Kenya Summer Moore, born on January 24, 1971, is an accomplished American actress, author, entrepreneur, television personality, and beauty queen, having won Miss USA 1993. Raised by her paternal grandmother, Doris Grant, and her aunt, Kenya's childhood was marked by the absence of her mother, Patricia Moore, who abandoned her three days after her birth.
Kenya revealed on her Bravo blog, "Since birth, my mother made the decision at age 16 to pretend she never had me. She has never spoken to me. Even if present in the same room with other people and family, she pretends that I simply don't exist. She pretends I'm invisible."
Throughout her life, Kenya found support and guidance in her extended family, particularly her aunt Lori, who became a significant figure in her life. Their relationship, however, has had its share of challenges, especially when played out on the reality TV show, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" (RHOA).
Aunt Lori's Role in Kenya's Life
Viewers were first introduced to Kenyaâs Aunt Lori in Season 5 of RHOA. Lori often served as her nieceâs sounding board, particularly during her tumultuous romance with her ex, Walter Jackson, and the death of her beloved dog, Velvet. However, a trip to Kenyaâs hometown in Season 8 significantly impacted her relationship with Lori.
When Kenya decided to use the trip to her hometown, Detroit, Michigan, to make peace with her mother, Patricia, Lori didnât think it was a good idea and expressed as much to her niece. Kenya went forward with the peace offering and brought RHOAâs cameras along. In one heartbreaking scene, viewers watched as she knocked on Patriciaâs door, and her mother refused to let Kenya enter her home.
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Afterward, Kenya addressed the rejection to Aunt Lori. Lori seemed in agreement with Patriciaâs decision and told Kenya she had âno rightâ to visit her motherâs house uninvited, which Kenya vehemently disagreed with.
âI have always considered my aunt to be the most compassionate member of my motherâs family,â she said in a 2016 Q&A with Bravo. âHowever, when it comes to my treatment of them, rarely has she or anyone else said or done anything sensible, rational, or logical. Itâs disturbing, because they all seem crazy to me.â
âI never would have dreamed she would take that stance and blame me for knocking on my motherâs door,â Kenya added. âI had every right to knock on her door, or even knock it down, to get answers.â
Kenyaâs attempt to contact her mother came during a family reunion trip that she had planned. Unfortunately, Kenyaâs Aunt Lori opted to leave and excuse herself from the situation.
Addressing Aunt Loriâs abrupt departure, Kenya asserted, âI believe my Aunt is torn between her sister and her family and me. I donât envy her position, but having said that, I was shocked she left as she has always shown me the most compassion. I believe she did what she thought she should do to stay neutral.â
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According to Reality Wives, Kenya was given up by her mother when Aunt Lori was attending college in Michigan. People reports that Patricia was sent to live with Lori when she was pregnant because it was considered âshamefulâ at the time. Lori was the woman who reportedly named Kenya because she was âdark and beautifulâ like the country.
Reconciliation and Current Status
Following the Season 8 drama, Lori stopped appearing on RHOA episodes. While Kenya briefly addressed their disagreement at the RHOA Season 8 reunion, she never shared why Aunt Lori quit taping the show. Although Aunt Lori vanished from RHOA, she hasnât left Kenyaâs life.
The Dancing With the Stars alum shared with Bravoâs The Daily Dish that Aunt Lori attended her and Marcâs private wedding ceremony in St. Lucia in June 2017. She said her aunt gave her the âsomething borrowedâ piece of her pre-wedding ritual. Kenya has also posted photos of her and Aunt Lori at several family events, including Brooklynâs baby shower in October 2018.
Aunt Lori has been Kenya Mooreâs shoulder to lean on as weâve seen throughout her time on Real Housewives of Atlanta. When Kenyaâs dog was killed, Lori consoled her and attended the funeral.
Kenya's Relationship with Her Parents
Kenya Mooreâs parents Patricia Moore and Ronald Grant were both teens when she was born, so they were not prepared to care for a child. Patricia almost immediately abandoned Kenya. She did, however, contact her daughter when she won Miss USA in 1993.
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She said she just wanted to congratulate me. But I didnât want to talk to her. Iâm a very forgiving person. But Iâll only forgive her if she asks for my forgiveness. I can honestly say I donât love her. Patriciaâs reported response was that the door of communication would always be open.
When Kenya Moore and husband Marc Daly said their âI dosâ at a beachside elopement in St. At the time, the 46-year-old reality star told PEOPLE that Grant was celebrating his birthday in Jamaica during their nuptials. âIt was so last-minute, he couldnât make it,â Moore said, explaining that best friend and frequent RHOA guest Brandon DeShazer instead walked her down the aisle.
On Sundayâs RHOA season 10 premiere, Moore opened up about the real reason her father wasnât at her wedding in a tearful call to Grant, who had only heard of her nuptials in the press. âI decided not to invite my father because you never know what heâs going to say,â Moore confessed to viewers. âHe canât be controlled. And I didnât want there to be anything at my wedding to upset my future husband. I didnât want anything to spoil my wedding day.
âI definitely went away and eloped because I just didnât want it to be full of drama,â she told her dad.
