funny thing is people look normal on the surface, even functional at best, and then you start to peel the layers and realise that grown full adults are just emotionally 5,” she said.
She explained that outward success can be misleading. According to Chebet, people may have wealth, education, or status, but still struggle emotionally.
“They have companies, wealth, friends, in school look absolutely normal but are just so shallow and performing,” she said, adding, “it’s crazy out here.”
Chebet said her views developed as she grew older and became more aware of how society works. She described her realisation as painful.
“Nothing broke my heart like growing up and realising that everything is upside down,” she said.
She explained that what people chase often contradicts what truly matters in life.
Simplicity versus performance
Chebet said she has come to believe that life should be simple, not overly complicated.
“Slow is fast, less is more, life is about simplicity,” she said, noting that many people overdo things to impress others.
She believes this pressure to perform starts early and follows people into adulthood. She also reflected on her own experience growing up.
“Growing up aware I was always like picked on,” Chebet said, explaining that she struggled to fit into groups.
She said she never understood why she felt different from others around her. Chebet explained that her inability to fit in came from refusing to pretend.
“I never could fit in any group,” she said, adding, “it is because I don’t perform, I don’t put on a mask, I don’t pretend.”
She said that authenticity has always mattered to her. “How you see me is how you get me,” she said.
Chebet said many people live behind multiple identities. “They have masks,” she said, explaining that people act differently with family and friends.
She concluded by saying some people lose their true selves in the process, “They don’t even know who they are.”