The underwater photography session with photographer Kristina Sherkwas captured during filming of the hit Bravo TV series.
Samuels blogged about the experience in her blog, Not For Lazy Moms, in a post titled, “I tackled my fear of water with a fierce underwater maternity photo shoot.”
She wrote: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had the biggest fear of water, which is quite funny since my husband and children absolutely love it! They always encourage me to step out of my box when it comes to water and this time I decided to take it a step further!”
She continued:
I wanted to do something that speaks about life and rebirth
As I was preparing to have my third child, I wanted to do something super special for my third maternity photo shoot! Twice before I took photos to document our amazing moment of cooking a WHOLE human, but this time, being that I suffered a miscarriage previously, I wanted to do something that speaks about life and rebirth. What better way to represent this than water!
She concludes that the shoot was a risk and had her step out of her “comfort zone” but laments that the fact the photographer was willing to home made it the experience less intimidating.
It looks like she later got the entire family involved though this might have been the magic of editing I’m not sure.
Samuels, who is married to retired NFL great Chris Samuels, gave birth to son Chase Omari last November 2018. The couple are parents 5-year old Christopher and 3-year old daughter Milani.
Congratulations to Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac’sMonique Samuels and her husband, Chris Samuels, on the birth of their son, on Monday, November 26.
The reality TV star shared the news on her Instagram page arrival of their newborn via a PEOPLE magazine exclusive.
This is the couple’s third child. They are parents 5-year old Christopher and 3-year old daughter Milani.
Real Housewives of Potomacstar Monique Samuels is expecting her third child after suffering a miscarriage which was revealed on the hit Bravo Tv show.
The mom of two opened up about the loss never anticipated the outpouring of support on an April episode of the series, filmed the prior year.
“When I first shared my story, I didn’t even realize how many people had experienced miscarriages before,” she told PEOPLE magazine. “It was amazing to have that support and to realize that I wasn’t alone. And to show so many of these women too that they can get through this.”
Samuels announced that she and her NFL veteran hubby Chris Samuels are expecting another baby — due Dec. 3. But although Monique says she feels “blessed” to add another member to her family, she said the miscarriage has changed how she feels about her pregnancy.
She said she is more cautious and frightful that things could go wrong.
“It kind of haunts you,” she admitted to the site. “The first times I was pregnant, it came so easily. I took that for granted. Now that I’m pregnant again, it’s almost like I second guess everything that I’m doing. Even with movement. I’m making sure I’m not moving too fast so I stretch my stomach. It’s something I didn’t think about with my first two pregnancies.”
Miscarriage awareness was the theme of a Rainbow Luncheon thrown in honor of babies lost to miscarriage thrown by the March of Dimes in honor of its latest celebrity ambassadorPorsha Williams of BravoTV‘s Real Housewives of Atlanta, and featured on Season 12, episode 20.
Over 50,000 others experience life-threatening complications as a result of pregnancy and childbirth each year, and 380,000 babies are born prematurely, and sadly, in the United States, there is a maternal health crisis that disproportionately affects black women.
That’s why the organization selected Williams, a new mom who recently welcomed daughter Pilar Jhenawith fiance Dennis McKinley.
During the episode which featured the October 2019 event, Williams opened the luncheon by sharing how she suffered a miscarriage alone in her bathroom six years ago, adding that it was something she had never spoken about openly and decided to join the crusade to ensure other women are aware of the prevalence of miscarriage and do not have to go through it alone.
Three of the “Friends of the Housewives” of this franchise of the show also spoke up:
Tanya Sam opened up about having limited egg reserves because she found love later in life.
“I got the news that like I didn’t have a lot of egg reserves so that’s why it was so hard [to have a baby],” Sam, a tech angel investor says. “I recently started talking about it and I find there’s a lot of strength in being able to say that to other women.”
Shamea Morton Mwangi spoke up about having severe complications with her epidural before she gave birth and recovery.
Marlo Hampton shared that she have had two ectoptic pregnancies and used to question God about why she couldn’t have a baby but later resolved to herself that she was deprived of motherhood so she could be in a position to mother her nephews 12-year old Michael and 11-year old Matthew in place of her sister who is mentally incapable of caring for the boys.