Grant has certainly been outspoken on the hit Bravo reality show in the past, especially last season when he gave Mooreâs emotionally abusive and violent ex-boyfriend Matt Jordan a well-needed lecture on how to treat his daughter right.
Before he hung up, Grant wanted his daughter to know that he was still there for her. âI am ecstatic for you,â he said. âI am looking forward to meeting the the guy. And you know, just welcome him into our family. Congratulations.
She couldnât have been more thrilled to hear that. âThank you dad,â a smiling Moore said.
Kenya continues, âWhen I reached her door and knocked I literally heard her voice, the same voice that called me on the phone when I was 4-years-old and told me never to call her my mother. I heard my mother say, âDonât open that door.â Seconds later, I heard her lock the door in my face. I was devastated, but I cannot say I was surprised.
Kenya recalls, âI couldnât help to remember the countless times Iâve tried knocking on her door both literally and figuratively. The many times that little girl begged to be my motherâs friend or even just acknowledge that I was even alive. I begged that she would stop treating me as if I was invisible. Every attempt ended in her laughing in my face or cruelties to try to break my young spirit. This had nothing to do with cameras; I approached her without cameras my entire life. I also asked the cameras to stay behind.
The RHOA diva reveals that despite the hurt she felt being ignored, yet again, by her mother, she was grateful for her father Ronaldâs support. She describes what was going through her mind when she knocked on her motherâs door.
When asked why she chose to plan the family reunion, the twirling reality star explains, âIâve been open about wanting to have a family of my own since I was added to the cast. I have often regretted exposing myself the way I have, especially with my love life. It left me susceptible to mockery, false rumors, and ridicule (such as I canât get a man). With that said, Iâve learned the men Iâve dated arenât the issue - I am the issue. Through the help of counseling, seminars, and advice from people I love and respect, I knew it was time to dig deeper into my past. As such, that meant exploring my primary relationships and how they are connected to my romantic relationships.
Concluding, Kenya reminds her followers, âI donât want anyone to feel sorry for me, because I am the woman I am today because of my mother. I am grateful to have the love of my family that have always been there for me and the new found relationship I have with my Dad. To the many fans that have reached out to me with similar stories of abandonment, I want to thank you for sharing your heartfelt stories with me. Please know that we donât have to be defined by our parents. Instead, be grateful that we are better for their treatment, grateful that we are stronger for their cruelty, and brave to confront lifeâs challenges head on. We are not alone. We are blessed. We are loved. We deserve love.
In an interview with Bravo, Kenya shares her feelings of devastation (and promotes her new memoir Invisible) and discusses how much sheâs learned about herself in the process.
Kenya was abandoned by her mother and has had a rocky relationship with her father over the years. On last weekâs episode, Kenya knocked on the door of her mother, Patricia Moore. Unfortunately, she was rejected as her mother refused to answer the door or acknowledge her. Kenya tells Aunt Lori about what happened, saying that she had every right to try to talk to her mom.
On Sundayâs RHOA season 10 premiere, Moore opened up about the real reason her father wasnât at her wedding in a tearful call to Grant, who had only heard of her nuptials in the press.
âIn my mind I never came across like that,â he told Moore.
Moore didnât understand. âThatâs the whole point,â she told Grant. âWhy say that to me if I really found a really great man for a change? He remained insistent, though.
âThatâs why I was saying be cautious,â Grant said. âNobody wants to see their kid hurt. Iâm just sorry that you felt like that. You think I didnât want to be there?
It was then that Moore finally seemed to understand, breaking down in tears. âIâm sorry that you missed it,â she said.
âFamily has always been extremely important to me,â Moore continued. âDo I regret not having my dad walk me down the aisle? Yes. Every little girl wants their dad to walk her down the aisle.
Moore began modeling at the age of 14, and was the January 1992 cover girl for Ebony Man magazine. She also modelled for the Ebony Fashion Fair cosmetic line. Moore has also appeared on the covers of Glamour, Seventeen, Ebony, and Essence magazines.
At 22, Moore won Miss Michigan USA 1993 and then became the second African American woman to win Miss USA. Moore has also produced and directed various projects and launched her own company, Moore Vision Media in 2008.
Moore Vision Media produced the erotic thriller "The Confidant". Moore is credited as producer/director of the film Trapped: Haitian Nights. After the project lost its director, Moore took over the production and completed the film.
On November 28, 2007, Moore published a book titled Game, Get Some!: What Women Really Want. Described as a how-to guide, the book is a self-help and conduct containing relationship advice, as well as the author's personal experiences regarding interpersonal and intimate relationships.
Moore has stated about the book, "No one man can know everything there is to know about women, but with my help, they may just come close; I feel like the female Ms. Hitch! I want to bring us together not apart."
The author reviews self-esteem and self-concept issues, offers sexual advice, discusses tips on mending a relationship or the proper way to break up. In 2012, Moore released her debut single, "Gone With the Wind Fabulous." In 2013, Moore released her own exercise video, named "Kenya Moore: Booty Boot Camp".
This venture rivalled former The Real Housewives of Atlanta co-star Phaedra Parks own workout video and was a primary storyline in the show's fifth season.
While still in high school, Moore experienced domestic violence from a much older boyfriend.
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