Monyetta Shaw-Carter's Birthday Hits Different – She's Celebrating Life & Love After A Stage 1 Breast Cancer Battle
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Today (May 31) isn't just another birthday for Monyetta Shaw-Carter — it's a full-on rebirth. After battling stage 1 breast cancer, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star's special day hits different.
She is turning 45 and celebrating with purpose, power, and a whole lot of pink.
'I caught the cancer early, and because of that, I will be here for my kids,' she told People . 'There's nothing more important than getting checked often and early to protect your future. Our health is irreplaceable.'
Her diagnosis came after she felt an unusual sensation in her left breast last September. She didn't find a lump but told People she had a strange feeling that something was off. She listened. And that instinct saved her life.
'It was literally like my body was alerting me that something was wrong,' Monyetta said. 'It's so important for me to share this story because I hope to inspire others not to dismiss their gut feeling. Our body speaks to us, and when it does, we have to listen. It can be a matter of life or death.'
One month after that self-check, a mammogram confirmed she had stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. She underwent a lumpectomy in January and completed 16 rounds of radiation by May 2.
Now, weeks later, she's bringing her loved ones together for a joyful, pink-powered birthday bash. Her party honors life, resilience, and sisterhood.
Monyetta credits her husband, Heath Carter, for being her rock through it all. She also had the support of her ex-fiancé, singer NE-YO, with whom she shares two children.
'NE-YO was just showing up for me in a major way and just always asking and making sure everything was okay,' she recalled in a recent interview. 'He was like, 'Oh, you're gonna beat this.''
Her RHOA circle also showed up with love. Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Porsha Williams, Shamea Morton, and Shereé Whitfield all supported.
For Monyetta Shaw-Carter, breast cancer is real but not unbeatable. So why not celebrate? As the founder of Keep It Classy Nails , a mother of four, and a businesswoman, she wants Black women everywhere to trust their instincts, take care of themselves, and live on their own terms.
'I'm stepping into this new chapter with deeper gratitude, unstoppable faith, and a whole new glow,' she wrote on Instagram. 'This birthday is more than candles and cake…it's a celebration of life, a reflection of pain & purpose, of healing, and God's grace. I've faced one of the biggest battles of my life… and I WON!!!'
SEE ALSO
Monyetta Shaw-Carter's Birthday Hits Different – She's Celebrating Life & Love After A Stage 1 Breast Cancer Battle was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Refinery29
25 minutes ago
- Refinery29
DreamCon Was A Black Girl Cosplay Fantasy & Megan Thee Stallion Led The Way
Megan Thee Stallion was on a mission as she scanned a room full of fans at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston: to find the best cosplaying hottie during the opening night of DreamCon. Dozens of attendees rushed to the front of the stage hoping that the costumes they spent hours—weeks and in some cases even months—putting together would catch her attention. The three-time Grammy-winning rapper hyped up a woman with an epic green wig who was dressed as Broly, a character from Dragon Ball Z. And she ran with open arms toward two other women dressed as characters from her favorite anime, My Hero Academia. Meg herself donned a purple wig and dressed as Yoruichi Shihouin from Bleach, one of the many times we've seen her cosplay. This time, she was greeted by thousands also in cosplay, cheering and chanting her name. "The hotties are making me feel so good! I feel right at home, babe," she told host Storymode Bae after admitting she'd been nervous. And by 'home,' she didn't mean that solely because the convention and sold-out panel were in her hometown. After the fandom convention hosted by the popular streaming group RDCWorld announced Meg as the headliner, controversy followed. Social media users called out the organizers for engaging with posts in support of Tory Lanez. Some speculated that Meg would pull out of the convention altogether, even despite her tequila brand, Chicas Divertidas, being a sponsor. Others said the incident highlighted a broader issue: a hostile environment for Black women overall at DreamCon, where about 28,000 attendees were expected. Organizers issued an apology to the rapper on X: "We recognize that our actions contributed to a negative online environment, and we take full responsibility as we work toward fostering a more positive and respectful space.' Black women leading up to and at Friday's panel held organizers' feet to the fire and made sure that Meg felt celebrated and seen. The misogynoir Meg faced isn't unique. Black women and femmes in anime and gaming communities often face disrespect and criticism just for existing in the space. And like Meg, their balm for this hasn't been to retreat from the hobbies they love, but rather to show up and show out. And they did just that at DreamCon 2025. Personifying their favorite heroes, villains, memes and more, Black women practiced boundless imagination and whimsical escapism. The convention also hosted numerous women-led panels. 'I feel like being here is us contributing to a better culture so we can see other women that are like us like, 'Hey girl, we see you, You don't have to worry about the femcels and the incels and all those people who are trying to make you to be who you aren't.'' said Bernette Fondong, a 28-year-old visiting from Atlanta. Fondong, who has been cosplaying for eight years, came dressed as Marvel's Scarlet Witch. She attended with her friend Trisha Pilgrim, 28, from Maryland. As a nod to her queer identity, Pilgrim cosplayed as Emporio Ivankov, a gender-bending character in One Piece. 