New Zealand Gennady Sharpe who was beaten by boyfriend now inspires other domestic abuse victims

A young woman has spoken out about how she was violently beaten at the hands of her then-boyfriend – and he even forced her to exercise so she wouldn’t get ‘fat’.

Gennady Sharpe, 27, said she fell head over heels for the man after starting her career in sales and within a matter of months they moved in together. 

But when they hit the six-month mark, the New Zealand woman revealed how their relationship completely changed and her partner became increasingly controlling.

Gennady Sharpe, 27, revealed she fell head over heels for the older man after starting her career in sales and within a matter of months had moved in together – but things quickly took a turn for the worse

'I remember vividly the first time he hit me - I remember laying in the fetal position on the ground until it was over,' she said (pictured after she was attacked)

‘I remember vividly the first time he hit me – I remember laying in the fetal position on the ground until it was over,’ she said (pictured after she was attacked)

‘He started forcing me to go to the gym because he didn’t want me to go fat,’ Gennady wrote on Love What Matters.

‘And when I say “force” I mean he called me every name under the sun until I was in utter tears and would leave the house.’

She said his controlling nature impacted all aspects of her life, including limiting her portions to small sizes, choosing her clothes and how she would style her hair.

Her weight quickly transformed under the imposed regime and she said her friends started to get suspicious about her relationship with the man. 

‘My friends were shocked at how small I was getting and how quickly my look changed. They started to ask questions: “Does he treat her OK?” “Is he controlling her?”‘ she said.

‘I remember vividly the first time he hit me – I remember laying in the fetal position on the ground until it was over.’

A young woman who was violently beaten by her ex-boyfriend and forced to exercise so she didn't get fat (pictured during relationship) is now an inspiration to victims of domestic abuse around the world after appearing on a reality TV show

A young woman who was violently beaten by her ex-boyfriend and forced to exercise so she didn't get fat (pictured in an Instagram post this month) is now an inspiration to victims of domestic abuse around the world after appearing on a reality TV show

The young woman who was violently beaten by her ex-boyfriend and forced to exercise so she didn’t get fat (pictured during relationship left, and in an Instagram post this month right)  is now an inspiration to victims of domestic abuse around the world after appearing on a reality TV show

She decided after the show's conclusion to tell her story of abuse and give others the strength to know there is a way out of relationships like the one she endured

She decided after the show’s conclusion to tell her story of abuse and give others the strength to know there is a way out of relationships like the one she endured

But despite turning up to work with a black eye, Gennady said she would make excuses for her injuries and pushed away those who could help her.

‘If people knew, they would tell me to leave him and I was not ready for that at all,’ she said.

‘When you’re the person involved, it’s a whole new level of control you really don’t how know to escape from or understand.’

Towards the end, she said the abuse became more and more frequent until she suffered broken ribs and a broken hand and opened up to her boss.

After finally breaking free from her relationship following two-and-a-half years, Gennady realised her new drive was to help those who suffered domestic violence.

‘I did research into mental and physical abuse in New Zealand. This is happening across every single social and ethnic group,’ she wrote.

‘We need to make people think and talk about this. The more aware, the less it happens.’ 

After finally breaking free from her relationship after two-and-a-half years, Gennady realised her new drive was to help those who suffered like her. She said she signed up for reality TV show Heartbreak Island (pictured second from right) to have a platform to spread awareness around domestic violence

After finally breaking free from her relationship after two-and-a-half years, Gennady realised her new drive was to help those who suffered like her. She said she signed up for reality TV show Heartbreak Island (pictured second from right) to have a platform to spread awareness around domestic violence

Gennady has now found a new romance in her life (pictured with her new partner) with someone she describes as her 'best friend' and someone who loves her like she has 'never been loved

Gennady has now found a new romance in her life (pictured with her new partner) with someone she describes as her ‘best friend’ and someone who loves her like she has ‘never been loved’

Gennady applied successfully for TVNZ dating reality show Heartbreak Island, starring in the first season and building a strong Instagram following.

‘I signed up not for love, not for money but for something far more different: having a platform to spread awareness regarding domestic violence,’ she said. 

She decided after the show’s conclusion to tell her story of abuse and give others the strength to know there is a way out of relationships like the one she endured.

‘People were following my Instagram and people cared what I had to say,’ she said.

‘The first post went live and the messages rolled in from around the world from women and men – this made letting go of him and what he did easier.

‘I want to be someone young girls and women look up to.’

Gennady has now found a new romance in her life with someone she describes as her ‘best friend’ and someone who loves her like she has ‘never been loved’. 

‘I think when you are truly ready for love, the right kind of love, it finds you,’ she said.



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