More Than A Housewife w/ Shamea Morton

Summary

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Keep It Positive, Sweetie

Episode: "More Than A Housewife w/ Shamea Morton"

Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Shamea Morton Mwangi
Release Date: February 23, 2025

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Overview

This heartfelt episode of “Keep It Positive, Sweetie” features actress, host, and Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Shamea Morton Mwangi. Through genuine conversation with host Crystal Renee Hayslett, Shamea opens up about transcending labels ("more than a housewife") and shares her powerful journey balancing a multi-hyphenate career, motherhood, and marriage. Together, they explore faith, perseverance, fertility, cultural integration, and female empowerment with infectious authenticity and vulnerability.

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Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Breaking Out of Boxes: The Multifaceted Woman

• Shamea recounts her evolution from childhood choir singer to dance team member, actor, and host.
• Both women reflect on refusing to let society limit their paths or box them into single roles.
  • “We are women that aren’t placed in a box. We can do multiple things.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [05:04]
• The hustle behind the scenes—Shamea's path involved persistence, resilience, and faith despite setbacks, including years of overnight radio shifts and repeated “no’s” in the entertainment industry.
  • “People think you just get success overnight, but it’s like, this is a journey.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [08:42]

2. Faith, Manifestation & Trusting the Process

• Both the host and Shamea repeatedly attribute their resilience to faith in God and the power of manifesting dreams.
  • “Just when you start to just be like, all right, I’m over it, [God] steps in and just shows you, ‘I told you to trust me.’” — Shamea Morton Mwangi [10:18]
• They discuss the realness of doubt and asking “Why?” but emphasizing the importance of holding on until the breakthrough.
• Shamea describes "manifesting" a dream hosting gig at the Grammys—even staging a faux announcement—which led to viral confusion and network congratulatory calls, showing the contagious power of dreaming big (and the sometimes unintended consequences).
  • "It was manifestation."
    — Shamea Morton Mwangi [11:34]

3. The Pain and Triumph of Fertility, Surrogacy, and Motherhood

• Shamea shares openly about her fertility journey, demystifying IVF, surrogacy, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancy, and her decision to include her community in the struggles.
  • “I did seven rounds of IVF.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [21:44]
  • “Even when I was busy and I was doing IVF, I would just give myself a shot in the car...Don’t procrastinate. Just do it.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [22:06]
• Shamea also addresses the judgment and ignorance surrounding surrogacy and fertility. She stresses the need for more honest conversations, especially in the Black community:
  • “Especially in the Black community, I didn’t know anything about freezing eggs and IVF...It was just like, don’t get pregnant.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [20:43 & 21:03]
• The trauma and resilience from her daughter's (Shiloh’s) medical struggles: NICU stays, rare diagnoses, and multiple surgeries. Shamea describes how her faith, community, and support from strangers helped her survive.
  • "My girl has had 14 surgeries."
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [29:47]
  • “There was no information about all this stuff...So that’s why I share my story.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [28:52]
• She highlights the challenges of juggling care for both daughters, the impact on family dynamics, and the pain of not being able to shield her eldest from difficulty.
  • “We were a divided house. My husband’s with Shia. I’m with Shiloh...But it definitely made our family stronger.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [33:53]

4. Friendships, Success, and Community

• Shamea discusses how professional growth can change friendships, sometimes leading to distance or resentment, despite her efforts to “bring all my people along."
  • “Sometimes people just don’t see it for you...it’s not even you, you’re like, I’m still here.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [18:38]
• She acknowledges support from unexpected places—often complete strangers—during her most difficult times.
  • “A lot of people that reached out to me weren’t even like my closest friends. It was strangers.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [34:37]

5. Culture, Marriage, and Personal Identity

• Shamea candidly explains the challenges and joys of marrying into a Kenyan family: social stigma, cultural differences, learning Swahili, and maintaining her own identity.
  • “It wasn’t cute back then. Now it’s like glamorized...But back then, it was like, girl, she probably one of his five wives.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [40:12]
• Navigating the Kenyan-American blending: embracing new family traditions, expectations, and an expanded sense of what “family” means.
  • “When I went to Kenya, it’s not about what you’re wearing...they’re giving each other love. The company, the conversation, the companionship.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [49:13]
• The importance of inclusivity and support from her husband in multi-lingual family gatherings.
  • “If you don’t have somebody calling it out for you, it can get frustrating.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [51:34]

6. What’s Next: Purpose, Music, and Giving Back

• Shamea previews new creative projects: upcoming music, a return to her first love of singing, continued acting and hosting.
  • “I did some music with RL that I’m really excited about and proud of, because I’d been away from music for so long.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [52:11]
• She encourages listeners to follow her journey and support her nonprofit, Shamea Shares, which offers free cheer and dance camps for girls and breast cancer events supporting her surrogate's journey.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Delay is not a denial.”
  – Shamea Morton Mwangi [32:55]
• “If that is for you, no man, nothing can stop it...I might be blessing. And I love. It’s coming. It is. I can feel it.”
  – Shamea Morton Mwangi [13:26]
• Reflection on parenthood and hardship:
  • “Maybe Shia’s gonna get me in the end. Shia will be easy later, and Shiloh’s gonna tear me up later.”
    – Shamea Morton Mwangi [36:31]
• “What’s truly important? I’ve seen some of our wealthiest people lose it all and get it all again. So what are you gonna do when you lose it all? That man I’ll live underneath a rock with.”
  – Shamea Morton Mwangi [48:32]
• “When I was in it, you don’t even have time to breathe. You just gotta go, go, go, go, go.”
  – Shamea Morton Mwangi [35:30]
• “You never know what people are going through. A smile and community can go a long way.”
  – Crystal Renee Hayslett [54:51 summary]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Breaking the mold & multi-hyphenate identity: [05:00–08:45]
• Resilience in entertainment, faith & manifestation: [08:45–11:45]
• Motherhood, IVF, surrogacy, and medical adversity: [20:00–37:00]
• Navigating fame and friendships: [17:40–20:05]
• Integration into Kenyan culture & marriage: [39:00–51:00]
• Shamea’s next projects and community work: [52:04–54:01]

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Episode Mood & Takeaways

The tone throughout is supportive, candid, and full of hope, tempered with humility and humor. Shamea Morton Mwangi’s story is both unique and widely relatable—permission for listeners to own their complexity, open up about hardships, and believe in the possibility of joy and success despite it all. Faith, love, and the power of authentic community are throughlines that make this a must-listen for anyone seeking encouragement.

