The Untold Truth Of Kenya Moore
Kenya Moore has been "'Gone With The Wind Fabulous" ever since the Georgia peach made her debut on Bravo's "Real Housewives of Atlanta." Though we love her for her famous catchphrases (Beyonce's even quoted her), she's more than just comedic relief amongst her Hotlanta castmates. The television personality has been in the entertainment industry long before she became a Bravo babe — acting alongside legends like Will Smith and Whitney Houston. She's a pageant queen, actor, model, author, entrepreneur, and of course — ultimate shade-thrower.
The Detroit native is no stranger to hard work, making a name for herself at a young age on the heels of a less-than-ideal childhood. But Moore doesn't let adversity get her down, in fact, she champions it. She's "booked and busy, baby," launching a business, being a mother, holding it down on "Housewives" and of course — twirling on her haters. We've taken a look down memory lane at the challenges the "RHOA" star has overcome to become the boss babe she is today. This is the untold truth of Kenya Moore — and it's as juicy as the peaches down south, y'all.
Kenya Moore was famous before RHOA
Before Kenya Moore was crowned the "Queen of Shade" she was famously crowned "Miss USA." The former Miss Michigan USA became the second African American woman to hold the prestigious title in 1993. Moore wowed the judges with her confidence and poise when she answered the question as to why she thought the judges placed her in the top three. "I think the judges can look into my eyes and see my heart and know that I am a sincere person. That I am here not because of me, [but] because I want to help as many people as I can," Moore said during the final question portion.
Moore got her start in pageants as a teenager after doing some previous modeling during her early years. She told "Behind the scenes Beauty w/ D.M." about the contests that would later shape her life and career. "Because I'm so ambitious ... I wanted to go all the way, I wanted to be Miss Universe." While Moore did go on to represent the United States in the Miss Universe contest, she fell short of the title, placing sixth, instead.
But despite all the success the beauty queen received, she never lost sight of what was important. "I paid for my entire college education through winning pageants," the former Miss USA admitted. The Georgia peach went on to graduate with great distinction from Wayne State University with a Bachelor's in psychology with a minor in communication (via Jet). How's that for beauty and brains?
Kenya Moore was an actor
You might recognize Kenya Moore from her appearances on television throughout the years. The actor has quite the resume, appearing in "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "The Parent 'Hood," "The Jamie Foxx Show" and several other TV series before being a series regular on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." She also appeared in several rappers' music videos, such as 2Pac, Nas, and Jermaine Dupri in the late '90s (via Celebrity Net Worth).
Moore also had cameos in several high-profile films including "Waiting To Exhale" alongside Whitney Houston and "Deliver Us from Eva" with Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J. To add to her resume even further, the actor tried her hand at producing several films of her own. She's produced "The Confidant," co-produced "Brothers in Arms," and even released her own workout DVD.
Most notably, the pageant queen is known for spilling the tea and throwing shade on the "RHOA" franchise. Moore joined her fellow peaches in 2012 for Season 5 and was a regular for six seasons before dropping out in 2018 to focus on her pregnancy with daughter Brooklyn. "I have decided to take this season off to focus on my high risk pregnancy in a healthy and drama free environment," Moore told The Daily Dish at the time. But rest assured, she came back with vengeance in Season 12, and as of 2022, remains a full-time cast member.
She has her own haircare line
Kenya Moore can add entrepreneur to her list of accolades. The actor launched her own haircare line in 2022, and her products are now in over 3,000 retail stores nationwide, including retailers like Sally Beauty and CVS. How can she "send" for the haters without luscious hair? The business mogul prides herself on wearing her hair naturally, and Kenya Moore Haircare products are geared to grow hair longer, thicker, and stronger.
Moore stopped by Fox 5 DC to chat about her new business venture. "We started off, basically in the trunk of my car, and now we're in CVS stores ... like can you believe that?" As for who she attributes her drive and passion, it's her adorable three-year-old Brooklyn. "This is my legacy for her," Moore admitted. The "RHOA" star even announced her daughter as the spokesperson for the brand on Instagram, writing, "This is my legacy as a double minority, Founder, and CEO. I invested in myself. This is the lesson for her what a real boss is in modern day. I'm so proud to have her represent the #KenyaMooreHair brand."
