Kenya Moore Embraces New Beginnings: Speaks About Blaming Herself For Her Divorce
Kenya Moore, the star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is embarking on a transformative journey filled with self-discovery and professional triumphs. At 53, Kenya is embracing a newfound sense of freedom and self-love after the resolution of her divorce to ex-husband Marc Daly.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, she candidly shares her journey of letting go of self-criticism and embracing every aspect of herself. “I’ve never given myself that before; allowed myself the freedom to just let go and walk through life fully embracing every part of myself. That’s what I want to do moving forward, because I’m tired of holding myself back. This ‘next chapter,’ as I’m calling it, is all about flourishing, removing myself from those burdens and stepping into me,” she stated.
Central to Kenya’s transformation is silencing the critical voice in her head, shaped by her grandmother’s old-fashioned values. “I’ve always judging myself with my grandmother’s eyes,” she admits. “She was old-fashioned and very religious, and while I appreciated that and appreciated her morals, I feel like I’ve been wound a little to tight in the past. I’ve always contained myself, especially in my personal relationships. And I’m done doing that.”
Kenya’s journey of self-discovery also involves letting go of the emotional burden of her divorce. After years of self-blame, she realized she wasn’t at fault.
As she explained, “For years I blamed myself for my divorce — in the same way I judged myself, that was my default. But recently, I looked back at text messages between us, emails, listened to voice recordings, and it finally hit me: It wasn’t me. So I said, ‘I’m sorry, but I’m not going to do this to myself.'”
Now, Kenya is focused on realizing her dreams, including expanding her business ventures and returning to acting. Her role in Lifetime’s Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Story marks a significant milestone, her first leading role in over a decade. Her performance resonates deeply as she taps into the primal fear of a mother fighting to bring her daughter home.
Beyond personal triumphs, the reality star is passionate about representing Black women in Hollywood and advocating for their stories to be heard.
“I’m so happy because it feels like there’s this shift in Hollywood for Black women, both in front and behind the camera. So the timing just feels right,” she stated.
As Kenya continues to pursue her passions, she remains open to new opportunities and experiences. “Whether I get them or not, there’ll be others,” she said confidently. “I know I’ll have other opportunities and development deals to come. It just all feels so right.”