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Where to Find Shamea

• Instagram/Twitter/Other Socials: [@shameamorton]
• YouTube: Shamea Morton Mwangi / Shamee Morton
• Nonprofit: Shamea Shares (links on social channels)

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“I'm going to do all the things. Singing, dancing, acting, hosting…I just want to continue to do things that make me happy, feed my soul, inspire and motivate me, and just give me good peace, energy. That's what I'm about right now.”
— Shamea Morton Mwangi [53:05]

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Transcript

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Coming up on Keep it positive, sweetie.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

As women, we're often told, you know, get your career, get a husband. Here are the steps to doing all this stuff. And especially in the black community. I didn't know anything about freezing eggs and ivf. It was just like, don't get pregnant. Let that butt get you pregnant.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Hello.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah, you wrap that thing up, and you were always like, oh, okay. Yeah. You know, you didn't hear about, like, yeah, until. You don't need to wrap it up because your eggs are gonna dry. You know, you're born with a certain number of eggs, and you. You have those eggs, and that's all you're gonna get. We don't talk about that kind of stuff. We don't.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Hey, guys. There is so much going on in the world, so much so that we don't even have the words to articulate it or even someone to talk to. If that's you, I have something for you. And it's BetterHelp. BetterHelp is an app that pairs you with a licensed therapist who specializes in your needs. It's super easy. All you have to do with a few clicks on your phone is fill out a quick survey with what you're struggling with, and BetterHelp will pair you with the perfect therapist. You don't have to do this alone. If you're struggling, consider our therapy with our sponsor, BetterHelp. You can get a discount off of your first month using my link www.betterhelp. crystalrenae. Guys, let's get better together with better help. Welcome to another episode of the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. A safe space where we heal, laugh, grow, and love together. I'm your host, Krista Renee Hayslett, and in this episode, we sit down with the dynamic Shamia Morton Mwangi, renowned for her multifaceted career in entertainment. This is an inspiring conversation that offers a deeper look into the life of a woman who seamlessly balances the demands of the spotlight with personal fulfillment because she is more than a housewife. Before we get into the episode, let's take a look into Krystal's closet. All right, guys, let's get into today's look. I am wearing a matching set by Max Mar Sport. I'm wearing an aloe tank, and I paired it with these beige Givenchy shark boots. Get into it. Shamia Morton Mwangi exudes energy from her vibrant presence on the Real Housewives of Atlanta to her infectious personality while hosting V103's morning show and the high energy she brings to hosting the Atlanta Hawks games and any red carpet. I'm super excited to dive into her journey from leading her church choir at the tender age of four to becoming the most exciting multi hyphenate talents while balancing motherhood, marriage, and career. Ladies and gentlemen, Shamia Morton Mwangi.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Hey. Hey, Visery. I gotta hug you. Oh, my God. I'm excited.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I'm excited to have you. I just, first of all, I just love you. Your energy is always electric. From the day I met you, you've been so sweet and kind and you always invite me and include me and stuff. You never forget about me, even though I'm like, extremely busy. You know how you, like, invite people places and then they. They're never available. You're like, well, I ain't gonna invite me anymore. That is not. Shamia. You always keep me in mind because.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I always want your bright light around me. Like, you have such a magnetic, positive energy. Thank you. Which is why you're. The name of this show is so perfect. When I first heard about Kips, I was like, oh, my goodness, what a great name.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Thank you.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, you just exude this joy and this God in you, and it's so contagious, and it's something that you always want to be around. So thank you for never forgetting about me.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, of course.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, you know, sometimes when people blow up and they do a big thing and they do a big one, it's like, oh, oh, yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, we're not doing that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You never give that energy. No. At a basketball game, at a grocery store, you're like, hey, what's going on? Like, she still loves me. I told y'.

[Friend/Interviewer]

All.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I know, Chris, right?

[Friend/Interviewer]

I love that.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, I appreciate you so much and I'm extremely proud of you and your growth. Like, I think when I first met you, you were a dancer for the Hawks.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You were a Hawks cheerleader. Was it Falcons?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes. It's been a while. And then I moved over to the Hawks. Yes. Dancing and cheering.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Incredible. And then to see you now, like the host of the Hawks. You are doing so many things.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Thank you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You're a host, you're an actor, you are a mother, a performer, all the things.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Listen, I'm just trying to be like you best friend. I. I love the fact that, you know, we are women that aren't placed in a box.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We can do multiple things.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, multiple things. Bring in multiple streams of.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Come on.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Hello.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

That's always fortunate thing. But it's crazy because, like, how all of this stuff came about. I started out just being a girl that loved to sing in the Sunbeam Choir at the Church of God in Christ. Then went from there to just. My show was boring. And they were like, okay, well, you got. You can't just stand there and say, you gotta give us a little bit more. Oh, wow. Can you move a little? So my parents put me in ballet, jazz.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Same. We have so much in common.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah. And then from there, got a part in the movie Drumline where I was a dancer. And then it just continued. I was like, I saw that check and I was like, oh, I can do this. Hold on a second. You get paid this kind of money just to act? I was like, oh, let me get to some acting classes. Cause what? Signed up for the Alliance Theaters acting classes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Amazing.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Then I came this close to getting the part over with Mr. Perry. I auditioned and got the have and have Nots play.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That's where. Oh, the play, okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We're supposed to do that last leg on the tour, and then they canceled it. And I was like, ah, it's like a camera. Like, you almost had it.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

There's a lot of those.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But I was fortunate enough to do some background work, like a couple liners here and there. You know, it's a joke, I always say, like, it's a process.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

It is.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You have to. And God ain't done with me yet.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

He is not done.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I'm still doing it. I'm still working. And I'm still able to keep my youth. Yes, kids, keep it young.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, my goodness.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Did you ever feel like with all the things that you wanted to do, did you ever have a feeling where you just had to choose one thing at any moment? Because I know we. Now we're like, we're not being boxed in. But was there ever a moment where you did feel like you had to choose?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I felt like. I mean, the industry kind of burned me out singing because I was signed so young. And, you know, I've sang with some of the best of them, you know, Shamari from Black, Kerry Hilson from. You know, we had a group called Pretty Tony. I had a. I was in a group called Co Ed. And after so long and after so many no's, you do start feeling like you're not good enough. Maybe you're not really a good singer. Maybe you're not cute enough. Maybe you start to doubt yourself. So I started doing the things that people did appreciate or respect me for, and that was like hosting or dancing.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And so I was like, well, I really want to do some, like, in game hosting, sideline reporting, and I want to do radio.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Now, how'd you get into that?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I was dancing at a Hawks game and I was like, the only way I'm coming back at my big age is if you guys are going to give me a shot to do some sideline stuff or in game hosting.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Now, who did you tell this to?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

My cheer coach.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, wow.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

She was like, yeah, just study and, you know, be ready. When your time comes, you'll be able to do it. And lo and behold, the girl missed her flight. The host missed her flight.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I was always had an extra change of clothes in my locker, ready. I was like, put me in, coach.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That's a message.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I'm ready.

[Friend/Interviewer]

And they did.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I mean, I don't want to say I killed it, but I did well enough.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I mean. Well, you did something right.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Get called back again. And I became her backup. And then it was like, you know, she moved to. To la, and what's crazy is her name was Crystal. Oh, wow.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And she moved to LA and started doing some stuff in LA for the Sparks and everybody else. And then that job became mine. And from there it was like, okay, now it's yours completely.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yes, it is yours and you own it. You are.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So, of course, you know, Ryan at the time was doing the.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Ryan Cameron.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What Tick does now.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yep. The Voice. He was the voice of Hawks. And, yeah, he was auditioning co host for the radio. Then he brought me in, let me audition a little bit and hang out with him. Then I started doing overnights at the radio station. The shift that nobody wants.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Right.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You gotta start somewhere.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You're pretty much talking to yourself. I did that for, like, almost two years.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Oh, wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

People don't know that. I think you just get success overnight, but it's like, this is a journey.

