In just a few days, the world will witness the Real Housewives Of Atlanta reclaim their Sunday night reign. The past 365 days have been a whirlwind for Porsha Williams, who just welcomed daughter Pilar Jhena with fiancé Dennis McKinley. There was also a slight hiccup in their relationship with McKinley became the subject of cheating rumors.
We spoke to Porsha exclusively about what went on while filming season 12, and her message for castmates who have voiced their opinion on her love life.
The last time we spoke, we hadn’t seen baby PJ yet. Now she has her own Instagram page! How is she doing?
PJ is doing great, crawling and everything. She’s seven months now and her little personality is starting to come through now, which I call her resting baby face. That’s my little bestie. She’s everything!
In the super trailer for season 12 of RHOA, it appears you get emotional going through a rough patch with Dennis. What was it like going through that situation while choosing not to address the rumors?
I didn’t want to address it publicly or deal with it at all. What I was dealing with had nothing to do with the blogs. I was dealing with real-life issues and couldn’t care less what the public was thinking. I was worried about my mental and physical health, my family and what we were going to do to get through it.
Even though Kenya wasn’t on the show last season, fans saw via social media that you two had patched things up and became friendly. How did that come to be?
It was easier than people would have imagined. There wasn’t this big sit down and deep conversation. We both had babies around the same time and that’s something we could relate to and speak to each other about on common ground. We just grew to eventually have mutual respect for each other. I don’t think having any petty issue with another girl was something we wanted to concentrate on. We’re both new moms and that’s priority number one. [Our daughters] PJ and Brooklyn are both laid back girls, too, so they had a quick friendship.
I saw a clip on DISH Nation where you broke down about being away from PJ while taping. How has it been finding your groove as a working mother?
I definitely had to go through that initial mommy guilt that you just can’t hide from. I even think moms who are home with their kids all day got through that. But I pushed through knowing I have to go to work every day to provide the lifestyle I want my daughter to have. I leaned on my support system. My mom has been my everything and Dennis has been by our side. I’ve waited a lifetime to have her and I don’t want to miss anything. Whether we like it or not, we are in PJ’s world.
Dennis and I had a true bump in the road and we’re trying to make sure our foundation is strong.
Speaking of baby PJ, is she going to get a little brother or sister in the near future?
I would like that. We’ve been talking about that, but we’ll see what happens.
You and Dennis initially had your wedding planned for New Year’s Eve. Is that still happening?
We’ve moved the wedding date back but we haven’t announced it yet. We needed more time. Dennis and I had a true bump in the road and we’re trying to make sure our foundation is strong. We both want to be married forever, so we’re doing the work.
Part of doing the work appears to be couples therapy, which you and Dennis are seen doing in the trailer. Has therapy helped shift things for you?
Therapy is important to me because you need to speak to someone in a safe space. I have a support system in my mom who’s at the house, but you don’t want to lay everything on her. I use therapy as a place to release and work through things I’m dealing with in my head. It’s also a safe space for my relationship; for us to say things to each other, whereas we might jump to a conclusion if they’re said at home and end up in an argument. At therapy, we’ve learned to communicate a lot better and come to an understanding.
When it comes to your relationship with Nene, there’s been tons of ups and downs and awkward moments. Most recently, she body-shamed you weeks after giving birth to PJ. Where do things between you currently stand?
It’s definitely been a roller coaster with me and Nene. One minute the door is opened and the next it’s closed. When I really care about somebody, I get more disappointed than angry. Eventually, you don’t even know if you want to put in the effort to fix the relationship. [In the beginning of season 12] we started off nonchalant. Then, things around us start happening. As the season progresses, you’ll see what we both decide to do with the friendship.
You and Dennis’s relationship seems to be a conversation piece among the other castmates, namely Kandi. Are you prepared for the shade that will be thrown your way this season?
The thing about doing this show is anything you’re going through, the other girls will want to talk about it. Going into it, I know that’s what will happen. How I’ll deal with it? I really don’t. It depends on what they have to say. I just hope they do it knowing that this could happen to anyone. I’m a woman and a brand new mom. This is a new relationship. People go through ups and downs. Nine times out of ten, the [people] watching and the women speaking on it have been through it or are going to go through. I just hope and pray that through seeing my story, it can help someone be a little stronger.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta returns Sunday, November 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.