Meet Samantha Best: Single Mum & Reality TV Star
Samantha Best is reframing perceptions of young mothers, and the world is listening.
Making news headlines across the world, Sam and her best friend captured curiosity over moving in together to save on rent and to co-parent their children.
Sam doesn’t shy away from the ups and downs, and takes her audience of over 160,000 along for the journey through vlogs and the skillful implementation of trends.
What kind of content do you create?
You genuinely don't know what you're going to get with me, and I honestly don't know myself either. It depends on what I'm going through in my life and what I feel like I want to share.
I have shared so much over the last few years from my struggles of being a single mom, to moving house, a shopping haul or a vlog with friends, my love for the gym and the incredible impact that has had on my mental health.
I've always enjoyed sharing those aspects of my life because I'm able to relate to many other single mums. I’ve made some amazing friendships through posting my life, and I've even met my best friend through social media!
You share a lot of vulnerable things about life as a young single mum.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given, or would give to other people in your shoes?
Now, I am no expert and I am struggling every single day, just like most of us. But if I could give one piece of advice, it would be to keep your girlfriends close. I genuinely could not get through being a single parent without my friends.
Whether it be daily messages, weekly catch ups – having someone to talk to about things that you're going through truly impacts your life. I know every single day we are craving that companion and that partner to share life with, but being able to share your life with your friends and your support system too is truly unmatched.
I went viral a few years back because me and my best friend moved in together and we were raising our babies together as two single mums. It blew up on the internet worldwide because everyone was finally seeing how important it can be to have those friendships to build each other up.
You’ve been ‘renovating your entire life’ and sharing this journey online. What inspired you to start making changes and how has your life changed since you began?
I went through probably one of the most overwhelming years of my life after filming this series. I felt like I was struggling with finding myself. I think as a parent, and especially as a mother, we constantly lose ourselves when it comes to putting our children first and our entire lives revolve around our children. We are constantly feeling guilty for prioritising ourselves, and I wanted to change that.
I wanted to show anyone struggling that you can one day decide, “I want to change everything”. Since starting that series, I have moved into my favourite part of Auckland – which is something I was always so scared to do. I have new found friendships, I have a new social life, I have a fitter and healthier version of myself. I have a thriving little boy, and I stopped focusing on things that I just could not control, like my dating life.
We underestimate how powerful our mindsets can be when we put focus into things and organise and renovate our life. I have so many more aspects of my life that I want to improve on, but the series was such a nice way to start focusing on one thing at a time.
“I wanted to show anyone struggling that you can one day decide, I want to change everything.” - Samantha
What are some ways you pour into yourself?
Some of the ways that I love pouring back into myself has definitely been finding things that I enjoy. I have never been one that has had all these hobbies and creative outlets, but when I decided to join Body Fit Training last year, it changed so many things in my life.
I was not only exercising, I was socialising, I was eating healthy. I was finding that the gym became a hobby and not something that I resented or felt obligated to do. It was really scary to do for the first time, I'm so grateful that I had my friend to go with to get into the rhythm of things.
Since getting out of my comfort zone, I’ve been able to focus on other things that I enjoy and get excited about finding new hobbies. I found a love for the beach, which I've never had before!
You starred on New Zealand’s Married at First Sight in 2024, what did you learn from this experience?
Although the experience itself taught me so much, the most important lesson that I learned was just how strong I am as an individual.
I always felt that I was asking for too much, like I always had to shrink myself to meet certain people or to fit into a box. I learned by talking with the other girls about my feelings and things I want in a relationship that we shouldn't have to shrink ourselves, we should be able to be ourselves.
We all get one life and we all want to be treated and loved the way that we need to be loved and treated. That’s not something I'm willing to compromise on anymore.
You’ve faced online criticism in the past, how did you deal with this? What advice would you give for other creators facing the same?
When I ended my relationship with my television husband, I faced a lot of online criticism. That was the first time I've ever really faced that level of hate. I am so grateful for all of the love and support I usually receive, but that era of my life was a really, really challenging time.
If anyone else is going through the same thing, I just want you to remember that people criticising you online are seeing 2% of what is really going on. There was so much behind the scenes that I kept quiet about, because I did not want to drag dirty laundry onto the internet, but people's opinions would have been so much different in my head.
At the end of the day, there's genuinely nothing we can do about it – our closest family and friends know the truth. The truth eventually always comes out. Either way, having yourself supported by all of those around you makes a world of difference. I had about 3000 meltdowns every single day but my friends were the ones to back me up, call people out and support me, which is honestly the most important thing that I needed through that all.
“We shouldn't have to shrink ourselves, we should be able to be ourselves.” - Samantha
To see more of Samantha, visit her on social media or check out her talent page.