[Friend/Interviewer]

It is.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Did that for like two years. Then I joined the Big Tigger Morning show and that was a fun time. I did that for another two years. And in between that, mind you now, it wasn't just consecutive, like, years. It was like overnights. No job.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Then they call you back and then you do. Yeah, so. And then. Then I got let go of there.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What did that.

[Friend/Interviewer]

What was that like?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Oh, man, it was heartbreaking.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You feel like you're getting a big break.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

That's like. Yeah, you. I mean, I loved my job. I love Uno3. I've always enjoyed the People Station because I grew up in Atlanta.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Exactly.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So it's not hard feelings because sometimes you people just want to go in a different direction, and you gotta. You gotta respect that. And you just have to thank God for the time that you were able to do it.

[Friend/Interviewer]

That's good.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I was like, you know, at any time one door has closed, another one has opened. So even when I was doing the WNBA hosting, I lost my job there. And I was crying, I was sad. And then the NBA called me and.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I was like, come on, guys.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So, you know, when I lost my job at B103, housewives called. And I was like, come on, God.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

So was there ever a moment where you were like, all right, God, what's happening? Or did he always like, just open it? Just never let that doubt even settle in because he was always opening another door.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, we are always naturally gonna be somewhat doubtful. And it. And when I was younger, you used to hear, like, don't you question God?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Always.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Sometimes you get frustrated and you're like, well, what's happening? Yeah, what's my purpose? What do you really want me to do? You always, you know, pray that your will be done. Well, what's in your will? Am I doing it right?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I mean, order my steps already.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Right.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Getting impatient, you know?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And then just when you start to just be like, all right, I'm over it, he steps in and he just shows you, like, all right, I told.

[Friend/Interviewer]

You to trust me.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Now you trust me.

[Friend/Interviewer]

I love it.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah. So, you know, I'm doing the show this season. I'm excited about that. I feel like my life is just taking. I think I'm taking control of it and I'm actually manifesting and speaking those things that I want.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Speaking of manifesting, you.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You just recently.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Manifested a big, I think, feat that you want to accompl. You want to share that with us?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I almost feel like that might have backfired a little bit, might have went a little bit too far. So. I'm not a liar, guys. I was just really manifesting stuff on my page that, like, live from the 67th annual Grammys. It's the biggest night in music and I'm your host Shamia Morton alongside my co host, Trevor Noah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I know that's right. Speak it.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Everybody started calling me like, oh, my God. Ah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I was like, yes, but why? I walked in today when you were like, Cause I saw your post and I said, oh, my God. We had to touch on her. I didn't know she did the Grammys. Like, it's spreading. And people are, like, picking it up, you know, and it's like, I thought it was real. And then you're like, that was manifestation.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Called me from the network, and I'm like, oh, my goodness. We did not know that. Congratulations for. I was like, in my face.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

But that's where it starts. That's where it starts. No, you've seen it. Like, I've seen a lot of people do commentary on fashion, and it starts in their living room. And then before you know it, they get so many followers and traction builds where they end up being on the red carpet.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So it can happen. I'm just like, y' all at home. I want. I got dreams, too.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yes, absolutely.

[Friend/Interviewer]

I love that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So, yeah. Sorry. Miami, the Catfish, y', all. No worries. Like, right, like, so you didn't. No. Let me tell you, the funny part was when I read one of the comments, one of my friends was like, you have me in tears. Oh, my God. You deserve this. And I was like, don't cry.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Don't.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Wait till. Wait till next year.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Wait till next year. Cause it's gonna happen and then cry. We both gonna be crying, been shouting.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yes, that's good. There's this new show on BET called Pound for Pound. It's in South Africa, and it follows women who are boxers, but they talk about the struggle to balance it all. You, Shamia, are multi hyphenate. You do all the things. And you also are a mother. Do you feel like you can have it all?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I do. And I think that this season that I'm in has really shown me that you can have it all. And I hate to keep taking things back to God, but that's like a center.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Take it back. Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And that's kind of how I was raised.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It's always like, if you got to put your trust in him and you got to know that he hears and he sees and he knows what you want, he knows the desires of your heart, and he'll give you just that if you just stay faithful.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I mean, I don't want to start preaching, but Job was sick for so.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Long, you know, flesh fell from his bones.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But you know what? He waited and he waited, and God showed up and showed out in his.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Come on.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

If I passed, the flesh falls from his bones, then why can't I?

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Why can't I?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And so, like, I always tell people, like, no matter your age, no matter your race, creed, it doesn't matter. Like, if that is for you, no man, nothing can stop it. And that's what I'm doing. I'm waiting. I might be blessing. And I love. It's coming. It is. I can feel it. I'm here with you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Imagine.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Imagine both of us from where we. When we met, where we were to now is night and day.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Absolutely. Even with housewives, like, people were like, oh, you know, she'll never get a peach. Even I started doubting, like, would I ever. And not that it was, like, a goal of mine, but it's kind of frustrating when you're doing something haphazardly. Like, you.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, you want to showcase your whole life.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You want to show people that there's more to you than just being a plus one or a friend of. But you can't because you're not full time.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You're just a friend of the cast. And so it would be situations, like someone would say something. You know, you can be a little shady and you don't know it until you actually watch the show. And when you watch the show, then it's like, oh, that's how you feel. And I didn't even get a chance to get you back.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I want to get my lick back. I want to have a rebuttal or something back. You don't get any of that because.

[Friend/Interviewer]

You'Re just a friend.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Heck, they probably don't even mic you.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, my goodness.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Or you might not even get invited to the next event. So it's always. Yeah. To even say your piece. Right. So then your viewers are thinking, oh, well, she just laid down and took it. And really, you're like, I didn't even know about it. I didn't get invited back. I didn't. You know, you don't get a confessional or green screen. You don't get any of that stuff.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Oh, wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I'm just excited for people to know me.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

My life and all of the good, bad, and the ugly of it. And I don't want to say the ugly, but I always feel like social media people show you all the good.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

It's a highlight.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Look at my car. I'm this. I'm bad. I am the girl. I'm dumb. But it's like the real life does happen.

[Friend/Interviewer]

It does happen.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Everything is not great. And some days I don't feel pretty, and some days I don't feel amazing. Some days I feel less than. Some days I feel inferior. Some days I'm just like, why, God? And. And, you know, dealing with a sick baby, it's just a lot of things that weigh on you and that's why I was saying, like, just the faith that. And just when God picks you, he's like, you know, hey, I'm gonna throw all this on you, but the reward is gonna be so great.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely. No, for sure.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And that's what I think people see this season. Like, they'll get to see the good, and they'll get to see the not so good moments.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I'm excited for that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

For.

