Kenya Summer Moore, born on January 24, 1971, is an accomplished American actress, writer, businesswoman, and television personality. She is also a beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1993.
Moore has no shortage of impressive professional titles to choose from, including hair care entrepreneur and The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member. But as she revealed in a recent Instagram post, her favorite job is one that doesn’t go on a resume: being a mom.
Early Life and Education
Kenya Moore was born in Detroit, Michigan, to teenagers Patricia Moore and Ronald Grant. She was raised by her paternal grandmother, Doris Grant, and her aunt after her mother abandoned her three days after her birth. The reality-TV-show star revealed that her mother never named her.
"Since birth, my mother made the decision at age 16 to pretend she never had me. She has never spoken to me," Kenya wrote. "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," Kenya revealed on her Bravo blog.
Moore graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1989. While still in high school, Moore experienced domestic violence from a much older boyfriend. After high school, Kenya attended Wayne State University.
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Modeling and Pageant Career
Kenya Moore began modeling at the age of 14, and was the January 1992 cover girl for Ebony Man magazine. She also modeled for the Ebony Fashion Fair cosmetic line.
Kenya has appeared on the covers of other popular magazines. These include Glamour, Seventeen, Ebony, and Essence. At 22, Moore won Miss Michigan USA in 1993 and then became the second African American woman to win Miss USA.
She then represented the United States in the Miss Universe 1993 pageant.
Here's a table summarizing her pageant achievements:
| Year | Pageant | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Miss Michigan USA | Winner |
| 1993 | Miss USA | Winner |
| 1993 | Miss Universe | Competitor |
Acting Career
Kenya Moore has acted in many TV shows. Some of her roles were in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Steve Harvey Show. She has also been in several movies. These include Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Deliver Us from Eva (2003).
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No matter what role, Kenya Moore never failed to cause uncontrollable laughter throughout her film career. She appeared in a number of television specials, including "The 1993 Miss Universe Pageant" (1992-93), "The 1993 Miss Teen USA Pageant" (CBS, 1992-93) and "The 1994 Miss USA Pageant" (CBS, 1993-94). She worked in television in her early acting career as well, including parts on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-96) and "Martin" (Fox, 1991-97). She also worked in television around this time, including a part on "Homeboys in Outer Space" (UPN, 1996-97). In the early 2000s, she then appeared in "Hot Parts" (2003), "Deliver Us From Eva" (2003) and the drama "No Turning Back" (2003) with Jesús Nebot. She also appeared in the drama "Brothers in Arms" (2005) with Clifton Powell and "Cloud Nine" (2006).
The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Other TV Appearances
In May 2012, Kenya Moore joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo. She was a main cast member for many seasons. Kenya also starred in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. This show features women from different Real Housewives series. It premiered in November 2021.
In September 2021, Kenya competed on Dancing with the Stars. She finished in 10th place with her dance partner, Brandon Armstrong.
However, in June 2024, Kenya Moore exited Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 16 after suspension for explicit photos scandal.
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Entrepreneurial Ventures
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.
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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.
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.
Personal Life
In June 2017, Kenya Moore married businessman Marc Daly. In April 2018, they announced they were expecting a child. Their daughter, Brooklyn Doris Daly, was born on November 4, 2018.
Kenya filed for divorce from Marc in August 2021. In June 2024, Kenya Moore's ex-husband Marc Daly was ordered to pay $2k a month in child support, and their daughter is allowed to film 'RHOA'.
On February 4, Kenya took to Instagram to capture a sweet moment with her two-year-old daughter, Brooklyn Daly. In the precious photo, the mom can be seen rocking a blue string bikini while playfully chasing after her adorable toddler on the beach.“My most important job in life,” Kenya wrote in the caption alongside the picture, also adding the hashtag, “mother.”
Last month, Kenya shared a glimpse inside her 50th birthday celebration with Brooklyn, which included a trip to a sunny destination and plenty of poolside fun. “My best present for my bday! Unconditional love,” she wrote on Instagram on January 28.
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