Cast member Nene Leakes said in a confessional that she too has had a miscarriage as has her arch nemesis Kenya Moore who struggled with infertility before welcoming her daughter Brooklyn Doris with her estranged ex, Marc Daly.
“Being a woman doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to have children.” Moore said in a confessional. ” I nearly died having Brooklyn and you should never shame women for not being able to have children because those are things you cannot change.”
The March of Dimes is hoping Williams will use her advocacy to draw attention to the , as well as to spotlight her own challenges and joys of pregnancy and motherhood.
March of Dimes President and CEO Stacey D. Stewart presented Williams with a painting by a black female artist as a thank you for hosting the event.
Another Bravo franchise Real Housewives of Potomacfeatured an episode last season centered around three women from that show that suffered miscarriage loss, Monique Samuels, who hosted a Unicorn celebration in lieu of a baby shower, during which co-star and new mom Ashley Darby opened up about her own loss. Friend of the Housewives Katie Rost also has a sad pass with loss.
Editor’s Note: I’m reposting this article because the old one, published a few months ago, has a fatal technical error and in light of National Rainbow Baby Day recently, I wanted to reshare it!
“I really don’t think I fully dealt with my miscarriage until until I found out I was pregnant again,” an emotional Monique Samuels shares during a testimonial to last Sunday’s new episode of Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac. “The fear and the loss just came back to me so I really had to just sit back and leave it in God’s hands”
These comments were made during her testimonial in between scenes of a party she threw last year before the birth of her third child last year, celebrating her Rainbow Baby.
A Rainbow baby is a sustainable pregnancy or live birth following the loss of a previous pregnancy or baby.
FYI: A “Unicorn baby” is one that is birthed after infertility.
About her decision to host a celebration, the wife to ex veteran NFL legend Chris Samuels: “I thought this was a good way to celebrate new life to not forget it but to learn from it and move on,” she added.
During the episode, Monique referred to her miscarried child as “her angel baby” and later released several doves in the air in honor of all the other Angel babies out there.
“I know a lot of us women share the same story and a some of us don’t choose to express and share with others but I encourage us to because there’s healing in sharing, ” she added before opening up the mic later for other women in the audience to share their stories.
During the event, her cast mate Ashley Darby, who is currently pregnant accepted the opportunity to speak about having a miscarriage at age 19 and a more recent one with her restaurateur and businessman husband, Michael Darby.
Michael broke down in tears and actually left his wife’s side at a guest table temporarily.
Another castmember of the show, Katie Rost, also is familiar with tragic pregnancy loss.
Rost, a Housewife from Season 1 and currently a “friend of the Housewives” Season 4, suffered a late term miscarriage around 4-5 months of pregnancy.
She was pregnant with her fourth child with her boyfriend, a man named Jacob, earlier this year when she miscarried.
According to an Instagram social media post by Rost, Jacob infamously snapped a highly disturbing and graphic bathroom photo of Rost laying on the floor shortly after the loss happened.
She posted the photo on her Instagram page before taking it down, but not before the gossip press got their hands on it and made it a story.
While in a vulnerable state, snapping a pic is not kind but I do not want to judge her decision to then post such a private and sacred moment on social media but yeah, that’s a heavy situation.
Photo of Rost’s kids and another young girl from Rost’s GoFundMe page
Rost is currently involved in a bitter custody dispute with her ex husband James Orsini over visitation rights with her children, son, James Rocco Orsini and twin daughters Renee Rost Orsini and Kathryn Rost Orsini who she lost full custody to. She has previously accused James of being mentally, physically and financially abusive to her.
Editor’s Note:
I could relate to Samuels’ later comment on the show about living in fear after getting pregnant again.
After I lost my first ever pregnancy about 17 years ago, my husband and I were extremely anxious and scared our second would end the same, with another loss.
We even went as far as purchased a portable ultrasound so we could constantly monitor the baby’s heartbeat anytime we wanted without having to go to the doctor’s for an appointment.
“I really don’t think I fully dealt with my miscarriage until until I found out I was pregnant again,” an emotional Monique Samuels shares during a testimonial to last Sunday’s new episode of Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac. “The fear and the loss just came back to me so I really had to just sit back and leave it in God’s hands”
These comments were made during her testimonial in between scenes of a party she threw last year before the birth of her third child last year, celebrating her Rainbow Baby.