[Friend/Interviewer]

You know. Do you.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Have you felt a sense of pressure now that you're not. You're like, you got your peach now. So this is a different level for you on the show. Have you felt any pressure or any hesitancies of sharing your entire world?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So the only time I get nervous and, like, anxious is knowing that. Okay, it's premiering March 9th. This is when people are gonna see everything about me. Because when I pull up at a Hawks game, I park in the deck and no one knows what I'm driving.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, we know now.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Or when I. I'm just being honest. Or like, when I go home, they.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Don'T know what I'm going home to.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So oftentimes I'm treated like the cheerleader that makes this amount and that.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And they don't know.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And they don't know. And I just don't want that relationship.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

To change, because how do you feel it's gonna change?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I don't want to be treated like, oh, excuse me, Woody. Like. Cause the people. Some of the people that do know, it's already started happening, like, well, I know you don't eat Krispy Kreme donuts, but I'm like, absolutely. I do. Right.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Bring them.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I'm gonna ride through the McDonald's, drive through and get some fries. It's not beneath me.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Didn't cook.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We got Catherine Dee's for dinner, but people automatically box you in this. Oh, ooh, la la. And it's like, that's not even me.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

It's not. You are not like that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I just love that about what my life is now.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, I can kick it with you in some sweats, and we can just be, you know, chilling. And I don't. I just. The glitz and glam of it all is. Is one thing, but then there's also.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Friend/Interviewer]

That.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely down to earth.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Decatur, girl.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Decatur. I love it is. You have not. No, I'm serious. It has not changed.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I don't want.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

The people around me to change, you know?

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Speaking of that, how has it been as you've ascended and your stars continue to rise, just like the people around you. And navigating those friendships and relationships, I.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Mean, you know, I always felt like sometimes people say, you know, when you get a certain level of success, you know, things change or you lose friends or. And I mean, I hate to say that's right. And it's not because it's something that you're doing, because I find myself trying to go extra hard to keep all my people and make them all feel special and make them all feel important and like they're on this journey with me. But sometimes people just don't see it for you. Yeah, sometimes people, you know, and I'm not talking about anybody in particular, but sometimes just. It could be a cousin. They could feel like, you know, for as long as you were, or they felt like they were better, doing better or more superior. Then it was like, rah, rah in your corner.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But then the moment that they feel like you're doing well is like, they change.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It's not even you. You're like, I'm still here. I still want to go kick it with you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I miss you. I love you, friend. I couldn't kick it with you today because I had this happening, but tomorrow, and it's like, no, I'm good. You know, I'm like, that. That's what's hurtful.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, just. Just that part of it, like, just changing and it's almost like. I don't want to say changing it. Some friends are seasonal, though. Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I mean, and.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And some are not meant to be there with you.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, no, that's true. That's true. It seems like you're navigating it very well.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It's hard, cuz, you know, we. I think we're loyal people and we love hard.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah. Oh.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But like, you know, some of my friendships, you know, have taken, you know, like. Like, I mean, and one of my friends, we. We've been friends since, God knows, like, we met in college.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow. Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I've been out of college for a long time and. And she just would say weird stuff all the time. I'll be like, hey, girl, you know, I'm filming today. I can't, you know, and then it.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Was like, oh, you know, you always.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You're always. Yeah, like, like you. Oh, so since you on this show now.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You don't have time.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You don't have time. I don't have time, but I'm going to make time for you. And then when I would try to make time for her, she would just be like, no, it's all.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah, they. Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Gets me.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, and I want to do better, girl. Cuz if I win you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes. Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

For real.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah. But okay.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, no, I get that.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You've been very open about motherhood and about surrogacy and fertility. I spoke about this a few times openly about my really just working those years. I should have been harvesting my eggs and feeling like I waited too long. And then my doctor just telling me recently that you should just try to have it naturally, because if you do freeze your eggs, who's to say they're all gonna stay alive and be viable? So I'm in that stage where I'm going through the dang I wish I had of. But you've been through it all, and I want you to share some of your journey. And then I want to know how shy is doing.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I'm so happy that we're having this conversation because I do feel like not just in our community, but. But as women, we're often told, you know, get your career, get a husband. Here are the steps to doing all this stuff. And especially in a black community. I didn't know anything about freezing eggs and ivf. It was just like, don't get pregnant. Don't let that but get you pregnant.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Hello.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah, wrap that thing up. And you were always like, oh, okay. Yeah. You know, you didn't hear about like, yeah, until you don't need to wrap it up because your eggs are gonna dry. You know, you're born with a certain number of eggs and you have those eggs and that's all you're gonna get. We don't talk about that kind of stuff.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

We don't. Let's talk about it.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

People are talk are they're freezing their kids eggs out of high school.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Isn't that crazy?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, like, they want to make sure they are able to procreate. And we are. We aren't. So we're just told, don't do that. Don't get yourself knocked up. Don't be barefoot and pregnant. All the stuff. And then now that you have. And it's so crazy because the more I talk about it, the more I found out about so many of my friends and just family that have had trouble with infertility.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I'm like, let's all talk about it. We can help each other. I did seven rounds of ivf. Wow.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Seven.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Okay.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What is that like? Because when I was told I should do it, I felt like it was too late. But then Also, people kept saying, well, I mean, how's that going to work with your career? When are you going to have time? Because, you know, it's going to take you down, and it's not your body. You gain weight and it's not good. And I'm like, well, when would I have time to do it?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Let me tell you. Figure it out. Because even when I was busy and I was doing ivf, I would just give myself a shot in the car, really. Just figure it out, you know? And it takes, what, a day to, you know, do the egg retrieval and then another day to recover, possibly. But you'll make it happen. You'll figure it out. Don't procrastinate. Just do it. You know, but it's never too late. Like, I mean, if it's. It's going to happen for you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

At the right time.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

At the right time, yes. And.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And the vain comments that I've gotten, you know, because I did do surrogacy with Shiloh. It was, oh, you know, you just don't want to mess up your body. Should have had a baby naturally. She wouldn't have been sick. Da, da, da. It's some ugly stuff out there. However, I never stopped trying to get pregnant. I had failed transfer after failed transfer.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And then what's a failed transfer?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So when they transfer the embryo into you, you wait to see if you get a positive pregnancy test. It didn't happen. And then a year ago, January, I had an ectopic pregnancy and almost died. My left. I was pregnant and my left fallopian tube ruptured.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes. Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I was bleeding out internally. And, oh, yeah, that's a whole nother thing and you don't really even know about. And I went to one hospital, and they were just like, get in line. Like, we have other people ahead of you. And I was just like, I feel like I'm dying. I called my mom, and I was crying. I was like, I'm vomiting in the. In the emergency room, and no one's helping me.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And you were literally bleeding, and I was bleeding.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And then my mom came and took me from that hospital to another hospital where I was born, actually. Emory Crawford Long.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I give you amazing things at Emory.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

They rushed me right back, even though my vitals were good, because, like, at the hospital, I wasn't running a fever. My blood pressure wasn't high, so they were like, you're fine. Took me back the other hospital. They did blood work on me, and they would do a little more in depth, and they were like, yeah, no, something's not right. And then they did an ultrasound on me and they saw the blood and they were like, we're rushing you into surgery. And when they told me to rush me to surgery, I was like, let me go to the bathroom first. I went to the bathroom and blood just started.

