Kenya Moore, a prominent figure in "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" (RHOA), joined the cast in season five. Year after year, Kenya has proven she's not afraid to tackle anybody or any subject and does so with instant-GIF worthy shade. She remained a main cast member through season 10, made a guest appearance in the season 11 finale, and then rejoined the cast full-time in season 12 in 2019.
Each of the cities in the "Real Housewives" franchise have their schtick, and all of them have produced more than their fair share of water cooler moments. Unlike some of the other cities in the canon, "RHOA" has never had an off season, and that is a true testament to the women who make up its cast.
One person who likely won’t be welcoming Kenya back with open arms is fellow cast member Nene Leakes. We all know these two have a long history of errrr, not enjoying each other’s company (to put it mildly). Unfortunately for these two, there can only be one Queen in the castle and Nene has self pro claimed the throne. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Nene had this to say about her castmates, “These girls, to me, all seem to want to be the queen or the one that everybody thinks of when they say, ‘Housewives,’ and I don’t think that that’s possible. Kenya wasted no time firing back by telling Entertainment Tonight, “Well, honey - a queen would be in the center of the opening, they would be in the first two episodes of the show.”
The Birth of an Iconic Phrase
In season five's "I Do…But, I Won't," Kenya and Porsha had one of many clashes, but this one would birth a moment forever cemented in pop culture: "Gone With the Wind fabulous."
While on vacation, Porsha began recounting an early interaction the two had. Old wound reopened. Porsha called Kenya ghetto, brought up her age as an insult and the two started going in on each other's accomplishments. It was everything fans have come to expect from a Real Housewives trip.
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During the heated back and forth, Kenya declared she's been in the business for years and still fabulous. The point was marked with two twirls and Kenya said she was, "Gone With the Wind fabulous, OK?" Feeling once again disrespected, this time at a dinner, she twirled in circles and proclaimed herself "Gone with the Wind fabulous."
"It was like, you can't take away my accomplishments from me. I will always be relevant," said Moore in Quinn's book.
Kenya makes it a point to let all the ladies, especially Porsha, know how fabulous she is.
Pop Culture Phenomenon
Kenya Moore: "Every day somebody thinks I'm Beyonce!"
"When Kenya Moore did 'Gone With the Wind fabulous,' that's like a pop culture term now," she said on a panel with other Housewives executive producers. "People say they're 'Gone With the Wind fabulous.'"
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The Beyoncé moment came in 2013 when the singer was asked what she thought about the Destiny's Child reunion at the Super Bowl.
"They were fierce, honey," she said. "'Gone With the Wind fabulous.'"
Kenya's reaction? "I thought it was a complete joke. So when I finally saw it, I was absolutely speechless. I was elated to know that my favorite singer watches the show and that she's adopted my saying. It's obviously original to me and means so much to me from a personal standpoint, and to compound all of that, it felt like she was Team Kenya. I joke about her being my twin, but it's just because I love her so much. It's all in fun, and I'm just glad that she watches the show and doesn't mind my silly comparison ... It's the ultimate compliment and nod. I just live for her -- she gave me life by doing that."
And not long after it aired, people around me started saying it. I got my life when Beyoncé quoted it after performing at the Super Bowl with Destiny's Child.
In true "Housewives" fashion, Moore released a song and music video around the catchphrase.
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Kenya's Inspiration
As for the Gone With the Wind part of the saying, in a blog posted in 2012, Kenya explained that Hattie McDaniel, the first black woman to win an Oscar, is a hero of hers.
"Ms. McDaniel played a loyal maid in a time where roles for women of color were few and far between. Hattie was widely criticized for playing a maid, but without her inner strength, it's unclear what our legacy as a people would be now. Certainly, she has enriched my life. Her incredible feat defied racism, hatred, segregation and civil uncertainty and unrest," she wrote.
"My age, race, religion, social economic standing, and marital status are not indicators of my past, present, or future as I too can defy the odds just like Hattie. I am bold. I am humble. I am strong. I am complicated. I am complex. I am vulnerable. I am resilient. I am good.
Other Memorable Moments from RHOA
While we could write a dissertation on the show's unforgettable moments, we stopped ourselves at 30. We opted for larger situations that defined an episode - or sometimes even a season - and that have lived on in the years since. That means we had to cut some smaller scenes that live rent-free in our minds, like Kim Zolciak-Biermann eating pizza while getting a fat reducing laser treatment, NeNe Leakes' reaction to Kenya Moore's white refrigerator, and Shereé Whitfield's "hell to the nah" song. There was not even room for Leakes' "where is your scooter?" rant, which is one of our favorite "RHOA" quotes.
Here are some other memorable moments from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta":
- The fight between Marlo Hampton and Shereé Whitfield in Season 4 during a vacation in South Africa.
- Porsha Williams physically assaulted co-star Kenya Moore on the Season 6 reunion.
- Porsha Williams got into it with Cynthia Bailey on a boat.
- Phaedra Parks started a rumor that Kandi Burruss had planned to drug and rape Porsha Williams.
- Porsha Williams said that there were 265 days in the year.
- Kim Zolciak-Biermann's wigs have been a big topic of discussion.
- Claudia Jordan's fight with Nene Leakes in Puerto Rico.
- The BOLO episode of Season 13.
- Season 6's "Pillow Talk" night.
- Shereé Whitfield's "Who gon' check me, boo?" comeback to party planner Anthony Shorter.
- Phaedra Parks' pregnancy photo shoot in Season 3.
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