A Rainbow baby is a sustainable pregnancy or live birth following the loss of a previous pregnancy or baby.
FYI: A “Unicorn baby” is one that is birthed after infertility.
About her decision to host a celebration, the wife to ex veteran NFL legend Chris Samuels: “I thought this was a good way to celebrate new life to not forget it but to learn from it and move on,” she added.
During the episode, Monique referred to her miscarried child as “her angel baby” and later released several doves in the air in honor of all the other Angel babies out there.
“I know a lot of us women share the same story and a some of us don’t choose to express and share with others but I encourage us to because there’s healing in sharing, ” she added before opening up the mic later for other women in the audience to share their stories.
During the event, her cast mate Ashley Darby, who is currently pregnant accepted the opportunity to speak about having a miscarriage at age 19 and a more recent one with her restaurateur and businessman husband, Michael Darby.
Michael broke down in tears and actually left his wife’s side at a guest table temporarily.
Another castmember of the show, Katie Rost, also is familiar with tragic pregnancy loss.
Rost, a Housewife from Season 1 and currently a “friend of the Housewives” Season 4, suffered a late term miscarriage around 4-5 months of pregnancy.
She was pregnant with her fourth child with her boyfriend, a man named Jacob earlier this year when she miscarried.
According to an Instagram social media post by Rost, Jacob infamously snapped a highly disturbing and graphic bathroom photo of Rost laying on the floor shortly after the loss happened.
She the photo on her Instagram page before taking it down, but not before the gossip press got their hands on it and made it a story.
While in a vulnerable state, snapping a pic is not kind but I do not want to judge her decision to then post such a private and sacred moment on social media but yeah, that’s a heavy situation.
Photo of Rost’s kids and another young girl from Rost’s GoFundMe page
Rost is currently involved in a bitter custody dispute with her ex husband James Orsini over visitation rights with her children, son, James Rocco Orsini and twin daughters Renee Rost Orsini and Kathryn Rost Orsini who she lost full custody to. She has previously accused James of being mentally, physically and financially abusive to her.
Editor’s Note:
I could relate to Samuels’ later comment on the show about living in fear after getting pregnant again.
After I lost my first ever pregnancy about 17 years ago, my husband and I were extremely anxious and scared our second would end the same, with another loss.
We even went as far as purchased a portable ultrasound so we could constantly monitor the baby’s heartbeat anytime we wanted without having to go to the doctor’s for an appointment.
Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac housewife Ashley Darby celebrated her 31st birthday and the impending arrival of her first child at a traditional ladies only “Shower” theme baby shower, this past Saturday, June 8th..
The festive event was held at La Vie restaurant in the recently renovated Wharf DC. Guests who entered a floral archway included castmates Gizelle Bryant, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, Monique Samuels, Karen Huger and Robyn Dixon to her grandmom Joyce Bryant and mom Sheila Mattthews and friends.
“I am still coming down from the joy and excitement of Baby D’s shower of love this weekend,” Darby captioned an Instagram post of a video of the event. “Michael and I are blessed to be surrounded by you caring, loving, supportive people. Life is much more fulfilling with you in it.”
Vendors included Village and Coast Interior Design which brought the theme to life by draping 55 light blue, lime, white, lavender and periwinkle parasols in the center of the room, per a PEOPLE mag exclusive.
Baker’s Cake Theory provided treats and a giant cupcake as a birthday surprise. Guests dined on a brunch menu that included mimosas and La Vie’s signature Bellini.
Local DC DJ Live Drex spun tunes, while aerialist Shelly Flex (of Dollz Entertainment) performed a 5-minute number to Disclosure’s “You” using a lollipop ring for support.
Also, according to PEOPLE, “guests also played games, with prizes including Zen Gem shirts from Ashley’s soon-to-launch wellness brand and dinner gift cards to La Vie.”
Tierra Events provided all the flowers for the event, including those draped on the hedge wall which guests snapped photos in front of for the Gram.
Three tall arrangements and two low arrangements were set up for the table centerpieces, with blue hydrangeas sitting atop green bottom pompom and strings of white dendrobium orchids, according to an OK mag feature on the event.