[Friend/Interviewer]

No.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes. Oh, my goodness. Not to be graphic, but yeah. It was just. I mean, it was nothing. But God, they saved my life.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Which is why, you know, just a spoiler alert, you know, you'll see the cuts on me even on the show, you know, just that was a real thing. But let me tell you, it gave me was a high and a low for that. I can still get pregnant.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, cuz I, I did get pregnant.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I still have eggs, you know, because at this age you start thinking, can I get pregnant? Do I still have eggs? You know, wow. And then. But the other side was, now I only have one fallopian tube to get pregnant.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

To get pregnant.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, I, I would tell anybody, like, do your research, you know, do your homework. Go make sure that it's a really great fertility clinic that you're going to look at their, like, percentages of pregnancies and then decide, make a, make a conscious effort to just be, be very detailed. Your place.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We were fortunate enough to get Shiloh through my surrogate named Shadina.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Now how did you find us here? Because that's another thing, like when you think about, like, who would you choose?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I was always like, let me, let me. When I met Shadeena, I met her through Candy.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And Candy used Shadina for her daughter Blaze. And during that process, I was there to witness her do the injections. And I didn't even know that I needed a surrogate or anything. I was just like, I'll get pregnant.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

One day. And then it was like. Because I had Shia the natural way.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I was like, oh, yeah, you know, we'll get pregnant. It'll be easy. Then it wasn't. It was like failed, failed after failed. So my doctor was like, it's unexplained. Like, I don't even know why. Just go and talk to a fertility clinic. And so that's how we came about Shadee. I was like, hey, she has an agency.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I was like, why don't you just carry the baby? We're comfortable with you. You're in the circle already.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Just because she was like, what? So she did. She got diagnosed with breast cancer, unfortunately. And she was at 32 weeks when she got diagnosed and it was an aggressive form of breast cancer.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That's a lot.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Oh, my goodness. When I tell you, I'm always like, is this like a movie, right? I'm like, is this really happening? She got diagnosed with breast cancer. Since it was aggressive, they were like, we can't. We gotta. Like, we gotta go ahead and take this. So I think Shiloh came five weeks early. And she came on Valentine's Day like, she's my love baby.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And what was crazy is I was supposed to be at allstar because All Star is always that week. It was in Utah that year. And I was like, well, I'm gonna have to, like, I gotta figure this out. She came, she was crying. We were all rejoicing. And then she stopped crying and started turning blue.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Whoa.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I was like, oh, my goodness. And they rushed her to the icu. Next time I saw my baby, she had been intubated and was on a breathing machine. Yeah. I was like, oh, my goodness. Then it's so crazy how, like, social media. Media helps you at times. There is power in that because she was there. Right. At a week on the ventilator.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And they were like, she needs a surgery. Her. She had both nasal passages blocked with boning and tissue. And they could only do the surgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Children's Healthcare. Atlanta didn't have any beds.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, my goodness.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Beds.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You would think we're in the United States of America. Like, is that. How is that even.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That lets you know how many kids are.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

There you go. And that hospital that they just built was so needed. But this was 2023. The hospital just opened in 2024.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Got you.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We didn't have that yet. And so they were. They. They were had. They had a bed shortage. So I went on Instagram, and that's kind of how I started telling my story.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Not for pity or, you know, empty for people. I just. I just needed help. And I didn't know how to help my child. And I knew that if I. I waited.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Then her lungs would suffer. And I was just like, I don't.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Know what to do.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And God just said, tell your story. So I went live and I started telling the story, and I was like, I don't know how to get her bed. I don't know what to do. But I do know that I need.

[Friend/Interviewer]

My baby to get bit.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And it's so funny, because the lady that was working for the Falcons, when I was cheering for the Falcons, she had a set of Twins. And she knew one of the head doctors in the NICU at Northside. She reached out to her. Come on, now. Reached out to her. They reached out to Scottish. Right. Y' all had me a bed the next day.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

They transported me over with my child and gave us the best care.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Ever. Dr. Paula Harmon did the surgery. And, like, then we found out other things about Shiloh. From head to toe. When I tell you this girl came with all the bells and ones, the whistles. She had craniosynostosis and that. And I'm only sharing all this because there was no information about all this stuff.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And that's what I would like.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I would go to the hashtag. You know, you'd be like, hashtag, feed in brace. That's how I was doing. Hashtag, craniosynostosis. What is that? Looking at all these pictures, just, like, Google all the scary stuff comes up.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So that's when your skull is fused together. Because most babies are born with a soft spot. Not Shiloh. Her skull was already fused together, so she would eventually have to have that procedure at 6 months of age to open her skull up so that she can have normal brain growth.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But the first thing was keeping her alive by opening up her nasal passage.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So they opened it up, and that was called a craniosynostosis. And I'm sorry. It was choanal atresia and choanal stenosis of the nose. That's when you have tissue and boning blocking both nasal baskets.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

So she couldn't.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

This was craniosynthesis. Okay. So they opened up her nose, and just, like, scar tissue. It wants to form and heal.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It closed right back up.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, my gosh.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Keep going back. It was like, every four weeks, she was going back to the or another surgery. My girl has had 14 surgeries.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

14 shamia.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes. And she is still such a happy girl. Such great energy. I mean, when I tell you, like, we do a family photo shoot, and she's like. Like the star.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And, you know, and so that's why I say, like, God just has a way, like, from head to toe that this heart murmur. Fluid buildup in her kidney. The tendons in both middle fingers were tight. She had clubbed feet. She had all the. All the things. And I was just like. And it was like I just had to deal with it one thing at a time.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It's almost like when you make a to do list. I had to, like, so I didn't want to be overwhelmed. And over. You know, and sometimes I would just need to just remove myself from it for even an hour or two. Because any NICU moms, y' all know, like, when you're by your bedside, by your child, it just. It can drain you. And when you don't have energy, your child doesn't have energy. I needed her to have a will to live.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, and a desire and a good energy around her. So oftentimes, I would leave and go to the Hawks game.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Work. Yeah. I feel like you never skipped a beat.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I was like, why are you at the game? And I'm like, I need this.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I will go right back. You can't sleep in the nicu. They won't let you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

They find you dozing off. They're like, gotta go.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Really?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And you want to be there with your child.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Got out of the icu, that I could even spend the night at the hospital. That's a whole thing that you don't even know about.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So Shiloh was such a journey. Oh, my goodness. I didn't even. If I was to look back, I'd be like, how did I even make it through? You know, even now, like, how am I still making it through? Because every day, it's like a turn. We turn the corner, but she's still here with us. And we're celebrating her second birthday in a week. Wow.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Look at.