'I just really appreciate that Black women are creating that space and we're coming out and we're cosplaying and we're just creating that space in spite of it all,' Pilgrim said. 'We really know how to stand against adversity. I feel like we're just making it a more accepting culture for women to feel more free in their cosplay and to show up and be here.' Even outside of the cosplay community, it's long been considered taboo for Black people to lean into nerd culture. And though there's been more visibility and acceptance in recent years, there are still few official spaces for Black nerds to gather en masse. For attendees experiencing their first anime convention, like Chantel Green, spaces like DreamCon attract a special energy. 'My first animecon ends up being a Black anime con and it makes me really excited because Black nerds, we just weren't seen,' said the 31-year-old from Detroit. She dressed as Persephone from Lore Olympus. 'For me to come here, I feel truly blessed and I feel happy here.' Cosplay for Black women has also become an outlet for them to express their creativity with special makeup effects, stitching techniques and hairstyling. And it's a steadily growing community. Alex Box, 28, was inspired to cosplay by her mother, a costume designer who worked on prom dresses and Princess Tiana gowns. The Houston native valued the bonding time she got to spend with her as she got guidance in making her Elphelt Valentine costume, which took four months to make. Lanihya Duncan, a 27-year-old from Chicago who studied special effects makeup in college, got into cosplaying after her friend suggested it to her. Now at her second DreamCon, she took pride in her handmade Lulu from Final Fantasy costume, which took her two months to create. For Duncan, spaces like DreamCon allow Black weebs to not have to hide who they are. 'Being Black, it can be hard for people to really show that because [of pressure to] fit in,' she said. ' But DreamCon is like no, you can be both. It's amazing to embrace because Black cosplayers have that little umph that you can't see. Who else is gonna be rocking braids, cornrows and afros with a Killua costume?' Gabrielle Kanu, a 35-year-old Houston native, said cosplaying feels 'freeing.' Since 2016, she's dressed as Sailor Moon, Storm and Sophie Hatter. This year, she's Dorothy, giving a mix of The Wiz and The Wizard of Oz. 'There's no trying to codeswitch for anybody. We can be us all the time, every time. You can see the beauty and shapes of everybody around here. I'm a little plump and I'm glad I am and you see everyone else who's glad of who they are,' she said 'It's kind of like being at an HBCU. It's literally like a homecoming.' During Friday's event, Meg also announced that she's making an anime with Prime Video. Though she didn't go into the details, she revealed that she collaborated with Boondocks producer and voice actor Carl Jones to create it. This marks a major stride for Black women behind the scenes in anime and opens up the genre for newcomers to dip their toe in. While it's not on Black women to fix the sexism, homophobia and transphobia they encounter in alternative spaces — or in any spaces for that matter — there's an intrinsic power we possess in showing up as we are in these types of spaces. For Meg, the public has witnessed her do that time and time again. "My proudest achievement is staying strong through adversity. I feel like a lot of people in my shoes would have gave up," she said during the Q&A. "The Hotties have my back."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
MrBeast Claims He Has 'Very Little Money' and Is 'Borrowing' Cash from His Mom to Pay for His Upcoming Wedding
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, claims he has "very little money" on hand due to reinvesting nearly all of his earnings into content and philanthropy The YouTuber with more than 400 million subscribers now says he needs to borrow money from his mom to pay for his upcoming wedding to fiancée Thea Booysen MrBeast and Booysen previously told PEOPLE that they were "not going to try and have a big, extravagant wedding"MrBeast is asking his mom to help pay for his wedding. Despite being worth an estimated $1 billion per Celebrity Net Worth, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, claims he has "very little money" and needs his family's support to fund his upcoming wedding to his fiancée, fellow content creator Thea Booysen. Responding to a post on X which described MrBeast as "the only billionaire under 30 to have not inherited his wealth,' the YouTuber with more than 400 million subscribers responded late on Sunday, June 1. 'I personally have very little money because I reinvest everything (I think this year we'll spend around a quarter of a billion on content)," he posted. "Ironically i'm actually borrowing $ from my mom to pay for my upcoming wedding lol," he continued, adding, "But sure, on paper the businesses I own are worth a lot." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. MrBeast not only posts across various social media platforms — where his videos often feature outrageous stunts and big-money giveaways — but he's also the host of the reality competition series Beast Games, which awarded its first season winner a record-breaking $10 million in prize money. At Amazon's annual upfront presentation in May, it was announced that Prime Video's most-watched unscripted show was renewed for seasons 2 and 3. Despite his social media stardom, it seems as though MrBeast might need a tighter budget for his wedding as planning for the ceremony continues with his mother's financial assistance. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! MrBeast met Booysen in 2022 when he was visiting her home country, South Africa. The pair started dating about a month later, and made their first red carpet appearance as a couple at the Kids' Choice Awards in April 2022. The content creators, both 27, exclusively revealed to PEOPLE that they got engaged on Christmas Day in 2024. At the time, they also teased their wedding plans and how they wanted to keep their big day out of the spotlight. "This will definitely be more family and friends — definitely more private," MrBeast told PEOPLE. "I don't take much vacation because of how hard I work, so I definitely want to make sure that the wedding will be a time to celebrate with her and spend time with friends and family who we really enjoy being with. It will be the ultimate way to take some time away and enjoy things." Booysen added that they were thinking of tying the knot on an island. "We're thinking of doing it somewhere on an island where we're far away from just about everybody," she said. "We're not going to try and have a big, extravagant wedding. It's going to be nice, but it's certainly going to be intimate [with] close family and friends." Read the original article on People
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Joy Reid floats speculation that her race, ‘anxiety' surrounding Trump played role in MSNBC firing
Ex-MSNBC host Joy Reid spoke out about her show being canceled on Monday, speculating that her race and network 'anxiety' surrounding President Donald Trump played a role in her ultimately being fired from the liberal network. 'I try not to speculate too much publicly because, again, I can't get inside the minds of other people. But I can tell you what other people have speculated about… There are lots of people at the network who are critical of Donald Trump. I mean, and they're still critical of him, I'm assuming, you know. So I don't think that's [it], but I do know there is a lot of anxiety both there and, I think, in every media. We're seeing it at CBS,' she said, referring to Trump's lawsuit against the network over a '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Reid spoke with Katie Couric in a video posted on her Substack page and on her YouTube channel. Reid's MSNBC show was canceled earlier this year. 'We're seeing it at ABC, where allegedly 'The View' hosts were told not to go so hard on Trump. There's a push for people to, hey, do less Trump. Do more entertainment. Don't be hard on him,' the former MSNBC host said, noting reporting that ABC's 'The View' hosts were told to tone down their political discussions. Couric pointed out that there was no difference between Reid and liberal hosts Nicolle Wallace or Rachel Maddow, to which Reid responded, 'only in one way was I different. I'm a Black woman doing the thing.' 'I think that there is a difference for Trump in hearing the kinds of criticisms specifically out of a Black woman, it bothers him in a way it doesn't bother him like anything else. He's got this sort of tick about race, you know, and about, sort of criticism coming specifically from a Black woman because we've seen him lay out and dish out real abuse against Black women journalists,' Reid said during her conversation with Couric. 3 Joy Reid, the ex-MSNBC host of 'The ReidOut,' claims that her race, along with President Trump's presence, played a role in her being let go by the liberal network. 'I did a specific thing, which was, I tried to constantly unpack the racial history of the country, which is very much against the sort of Project 2025 thing. And it's something I can do in a certain capacity because of my background, because not only am I a Black woman, but I come from immigrant parents who come from what Donald Trump would consider s—hole countries, but that have a take on race that is different,' Reid continued. Reid's show was replaced with 'The WeekNight', an ensemble program featuring former Kamala Harris spokesperson Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez, the daughter of disgraced former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, and Michael Steele, the former Republican National Committee chair who now staunchly opposes the GOP. MSNBC's new lineup has struggled in its first month, with Psaki shedding half the audience her predecessors averaged in the same timeslot, and with its other new programming struggling to attract viewers. 3 Reid spoke with Katie Couric in a video posted on her Substack and YouTube channel, explaining how President Trump and her race led to her being fired. AP MSNBC and ABC's 'The View' did not immediately return requests for comment. Reid said prior to her show's cancellation, she was told that her show was 'down less' in ratings than any other MSNBC show, aside from Maddow's. Reid and her former primetime colleagues faced a major ratings decline after Trump won the election. Her show, 'The Reidout,' shed 47% of its total audience, averaging just 759,000 viewers after averaging 1.4 million viewers throughout 2024 leading up to Election Day, 3 Reid told Couric specifically, 'I think that there is a difference for Trump in hearing the kinds of criticisms specifically out of a Black woman, it bothers him in a way it doesn't bother him like anything else.' Substack/@joyannreid 'Our show was down less than any other primetime show. We were down, other than Rachel Maddow, we were down the least. So we were just told that we were holding on pretty well. And, you know, it's not like the ratings have gotten better since I've been gone. So I can tell you, honestly, I even had my exit interview and no one has told me why I was fired. I have no idea,' she said. Reid said MSNBC's reasoning was 'scripted' and 'perfunctory,' and explained that she had started being careful on social media. 'We were being very careful, and I was trying to be more careful about anything on social media, because I know there was a real anxiety about social media, very much an anxiety about anything on social media,' she said. 'I don't know, I genuinely was not told.' Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn and Brian Flood contributed to this report.