Photographer Marcus Bennett captured the day for prosperity.
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams and fiancé businessman Dennis McKinley celebrated the impending arrival of their first child together last month on February 24 at the Suada Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.
The intimate Winter Wonderland theme for 80 guests featured elegant and ornate decorations in rose gold and white, ice sculptures, white linen, ballet dancers, white flowers, provided by Akeem Clayton who listed event credit on his Instagram page. and the words “Celebrating PJ” (short for Porsha Junior) on the dance floor.
Guests were asked to dress in cocktail wear in white.
See a copy of the invitation, and other great exclusive photos by Stanley Babb at US Weekly and PEOPLE magazine.
“The day was magical,” the Bravolebrity told PEOPLE exclusively for this week’s issue of the celeb magazine. “It was amazing to walk into a room and feel that much love. I have such a tremendous support system around me and women who lift me up and are just so incredibly happy for me.”
There are rumors that Williams had inked a Baby Special and from the looks of it, based on all the TV crew professional videographers at the event, it appears so.
Guests which included her current and past RHOA castmates Cynthia Bailey, Tanya Sam, Eva Marcille, Shamari Devoe, Kenya Moore, Shamea Morton, Marlo Hampton; Real Housewives of Potomac‘s Monique Samuels; and Married to Medicine cast member Toya Bush-Harris
They noshed on hors d’oeuvres like seasonal fruit, baked brie, teriyaki chicken tenderloin and shrimp ceviche served on edible spoons provided by Chef Donald Wilson
And per People, a buffet dinner featured organic kale salad, lemon rosemary chicken breast with caper sauce, pan-seared salmon with red-onion marmalade, roasted potatoes, orecchiette pasta with chardonnay cream sauce and pesto, green beans and grilled ciabbata.
House-made banana pudding and Georgia peach cobbler made up the sweet portion of the buffet, while guests sipped on sparkling mango beverages and lemon, strawberry and mint water between bites, and a hot-chocolate station and decadent dessert station filled with macaron towers, cheesecake shooters, chocolate-truffle cake pops, cupcakes and cookie stacks by Sweet Details.
The centerpiece was a multi-layer vanilla bean, butter-almond and red-velvet cake with the initials “PJ” on it.
GB Design House provided the napkins for the event, hot-chocolate supplies, popcorn boxes, chocolate truffles for guests to take home, stir sticks and advice coasters, which guests filled out to give their best parenting tips to the mom- and dad-to-be.
The mom-to-be also used the occasion to promote her business ventures and partnerships including one with the Peanut app she says she has used to connect with other moms and by outfitting her sister Lauren in a dress from her upcoming clothing line, Porsha Williams. She also has “Go Naked” hair company and Porsha Williams sheets.
She herself wore a custom lace dress. Looked like quite the elegant affair. Noticeably absent was castmates Kandi Burruss and Nene Leakes.
The ones that were there played a fun game dressing a plastic doll head hosted by Dish Nation jockey Gary With Da Tea form the Ricky Smiley Show, where Williams is also a co-host.
“Very excited to share this special news with you my loves,” she captioned a video announcement of herself and Michael that ended with a sonogram and the baby’s due date, July 2019. “Michael and I are thrilled to welcome a bundle of joy into our lives. The most incredible gift imaginable! Love and light to you.”
“I’m so excited,” the “OZ” Arlington, Virginia restaurant co-owner gushed with the magazine. “When I used to hear people talk about having a child and the miracle of life inside you, I know that sounds great, but then to actually experience it? It’s the most all-encompassing feeling ever. I never imagined I’d feel this much love … it’s the pinnacle!”
This news came right after she suffered a miscarriage last year as well.
“At the time, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of how it would affect us as a couple and as individuals because we kind of thought it would be a given that we would just be able to have children,” the reality TV star added. “But it was challenging.”
The former Miss District of Columbia added the miscarriage, “was such a traumatic experience,” but credits her husband who is already a dad of two adult children, ages 24 and 27 from a previous relationship, for getting her buy.
“It was very impactful for him because he understands the feelings of being a dad,” the UUniversity of Maryland alum shares. “It was so new to me, but he could help me through that.”