[Friend/Interviewer]

God, that is beautiful.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah. She's thriving. She's taking steps now. Wobbly. Yeah. She's a wobbly girl.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes. So that's amazing. I always ask myself, like, you know, before, I would be like, why me? Like, why. Like, why does Happening. Because with ivf.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

They give you the option to test your embryo. We did. We did not spare any expense. It's like, of course we want.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We want to know. We want to have a healthy baby.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But they said it could have been a mutation that developed. You know, when they checked, everything was there. You know, there were no chromosomal abnormalities. Genetic screenings were fine, but they said it was a duplication and a depletion in chromosome number seven. I was like, what is that?

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Right, Right.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And we did the homework of the research, and they were like, there's only four other cases of this.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And she's a miracle baby.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

When you look at it, it's like, when they're looking at. They're like, are all the books on the shelf? Okay. Are all the pages in the book? Yes. So all those boxes were checked.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But with her disorder or her genetic disability. When you open that book up, that one page has the words written backwards. So once you decode it, you'll understand it.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But, like, for her, she's got to meet all her milestones. It'll just be delayed.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I'm like, well, you know, delay is not a denial.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

It is not.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And, yeah, she's doing really well.

[Friend/Interviewer]

That's good.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That's amazing. Now, big sister Shia, because you have had to spend a lot of time with Shiloh. How has she been handling everything?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

That was very hard. And even now thinking about it, like. Because she doesn't understand.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

How old is she now?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

She just turned six. November.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So she would, like, get jealous. Like, you're always with Shiloh. And then other times she would come, you know, like a toddler. She would come and say, I want to get a new baby. I want to get one that doesn't have all those cords and tubes and, you know, and, yeah, it was heartbreaking because it was like, I understand.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

It'S okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It's okay. You don't want to tell your child.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah, it's okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

She outfit setting it up. And it was a lot on my family, you know, now we are divided house. My husband's with Shia. I'm with Shiloh. And then we would swap, and then, you know, she was like, when are you gonna come home? And, you know, and like, why can't I play with Shiloh like this? Or why can't she? When is she gonna call? When is she gonna. And these are all very normal questions, you know, four year old, and at the time, they weren't allowing kids under the age of four in the hospital.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

So she couldn't even be.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So she couldn't even come and see. And we would have to send pictures. We have to FaceTime. So it definitely made our family stronger. And I do thank God that I had a very strong support. Like, that's the thing.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You really do know who you're. You're a lot of people that reached out to me weren't even, like, my closest friends. It was strangers. Like, I'm praying for you and reading those comments.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Honey, you had prayer warriors, I'm telling you.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I was like, wow, this is just. It just felt so good, you know, I just felt the love.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I don't even know. Even to this day, I'm like, I'm about to thank all those people because it was just such. It really helped me through a lot of stuff. It's okay.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You are so strong, Shamia. And the way you carry it with such grace. Like, I would see you document and show everybody what you were going through. And I'm looking like, I don't know how she's holding it together. Still showing up with a smile on your face, you know, And I just. I commend you for that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Thank you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I mean, and that's the thing, like, you know, it's crazy because, like, when you think about it, you're like, sometimes if you just fake laugh and you fake pretend, eventually it'll take on. On its own thing and you'll feel happy and you'll feel great. And that's what I would have to do. Like, I would have to like, turn. Get in my car and just turn on my gospel music. Just cry it out and just bounce back, figure it out. Yeah, but like, just. I think when you're in it, you don't even. You don't have time to even breathe. You don't have time to. Yeah, you just gotta go. You go, go, go, go, go. Right?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I mean. I mean, I'm happy to be in a better space. Space now. And she's a lot healthier, but yeah, like, it's. It's just been a journey, you know? And that's why now I don't even question people. When I before, I would be like, what do you want, a boy or girl? And it would be like a healthy baby. And I be like, all right, for real now I'm like, no. Yes. For a healthy baby. Cuz Giant was so easy, you know?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yep.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Maybe Shia's gonna get me in the end. Shia will be easy. Shia will be easy later. And Shia's gonna tear me up later.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Well, hopefully not. But on a lighter note. No, it's beautiful. And I wanted you to tell your story because there's so many women that are going through the same things that don't have the outlet that we have. And they see you and they just think, oh, my gosh, she's got this amazing, glamorous life and doing all the things, but not realizing what you're really going through.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And that's why, I mean, I appreciate you allowing me to share on your platform because everything isn't great. And that's what I was saying, like, even on the show this season, I want people to see real life stuff. You can have all the money in the world, but life can happen to you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And you're forced to just figure it out.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

We're not exempt. People think that, like, we're exempt from sickness, from depression, from everything. Just because. Because you have money, that does not change it.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Absolutely not. Absolutely not. So to me, that's what's important, like just sharing your story and hoping that I can change lives in the process of it. Because I was confused, you know, not knowing, you know, the moms out there that have children with special needs, not knowing what that future is going to be like. That's a scary thing.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I understand that. Like, I was on radio where people would call in for big tears, big blessing, and would be like, I've been out of work for this amount of time. My daughter is autistic or, you know, has autism or is on the spectrum. And I would be like, well, you know, maybe they can just go work here. And I would just be like, yeah, somewhat judgmental, like, why wouldn't they just do this? Or, well, maybe we can help them, but can't they just go?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And it's like, now that I'm in it, oh, my goodness. The doctor's visits, the bills, like, it is a lot.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And the patience that it takes with the child.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

The patience, like, outside of the specialist that she has to have for each of these things, she has to have physical therapy, OT speech. Those are all additional doctors and nurses that have to come either come into your home if you have the means to do that, or take them to.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Those appointments and imagine if you don't have it.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah. In the beginning, I was going to three doctor's visits, sometimes a day. Yeah. So I can't imagine.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

The people that don't have the means to do that. Right. Like, my heart goes out to them. And that's. That's. That's my focus.

[Friend/Interviewer]

I'm just trying to help.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I love that. I love you. You're doing an amazing job at it. I remember, I guess it was probably like 20, 15, 16, 17. Ish. We were both single because. When did you get married?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes, I got married in 17.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

So around that time, we were single.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We trying to figure it out. Yeah. We was outside a little bit.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, but you figured it out.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You married.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And I want. My question is, how did you integrate into the Kenyan culture? Because I know, like, being American from this area, like, that was a big thing.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What was that like?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And back then, you know, it wasn't that cool to be with an African kid.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, it wasn't.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It was almost like y' all used to have them little nasty memes on social media. It was like the African starter Kit Chandelle. Ashy, all this stuff. Oh, man. I was like, oh, my gosh, this is so mean. And so then when I met mine, my Kenyan man, it was like, oh, girl, you need to get him tested. Make sure he don't give you A's. And I was like, what?

