Real Housewives Of Atlanta star Porsha Williams is a walking testament that you can manifest and speak blessings into your life. In 2018, the reality star sat on the season ten reunion stage and proclaimed that she’d be the next castmate to find her happily ever after, and in a year’s time , she returned to the couch, weeks away from giving birth, with a giant glacier on her left finger. Talk about the power of prayer!
Last month, Williams and her fiancé, entrepreneur, Dennis McKinley just welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Pilar Jhena, and they are gearing up for the launch of their new Bravo TV special Porsha’s Having A Baby. On the show, you’ll see the couple’s highs, lows and everything in between as they embark on this new journey together. ESSENCE spoke exclusively with Porsha about her new motherhood journey, getting support from her ex-nemesis, co-star Kandi Burruss, and what she has planned for her upcoming New Year’s Eve wedding.
How did it feel to get all this support for your pregnancy and engagement?
Porsha: It was important to me. To be able to get support from the other housewives and to hear other personal stories of other moms who’ve had miscarriages and then had successful pregnancies. It felt really good. [Pilar is] my rainbow baby, since I had a miscarriage and had to wait and was finally able to have another pregnancy and a beautiful, healthy baby. I definitely needed and wanted support from people. It was very heartwarming. It kept me strong and positive throughout my pregnancy. It literally meant everything to me. That’s why I try to tell the people in my comment section as much as I can how much I appreciate them.
Is motherhood everything you thought it would be?
Motherhood is everything I thought it would be and everything I didn’t think it would be (laughs). Other mothers told me, “Oh yeah! In the beginning, the newborn is so sweet and you’re gonna love it.” They show so many pictures and talk about being peaceful with the baby, but my anxiety was on a level 10. Here I am with a fragile newborn at the house that I’ve never dealt with before, and I love her more than life itself. So for me, it definitely took me a while to get used to. But I got past it. Now, she’s a month old and a little more sturdy. I can really enjoy her more and I don’t have so much anxiety. But being a mother period, knowing this little girl is going to love me and I have her forever has been the biggest blessing. I didn’t think I could love another being that much.
Can you tell us who the baby resembles more?
So we had a pact that if she looked like me we’d name her Porsha, Jr and if she looked like Dennis we’d choose another P name. That’s how we came up with Pilar. When she came out, she looked exactly like her dad. But of course, what do newborns do? Their [features] start changing and she started looking like me. Right now, she’s the perfect mix of Dennis and I. She has full-grown arched eyebrows and they’re already on fleek, honey. But she has Dennis’s eyes and round face. Trust me, when you see her, you’ll be like, “that’s little Dennisha!
I must say, each of your Real Housewives Of Atlanta castmates seemed genuinely happy for you, even ones you had tension with in the past. Which of the ladies has been the most supportive since you gave birth?
I would have to say, Kandi has been very supportive. Breastfeeding was very difficult for me and ended up not working out. But throughout that process, I definitely leaned on her and she definitely encouraged me to know its okay that I’m not able to [do it]. You have to have someone tell you that. Of course, Cynthia and Eva always call and check on me. Tanya calls like every day. When people are consistent outside of the camera, it shows you that it’s real. Kandi and I are completely done with our drama, and we’re ready to move forward. Her being supportive is that first step that showed me we can definitely get back to where we used to be. It feels good to be grown women and put that stuff aside.
In the preview of your show, it looked like you and Dennis’s mom had some friction. In fact, when you two first met, she asked about a prenup. Were you offended by that?
Well, I was definitely taken aback. When two people are getting married, they don’t even want to talk about a prenup, much less having the mother-in-law make mention of it. So yeah, it definitely threw me off. But when you watch the show you’ll see why she felt so inclined and get more of her point of view. Not saying I agree, but you’ll see it! (laughs) The baby special ended up being so much more than what I thought. There was a lot of drama, but a lot of love that helped us come back together.
So it seems whenever women move on to a happy relationship, their exes pop up with that random “congratulations” text. Has that happened to you yet?
Honestly, I would not know because their numbers aren’t saved in my phone anymore. I’ve definitely gotten so many random “congratulations” texts but I didn’t respond because I have no idea who it could’ve been. They know who they are, but I don’t…and that’s how it should be.
Aside from the awesome baby news, you and Dennis revealed that you’re getting married on New Year’s Eve this year. What’s the significance of that date, and any wedding deets you can share?
I wanted to do the wedding on NYE because the beginning of last year is when I started to speak family over my life. I started speaking my husband into existence and became open in my heart to receive my family soon. So it would just be a full circle moment to get married and make it official New Year’s Eve and start the rest of our lives on that same beginning. As far as the wedding – Dennis was thinking about a destination wedding, but I’m 80% sure it’ll be here in Atlanta.
Do you have a wedding dress picked out?
I don’t. Depending on how this snap back comes together, then we’ll decide if it’ll be a mermaid or princess style. But if I’m super duper snatched, I might go ahead and give another mermaid dress. Honestly, I would definitely enjoy a snatched body, but I’m not concentrating on that. I waited 37 years to have this baby. I’m concentrating on PJ and her health and how she’s doing. If my body comes back, that’s good. If it doesn’t, the wedding is going to get whatever’s under that dress.
Tune into the three-part special The Real Housewives of Atlanta Porsha’s Having A Baby on Sunday, April 28 at 8PM ET/PT.