Kenya Moore had a tough childhood
Kenya Moore did not have it easy growing up. She detailed her tough childhood in an interview with Ozy, saying "50 years ago, it was so shameful to have a child out of wedlock. And so for that, I just think that, well, my mother made a decision [to not] acknowledge the fact that she had a child." Moore was raised from birth by her paternal grandmother Doris, whom she lost in 2017 to Alzheimer's. "Thank you momma for being the best woman I have ever met in my life," the actor wrote about in an Instagram tribute.
Though Moore has no relationship with her mother Patricia, it doesn't mean the "RHOA" hasn't tried in vain to establish one. During Season 8 Episode 10, Moore took a trip to her mother's Detroit home to try to meet with her mother — but she was met with silence. "Even if present in the same room with other people and family, she pretends that I simply don't exist." Moore wrote on her Bravo blog.
Fast forward to Moore becoming a mom, and it seems there could be a path forward for her and her own mother. The "RHOA" star posted gifts her mother sent to baby Brooklyn on Instagram, writing, "I had stopped praying about our relationship but God sent a message through my child." Moore is close with her father, however, and posted a Father's Day Instagram tribute writing, "No matter how much time we have had apart, we found each other again. I always knew you loved me."
She's an author
Kenya Moore knows how to play the field, so much so that she even wrote a book titled "Game, Get Some!: What Women Really Want." The former Miss USA described her book to Jet as a roadmap to help men get the woman of their dreams. After rejecting three marriage proposals, Moore believes that men lack technique. "The men who I've dated or approach me often make crucial mistakes in the beginning that would turn any woman off," Moore wrote. The magazine previewed some of the author's "Game Rules" for dating such as "Don't tell her your life story when you get acquainted."
It seems like Moore might not be taking some of her own advice, however, as the "RHOA" star has had her own marriage struggles of late. In June 2017, she tied the knot with New York restaurant owner Marc Daly after dating for about a year, via Distractify. They welcomed their daughter Brooklyn together in 2018, but they announced their divorce the following year. "It is with profound sadness that I regret to inform my fans that I am divorcing my husband Marc Daly," Moore said in a statement to Us Weekly. "Due to recent and ongoing circumstances, I can no longer continue in the marriage."
Moore detailed her custody arrangement on "RHOA" in a clip from Season 14 saying, "I have physical custody of Brooklyn and he has no limitation on when he can see her, as long as he comes to see her in Atlanta."
She was a movie producer
Kenya Moore tried her hand at film producing and even launched her own company Moore Vision Media in 2008. She went on to produce a few comedic shorts, the film "The Confidant," and a workout DVD under her label. But despite a few projects under her belt, Radar Online reported that the "RHOA" star ultimately decided to dissolve her company in 2015.
The decision to terminate her company wasn't without criticism. The outlet suggested that her business move came after the Bravo franchise fired her from being an Atlanta Housewife, but her demotion from the show was four years following the end of Moore Vision Media. The housewife-turned-producer was quick to clap back on Twitter, writing at the time, "It never ceases to amaze me how low budget blogs post a story and it becomes facts echoed by other low budget blogs. Wow the power in my name and money I make for all these 'blogs' ... I should get a cut."
She was on Dancing with the Stars
Kenya Moore took her infamous twirl to the stage on NBC's Dancing with the Stars for Season 30 in 2021. Fulfilling a dream of hers alongside her partner Brandon Armstrong, the television personality was eliminated after scoring behind Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and his partner Witney Carson. Moore and her partner landed in the bottom two twice before their Argentine tango proved to be their final dance. But nevertheless, Moore was happy to honor her late grandmother with her performances on the hit show. "What an amazing experience- a dream I've [had] for 16 years when I would watch @dancingabc with my Grandmother Doris who I lost to Alzheimer's in 2017," she wrote on Instagram.
Moore and Armstrong's fancy footwork was a product of their off-screen chemistry and the "RHOA" star credits the show for giving her a "friend for life." The actor-turned-dancer took to Instagram to express her gratitude writing "If anyone embodies what I think Prince Charming would be it's @brandonarmstrong...what a good dancer but what a great person!" She continued, "Our chemistry is so powerful and I can't wait to walk into the studio to see his face everyday."