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Personally, you do that with everybody?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I was just a friend during that time because she was, like, spreading this rumor that my husband had all these wives and kids. And, I mean, it was nasty work. I was like, girl, girl, I just couldn't even believe it. So I had to date him through all that stuff.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Right. That's tough.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I mean, we ain't even got into the cultural differences.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, I want to get into that, too.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But, like, that was. It wasn't cute back then. Now it's, like, glamorized. Like, ooh, yeah. Get you an African man. Introduce me to one of his African friends. Now it's like, ooh. But back then, it was like, girl, she probably wanted his five wives.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Not know. I mean, it's just ignorance.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Now, how did you, like, not let that get to you? Because I know sometimes you hearing people talk about, you good man.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Sometimes I know, oh, I had a good man. When I tell you that, man, like, just, you know, he wrapped me up. I mean, his person just. He was just so kind. You know, they say, get you somebody that love you more than you love them. Like, just worship them dirty draws. That's a real thing. And every time I would find a flaw in a relationship, and I would get ready to, like, I'm done. I don't want. He'll be like, let me tell you something. I will never leave you.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, one day, I remember getting so pissy mad about my order being wrong at Chick Fil A. Like, come on. Like, now, looking back, you ain't for anything. Like, a good man will make you feel stupid about being mad at Bratty. It's like, I was like. I said, extra pickles, pepper Jack, and American. And he was like, I'm sorry. Oh. And I was just like, oh. I had a nastiest attitude about it at first. I was like, it's simple. I just asked for this, you know? And he was just like.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Do you feel like at that moment you were looking for an out or you just, like, picking at everything?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Just pick, I think, because, you know, been single long then you especially coming from a relationship that was abusive, I just had to let go of some of those because I was flawed. I was also flawed. You know what I mean? Like, I wasn't perfect. And I think running is the easy way.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And my parents have been married almost 50 years. And I was just like, you know what? Let me take it back.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, this is a good man. He don't beat me. He don't cheat. He, like, He's God fearing. He has come from a great family that's similar to mine. You know, his family loves me. They're very kind people. It ain't even the family that I had to worry about. It was all the other Kenyans that I would cook for my man and would show what I cook. They would be like, that meat almost done. Or they'll be like, that ain't how Kenyas eat. Or, we don't like that. But he love chicken this kind of way. And I'm like, but he like it. And he'll be. He'll be the one. Like, don't worry about that. I love your chicken. It tastes better than this. Or. Yeah. And then he took me to Kenya.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

How was that?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So welcoming. I mean, they were at the airport with flowers and balloons and a banner, and I was like, I'm home.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah. It was so amazing. And just the understand the culture more, you know, I took a lot of people to know this. I actually took Swahili. I went back to Georgia State.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Really took Swahili. You were invested.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Because what you're not gonna do is talk about me. And I don't know what y' all saying. I know that Swahili. Guess what they did. Girl started speaking a tribal language. You like, yeah. They were like, yeah, we don't do kiku. We don't know it. So, yeah. So then I lost sw. Because, you know, you don't use it, you lose it.

[Friend/Interviewer]

No one's seeking it around me.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I was, like, done with it. But. But I was. He was so impressed that I was so invested. And I aced the class. They even were trying to send me on a summer fully submersive program, like in Tanzania or Tanzania. And I was here for it. He was like, yeah, no. And you're about to marry me, so just stay over here.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I know. That's right. So how long did y' all date before he asked you to marry him?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

That's good. That's a good.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And let me tell you what I used to do, though. In my twenties, I would give people two and a half years. Like, if you ain't put a ring on it, I'm out of here. That's a real thing. And so when I met my husband first of all I always talk about manifestation.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I changed my name and his phone to wifey. And then I would always play Ushers. Baby, I've been making plans.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And then Wale's matching morning.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

How's the song go?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

If there's a question that's the same thing. Oh, that's the same thing. Yeah, you got it. I'm say every time we get in the car, it would just be like. It don't be like he was even singing. It don't belong to anyone but you. I like yes, yes. I got like, sing it, baby. Yeah, sing that, baby. Sing that. Husband, husband, husband. All the time. Hey, babe. Hey, hubby. All that giving them that yes. And he did it. And he knew in the back of his mind because I'd already let him know when we were dating two years, he's like, so what does it mean at two years? Are you just gonna come and break up with me? And I was like, no, but there'll be signs that I'm dating other people. I'm not gonna hide it. And he was like, what?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Right?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

That's crazy. So if everything's great in our relationship for two years, if you're not engaged or we're not me, you're gonna just. It's like, yeah.

[Friend/Interviewer]

You said yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah, that's a strong yes. Solid yes.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Baby, that, that two year mark started coming up and I was like, we went to. You remember the guy that wrote the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus? John Gray.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So he. This is. My husband's an avid John Gray guy. Like he read all the love books, all the. On dating. And I went to his. We went to his love ranch in San Francisco.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And we did a couple's retreat. The only black couple. I was like, what is about to happen? Are we gonna get out? But we did it. So we did the retreat and it was amazing. It was so good. Like it was couples canceling. And at the end of that. Cuz when we got home, that two years was gonna be done.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Oh, wow.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What you gonna do?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And so we were in San Francisco. He proposed at the end of the retreat.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Wow, that's perfect.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It was amazing. It was. And I was looking at the ring.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I was like, absolutely, yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I know this is a test from God, but I'm gonna still say yeah.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Oh, it wasn't.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I said yeah. It was not. Chip off the old block.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You said poop.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It was like, it don't even occur. It was one of the little small.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Ones in Your in this one? No, ma'.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Am. No one? Yeah. No, actually, you are lying to me or everything I love. And I said yes to that.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Amen.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And then we gotta say yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Was that a test ring, right?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It was.

[Friend/Interviewer]

It was.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

See, he was testing you to see.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What she was really about, right?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I'm like. What he was. Was like, yeah, I'm going to take you to New York diamond district. You can just figure out what you want. I was like, no way. Okay, can we go tomorrow? We did. We flew home. I was like, I refuse to tell my family that I'm engaged and show up. He was like, let's go. Let's just go.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, that's so sweet.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Is that the ring that you end up getting after?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes. This thing is beautiful. I got this band at three years, these two.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah, he did that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Good job, right?

[Friend/Interviewer]

He did a good job. Yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

And I actually do like the idea not to tell men to do this, but that he did, like, just to make sure that you were, like, in.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

It for the right. Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

But then got the right one.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Girl, I didn't even know he was banking like, that. We were real frugal and, you know.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, so you didn't even know.

[Friend/Interviewer]

No.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So it was really about how prenups. I was like, you ain't got no money, you know? Not for real.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, and then. Then I kept living with him and kept loving on him, and then it got better and better, and I was like, yeah.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Ooh.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I. I love you. You so silly. Soul mate. You are so silly. I was like, yeah, I'm not going anywhere.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I love that. That means he was doing the right things. Intentional to really get your heart.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Absolutely. Like, he made like. Listen. We lived in his bachelor pad for Shia was what? Tashia was like, 4 years old right before Shiloh came.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Oh, wow.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yeah, we didn't move until, like, three years. We stayed there for, like, four years, y'. All.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, we didn't move to three years ago. So I had to be very patient. Patience, baby. And I was like, all right, now. Cause, you know, we're in Atlanta, and people, you know, walk up to you and be like, oh, yeah, I've been to your husband's house before. Cause he would have these parties, and I'd be like, oh, you have.

