Kenya Summer Moore, born on January 24, 1971, is an American actress, author, entrepreneur, television personality, and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1993. Her journey has been marked by both professional achievements and personal challenges.
Kenya Moore at the 2014 Essence Festival.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Moore was born in Detroit, Michigan, to teenagers Patricia Moore and Ronald Grant and raised by her paternal grandmother Doris Grant and aunt after her mother abandoned her three days after her birth. Moore graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1989.
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.
While still in high school, Moore experienced domestic violence from a much older boyfriend. 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. Moore has also appeared on the covers of Glamour, Seventeen, Ebony, and Essence magazines.
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Pageant Success and Early Acting Roles
At 22, Moore won Miss Michigan USA 1993 and then became the second African American woman to win Miss USA. 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).
Following that project, she appeared in "Waiting to Exhale" (1995), the comedy "Senseless" (1998) with Marlon Wayans and "Trois" (2000). 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).
Poster of movie "Senseless".
Moore Vision Media and Other 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.
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.
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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.
Real Housewives of Atlanta and Controversies
Kenya Moore has certainly brought the drama to season five of Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Kenya vs Sanya
Now that she has ended things on-screen with Walter, Kenya is back to beefing with the other housewives. And now her current target is Phaedra Parks. After hearing that Phaedra thinks she’s bipolar and may even have a bit of a drinking problem, Kenya decided to “impersonate” Phaedra and show up to NeNe’s charity event dressed up as Phaedra (in a bathing suit and butt pads) and many feel she made a complete fool of herself. Although she did eventually tell Phaedra what was on her mind, many people feel what Kenya did at the charity event was inappropriate.
To no surprise, Kenya feels what she did was justified and she still claims she is not crazy. “Undoubtedly with malice, Phaedra repeatedly and intentionally slanders and defames me with unfounded and untrue statements. All as punitive action when she learned of my intentions to make my own fitness video. I have never been drunk a day in my life. Yet Phaedra wants everyone to believe I “drink like a fish.” Phaedra asserts that she believes I am bipolar or have a chemical imbalance. The only thing that makes me “crazy” is that I ever believed this woman was my friend.
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“…I believe I have seen Phaedra’s cold black heart. From her actions alone, this is a woman who will say anything and tell any lie in order to achieve a favorable outcome for herself. This must end. I believe people can see who she really is. With me, I don’t try to hide. I keep it real. It is what it is. That being said, when people show you who they are, believe them. Phaedra is a walking, talking hypocrite.
“Yes, I am dramatic and I wanted to make a point. STOP SPREADING YOUR VINDICTIVE LIES. Business is business. I never attacked Phaedra personally. For her to go to extremes to hurt me was uncalled for. Therefore, in rare form, I let her have it plain and simple and spoke the truth, which she nor anyone else can deny. On another note, I told NeNe beforehand that I was going to come to the event with a dramatic entrance and outfit, and as shocking as it was, NeNe could only laugh. Got to love a girl who can laugh. I’m done with this.
Personal Life
Kenya Moore has a daughter from her marriage to Marc Daly. At 16, she got involved with an abusive predator 11 years older than her who she admits nearly killed her, per Essence.
Here's a brief overview of Kenya Moore's personal life:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Mother-Daughter Relationship | Fractured ties since birth; mother abandoned her and denies her existence. |
| Past Relationship | Involved with an abusive partner at 16. |
| Marriage | Married Marc Daly and has a daughter named Brooklyn Doris. |
Kenya Moore's journey is a testament to her resilience and determination, marked by both professional success and personal struggles. Her story continues to captivate audiences, making her a notable figure in both the entertainment and business worlds.
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