She's not paid as much as her costars
For as knee-deep in the entertainment industry since her early years, Kenya Moore is not worth as much as you might think. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the reality TV personality has a net worth of $800,000. While fans can probably assume that a big chunk of her earnings comes from her coveted role as a peach-clutching housewife, her salary as a part of the cast is a point of contention.
Sources revealed to People that Moore was allegedly fired from "RHOA" before Season 11 after Bravo didn't take too kindly to her 2017 elopement to husband Marc Daly (who previously objected to filming the show). The compromise of hiding her life from producers cost Moore, as Radar Online reported that her previous $1.5 million seasonal salary got cut down to $500,000 when she returned for Season 12. She lags far behind her co-stars, most notably top earner Kandi Burress, who rakes in around $2.3 million a season. But good thing she's got plenty of Kenya Moore Haircare to sell, right?
Was Kenya Moore evicted?
Things got ugly between Kenya Moore and her former landlord when she was evicted from her $3,999-a-month Roswell mansion after she fell $848 short on her rent payment in 2013. "The decision to file this eviction notice regarding Ms. Moore was reached after pursuing every possible amicable way to settle this matter privately," landlord Conya Dillon Weems said in a statement to Radar Online. Moore filed a lawsuit of her own, citing wrongful eviction, which was dismissed at the time according to the outlet.
The judge did, however, side with Moore in her countersuit requesting her $6,000 security deposit be returned along with attorney fees. The "Gone With The Wind Fabulous" star told Radar Online, "Today's victory proves that celebrities can fight back and not be victimized by people who wish to lie about them and use their name for the sake of publicity." Both amounts were returned to Moore in 2016, according to theJasmineBRAND.
Weems appealed that decision and the case had been pending for years, before ultimately coming to a close in 2017. The two finally put the case to rest after reaching a mutual agreement resolving all issues in the case. But in typical shade-queen fashion, Moore didn't bow out quietly. "Conya Dillon Weems also lied to 911 in judge's ruling against her. I was never late on rent and never evicted. #Losers never win," the former Miss USA tweeted. Don't come for her, unless she sends for you, remember?
She had a baby at 47
Kenya Moore's journey to motherhood wasn't without its hurdles. She welcomed her first child into the world at 47 years old, naming her Brooklyn Doris after her late grandmother. Moore told People about her journey to becoming a mother. "I didn't want to have a child on my own. I did not want to be a single mother. And so I waited and then after 40, I looked up and I thought, 'Oh my God,'" Moore revealed.
The "RHOA" star conceived her daughter through in vitro fertilization and revealed on Instagram that she was forced to deliver Brooklyn early due to a preeclampsia diagnosis. Moore shared a photo of her swollen feet in the lead-up to her delivery writing "I gained 17 lbs in ONE week due to severe swelling and water retention, high blood pressure, and excess protein in urine. This is NOT normal!" Nevertheless, Moore's miracle baby was welcomed into the world right in time for Thanksgiving in 2019. "Thank God for my miracle baby, my husband and my life. When you have faith in Him all things are possible," Moore wrote on Instagram at the time.
In an effort to give back, Moore partnered with Baby Quest Foundation as an ambassador to help women conceive. She posted an Instagram photo of the recipient of her grant, who at the time was days away from giving birth to her first child. "Carolyn and Tim never gave up hope after suffering from infertility. There is financial help out there!" Moore wrote.
Kenya Moore is armed
Don't get her pageant past confused, this beauty queen knows how to defend herself. Kenya Moore pulled a gun on three intruders that circumvented her "Moore Manor" in 2017. Moore detailed the frightening experience on "Breakfast Club Power 105.1," recalling the moment she grabbed her gun after seeing two large men and a woman knock on her door. "When they saw me with the gun, they just took off running," the "RHOA" star explained. When asked why she didn't call the police, Moore said "I really wanted to shoot him ... for them to have the nerve to come onto my property the way they did, they deserve to be shot."
Moore posted the screenshots from her security camera on her Instagram, writing, "I have a right to feel safe in my home and to protect myself," the actor continued "Anyone who is bold enough to commit a crime, endanger themselves and others needs to be punished." The TV personality told "Breakfast Club Power 105.1" that she has more than a few guns, and she even considers going to the gun range a hobby. "I take my dad shooting, my dad shoots with me," the "RHOA" star admitted.