Singer Hires PI, Finds Love on TikTok with Nigerian Man

When Clarissa Zoe started chatting with a man from Nigeria on TikTok, she knew exactly what people would think. After all, romance scams are real, and online connections across continents raise red flags.

So the American songwriter did something smart. Before flying to Lagos, she hired a private investigator to verify everything her potential partner had told her about his life.

The report came back clean. Everything checked out.

"I wasn't even looking for a relationship at that point," Clarissa explained in a recent interview. She had actually decided to step away from dating entirely when they connected online.

But something about their conversations felt different. When she finally visited Nigeria for what was supposed to be a one-week trip, she ended up staying for six weeks.

What won her over wasn't grand gestures or promises. It was his radical honesty.

He showed her exactly where he lived, even though he wasn't proud of it. He told her plainly: "This is me. Take me as I am." When she tried to help him financially during a tough moment, he refused, saying it was too early in their relationship for that kind of support.

"That level of integrity made me respect him even more," Clarissa said. She watched how he cared for his family and children, and it changed everything she thought she knew about what she wanted in a partner.

Why This Inspires

In a world where online dating often feels shallow and deceptive, Clarissa and her husband built something real by being completely themselves. His refusal to pretend or impress, combined with her willingness to verify but also trust, created a foundation stronger than fear.

They got engaged in November 2024 and married in April 2025. Now living in Nigeria with their blended family, Clarissa has channeled her experience into her music, writing songs like "Rise Again" to reshape how people see Nigeria.

She spent 15 years working in healthcare and social services in the United States, but now she's exactly where she wants to be. Her story proves that sometimes the best relationships start when you're not looking, and that doing your homework doesn't mean you can't believe in love.

Their relationship is founded on what Clarissa calls "healing, respect, and intentional love." Those aren't just romantic words. They're the result of two people choosing honesty over pretense, and patience over rushing.

Love still finds a way, even across oceans and apps, when two people show up as exactly who they are.