[Friend/Interviewer]

You have. Okay.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I'll be like, yes, you.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Well, you ain't been here lately, right?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So then I would be like, okay. And so then I was like, yeah, I'm tired of that.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yeah, it's Not a good feeling in that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And he stepped out, and y' all gonna see. Well, he stepped out and got me in this season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Make sure you tune in March 9th.

[Friend/Interviewer]

I love that. I love that.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You did good. I was like, I'm so happy. I was patient.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, I mean, and that's, that's the main thing, I think in this society, we have gotten so blinded by what can you do for me? And I need this and this and this. And we miss the things that. If that all goes away, we miss what's truly important.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

What's truly important? Because let me tell you, I've been in places and positions in my life to where it's all gone away. Like, even as a child, my parents had it all and then they lost it all and then they got it all again. So I've lived on every. You know, I've seen it like some of our wealthiest people lose it all and get it all again. So what are you gonna do when you lose it all?

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Right.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

That man I live underneath the rock with.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Ah, see, that's what you want. That's real love.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I love that. As long as I have a little warming blanket. Yes, we can do.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You are so silly. What has been your greatest gift that you have gotten from the Kenyan culture and your biggest adjustment that you've had to make?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, I feel that it's been family. And I never thought that I could feel more family oriented than what I came from because like I said, my parents have been married almost 50 years. I have two older sisters. We're very close knit family. But when I went to Kenya, it's not even about what you wearing, how much you got. Like Christmas. They're not giving each other gifts, they're giving each other love.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like the company, the conversation, the companionship. They're singing, they're dancing, you know, singing by the fire. Like, it's just, it's. I don't even think about, like, I'm like, okay, let me take the wig off. You know, I'm just strip yourself of all of the things, all of the worldly things. And you're just there present in the moment, just loving on each other and just enjoying it.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And the food is amazing. So, like, just, if anything I can say, take away from that. I want my kids to just go live in that during the summer months.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

You know, to just keep them humble, keep them grounded, you know, Grounded. And let them know that there's so much more to life than just the.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Things and their hair.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

All the things, you know?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, all the things. Okay. Yeah. That's great. But then what else?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

What's at your core? What's in your heart?

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Any blood?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, what are you going to leave behind? I mean, hey, they gonna tear up. Like, what's at the center.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

What's in here?

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah. I love that.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

What has been your biggest adjustment when you. When it comes to integrating the two cultures?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Sometimes. Okay. Sometimes we're at family events and stuff. They're all talking across the table and they're, you know, kikuyu. And I'm like, you know.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Which I said.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And my husband will be like, oh, guys, Shimia doesn't understand what you're saying. He'll say straight up say, I don't even have it. And that's a good thing.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That he has your back.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Yes. Cuz. Cuz once he see me lean back and grab my phone like this checked out. Cuz if y' all not going to include me, I'm not going to keep begging and looking like, what? What? What does that mean? What did you say? What did you say? You're not.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

I'm not going to.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Did you ever feel like they did on purpose, though?

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

No, but I. I have had, like, a few of his messy friends come and say something slick and. And he would turn around, he'd be like, oh, are you saying. And we'll. Yeah, call it that.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

You better call it out.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I love it. Like, don't leave my wife out. And that's, I think, what made it easy for us.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Because if you don't have somebody, like, calling it out for you, it can get frustrating.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So. Yeah. And then now I'm mad that he's not teaching our daughters. I'm like, no, wait a minute. Like, I need you to speak Swahili and Kikiyu to them so they know.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

So when they go home to. When they go on the summers, I'm.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Like, speak it to them so they know.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yep, absolutely. I love that Shia made it easier. What is next for you? We want to know what's on the horizon for Shamia. How can we support you? All the good things.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So I'm releasing a single soon.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Oh, yes.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Shamia sings soon.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I did some music with RL that I'm really excited about and proud of because I'd been away from music for so long, and that was like, my first love.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I'm back in it. So please, please, once we release it, download it.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Absolutely.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And then I have my YouTube channel, please get that. You know, go ahead and subscribe. It's, you know, Shamia Morton Mwangi, but if you just type in Shmee Morton, it'll. It'll come up. Or just go to my page and click on the link. You know, I, I, I don't know. I think at this point, I'm just gonna do all the things you should and then just let whatever happens, happens.

[Friend/Interviewer]

There you go.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

That's what 2025 is about. Doing all the things.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I'm gonna do all the things. Singing, dancing, acting, hosting. I love it. You know, keeping it positive.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

With my girl. Like, I'm doing all that. I'm here for all that.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I just, I want to continue to do things that, that make me happy, that feed my soul, that inspire me and motivated me, you know, and just give me good peace, energy. That's what I'm about right now.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yep.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

So, yeah, my music, my, you know, the Housewives. March 9th. Go ahead, watch it. And then, of course, my YouTube channel.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Yes. And then where can we follow you? So you keep in touch with me on there.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Follow me at Shamia Morton, on Instagram and all, really, all social media platforms. At Shamia Morton, I have a nonprofit called Shamia Shares, where we empower our young girls. I do a cheer and dance camp every year in the summer. It's free camp, so go to my website or even my Instagram, if you follow me. I'll keep you abreast on all of that stuff. I do a breast cancer event every year as well. I have a lot of nonprofit just, just free events that I like to do around the community. So check in with me and I'll check in with you. And keep loving on me, y'.

[Friend/Interviewer]

All.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I appreciate all that love. It really does, you know, help me out in more ways than, you know.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, we got you. And can't wait to support your future endeavors. I'm always cheering for you, and I got you.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

I appreciate you. And you have to have me back.

[Friend/Interviewer]

I will.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

This is amazing. Yes, they will. They will say it, too.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Make sure you break some of your back. I appreciate you.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Absolutely.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

And I appreciate you just continuing to be. I know it sounds so weird to tell when you say people, like, continue to be themselves, but I just meet so many stars that aren't themselves, and it's like, that's not the same person I met. And I. And we all grow.

[Friend/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

But I appreciate the growth that you have. Your growth is like a beacon of light. It's a breath of fresh air.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

Thank you so much.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

We all want to keep breathing that good old crystal air. I love you. Of course.

[Krista Renee Hayslett]

No, thank you guys. I am so full. After talking to Shamia, we laughed, cried. It was a beautiful, beautiful episode and conversation. But what I took away most was that you never know what people are going through. A smile and community can go a long way. I hope to see her more on the couch. We had such a good time. I'm sure you guys do as well. But remember, we're all going through something. It doesn't matter how good it looks on the outside. Just remember that we're human and we're all going through something. Thank you all so much for spending time with me today. I hope today's conversation reminds us all that we should dream big and and we can absolutely have it all. You can follow me on all social media platforms at lovechristalrenee and you can also follow our show at keepitpositivesweetie. If you want to write into our positive outcomes listener letter, you can send us an [e-mail] in the meantime, in between time, you guys know what to do. Keep it positive, sweeties. I'll see you next time.

[Shamia Morton Mwangi]

Sam.