It’s also after a rough patch documented between season two and three of the hit Bravo TV show. The couple had separated and Ashley was living in her own apartment in VA.
The news of the second pregnancy came as a total surprise.
“We found out in the beginning of November,” she revealed in the magazine. “I had just been healing out of it and I thought I was getting sick because of the change of season. I wasn’t feeling too well. Something just told me to take the test, really not expecting a positive result. And then lo and behold, there were two solid lines.”
The Darby’s co-star Monique Samuels just had her third child, son Chase. Over at the Real Housewives of Atlanta, alum Kenya Moore welcomed her daughter Brooklyn Doris last November while RHOA Friend of the Housewife Shamea Morton Mwagani had her first child, a daughter too, Shya Nyambura, while current Housewife Porsha Williams is expecting her first daughter too.
Bravo TV host and Real Housewives franchise co-creator Andy Cohen celebrated the impending arrival of his soon-to-be born surrogate child at a baby shower at the The Palm Beverly Hills last weekend.
The theme was ” A Star is Born” and featured ornate decorations, blue and white balloons, white and yellow florals, candles and a white floral wall.
Kyle Richards from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills hosted the event at Cohen’s BFF Bruce Bozzi’s restaurant and enlisted the aid of the OG Housewives Nene Leakes from Real Housewives of Atlanta, Teresa Giudice from Real Housewives of New Jersey, Ramona Singer from Real Housewives of New York and Vicky Guvalsen from Real Housewives of Orange County to get the women from their respective franchises there.
Many of the Housewives from the network’s Real Housewives series attended including newer ones from the Real Housewives of Potomac, and Real Housewives of Dallas.
Attendees included Ashley Darby, Brandi Redmond, Bruce Bozzi, Camille Grammer, Candiace Dillard, Cynthia Bailey, Danielle Staub, Denise Richards, Dolores Catania, Dorit Kemsley, Dorinda Medley,Emily Simpson, Erika Jayne, Eva Marcille, Gina Kirschenheiter, Gizelle Bryant, Jackie Goldschneider, Jenni Pulos, Jennifer Aydin, John Mayer, Karen Huger, Kyle Richards, LeeAnne Locken, Lisa Rinna, Margaret Josephs, Marlo Hampton, NeNe Leakes, Phaedra Parks, Ramona Singer, Robin Dixon, Shannon Beador, Sonja Morgan, Stephanie Hollman, Tamra Judge, Teddi Mellencamp, Teresa Giudice, and Vicki Gunvalson.
The Tea:According to the tattles at Tamara Tattles and her comment section snitches who have all the tea:
When the Real Housewives of Atlanta arrived, the place fell silent and everyone was stunned by their fabulousness;
John Mayer, who is Cohen’s buddy, was impressed with Leakes who kept everyone in stitches;
Cohen was surprised to see Phaedra Parks who he had fired there and who Leakes probably invited in a rumored attempt to keep the RHOA franchise amidst falling ratings
Beador was reportedly wasted
Grammar and Rinna had a little fight and Cohen went over to them and said save it for the Reunion show
Rinna was the life of the party and got everyone to dance on tables
Notably absent were Bethenny Frankel (who had a speaking engagement) and Countess LuAnn from RHONY; Monique Samuels from RHOP (who is a brand new mom); Lisa Vanderpump from RHOBH (who is rumored to be leaving and feuding with Richards); Kelly Dodd and Heather Dubrow from RHOOC; Tinsley Mortimer from RONY; Porsha Williams and Kandi Burruss from RHOA (though she is on Celebrity Big Brother right now and Williams is heavily pregnant and maybe couldn’t get on a plane); Melissa Gorga of RHONJ
Marlo Hampton was not an original invited guest but came to surprise Cohen who picked her up and twirled her around when he saw her.
Ashley Darby from RHOP looked pregnant and having just peeped her Instagram, it looks true.
Leakes was caught on her phone amidst all the hoopla
Most got along.
Danielle Staub manipulated the media to get a last minute pity invite and showed up with a gift and glammed out…allegedly
They noshed on Chinese chicken and lobster Cobb salad, Salmon with Mango Salsa, Filet Mignon, Chicken Paillard, grilled asparagus, fried potatoes, spinach and grilled polenta cakes.
