It’s official – Da Brat is having a baby with her wife, Jesseca ‘Judy’ Harris-Dupart! She made the announcement in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE this week, which included a gangster-inspired photo shoot that shows off her growing baby bump. According to the publication, she’s 18 weeks in!
The 48-year-old hip-hop artist explained how her journey toward becoming a mother started as a joke when she and her wife were launching a line of hair products – which they were treated like a baby. The couple began to question whether or not they should have a real child of their own – with time ticking!
“I never thought I was going to have kids. I just thought it wasn’t in the cards for me. I’ve had a great career, a full life. I felt like because I didn’t get pregnant earlier on, then it just wasn’t going to happen for me,” Da Brat explained – she’s already a stepmother to Judy’s three children from a past relationship.
While she never expected this day would come, things started to change when she met the love of her life. Da Brat – whose real name is Shawntae Harris-Dupart – began dating Judy in 2020 after coming out as a lesbian. The couple will be celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary on February 22, 2023.
“I started looking at life so differently. I was like, I want a little me with you. Something special from the both of us that we can share and raise and love unconditionally,” said Da Brat of their decision to become parents – Da Brat for the first time, Judy for a fourth time. All they had to do was decide who carried it.
Da Brat was on the fence at first, but her wife eventually convinced her that it was an experience worth living through – and an experience it has been. She ended up needing surgery and eventually suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage after her embryo transfer, but decided to try again – and this time it worked.
The soon-to-be parents went on to explain that their anonymous donor was an ‘eager entrepreneur’ and, while the pregnancy has left her sleepy at all times, she isn’t experiencing any nausea or cravings. Of course, she does find herself much more emotional now and will start crying at anything and everything.
Da Brat and Her Wife Are Keeping Themselves Busy
Being pregnant isn’t easy – even for a tough woman like Da Brat – but it’s definitely stopping her from staying motivated in her career. For someone who’s always looking to make new music for her fans, Da Brat is also continuing her reality TV show – Brat Loves Judy – with Season 3 premiering in late April.
De Brat has also been a co-host of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show with comedian Rickey Smiley, among others – including Special K, Rock-T, Gary Wit Da Tea, and Juicy – since 2015 and co-host of Dish Nation in Atlanta. She doesn’t seem to stop, and she’s staying true to that throughout her pregnancy.
But wait, that’s not all! She recently launched a new line of hair care products for those that want to protect their braids and locs, as well as Da Brat – who is known for her unique and always-changing hairstyles. The new Da Brat x Kaleidoscope collection is available at most retailers, including Walmart and Target.
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The couple certainly has a lot to look forward to, and we’re excited to learn more about their journey toward motherhood in the coming months! At 18 weeks, she’s nearly halfway done – which means her first baby should be arriving sometime this summer. Now we just need to know the gender and name!