Angel Waruinge; Tahidi High’ TV series actress ‘Miss Morgan’ talks about her pregnancy and new-born

By Damaris Irungu
Photographs by David Namu
Styling, hair and make up by Rose Ntong’ondu

‘I was sitting at home with my partner watching a movie,’ Angel narrates ‘That was last year, late in October. Suddenly, out of the blue, I craved mango with chilli and I asked my partner where we could get some. He sat up straight, wearing a serious expression, and asked me when my last period was. I shrugged and went on watching TV. The reason why I wasn’t bothered much was that my periods have always been irregular, so that was not news to me!’

When I meet Angel for this interview, she was looking nothing but fresh and energetic, the same bubbly pre-pregnancy Angel I knew. Other than the bulge occasioned by her eight-month-old pregnancy, nothing else gives away the fact that she is pregnant. ‘Sorry I’m late’ she quickly apologizes as she carefully takes the seat across from me.

I was supposed to have met her earlier in the day, at 11:30 am, but she had called me a few minutes to the appointment and apologized, requesting we re-schedule the meeting. I had quickly agreed, knowing she is heavy with baby.

I quickly notice her glowing skin and can’t help but wonder what the secret to staying fresh during pregnancy is. ’I’ve taken to a lot of resting during my pregnancy. If I have a free moment and my body wants to sleep, I don’t deny it the snooze,’ says Angel with a beaming smile.

Angel has acted as ‘Miss Morgan’ on hit TV series Tahidi High for the last five years. Getting into acting for her was by chance; she did a commercial which got her recognition, leading to a minor role in a play at the theatre. That marked the growth of her career, before she landed the role of ‘Miss Morgan’

I’m curious how pregnancy fits into the TV world; is she on maternity leave or is she still filming? ‘My pregnancy has not given me any complications or nausea, I have been able to film and will continue to shoot the show until I am ready to get the baby – which is in a few days’ time! My estimated due date Is the 20th of July.’ Angel reveals.

‘My producer is, however, wary and I have had to shoot fewer scripts.’

‘The great thing about being a freelancer in pregnancy,’ explains Angel, ‘is that you can say yes or no to work.
For instance, I just shot a commercial, at eight months pregnant. But the downside is that I have equally lost a couple of jobs because of being pregnant. Not because I am not able to perform, but because with TV your outlook is what sells. If the role they are looking for is anything but a pregnant woman, then of course I will not get the job.’

For the first three months of her pregnancy, Angel continued filming, oblivious of the goings-on in her womb. The big revelation was to come much later after the chilli mango craves in October

‘The sister to my baby’s daddy passed on in December due to cervical cancer It was a shocking moment for all of us as she was only 37 years old This prompted my sister and I to quickly book a check-up with a gynaecologist, which included a pap smear test. The gynaecologist asked me about my last period and I told him my periods were irregular and the last had occurred three months before. He was skeptical and told me that before any pap smear he wanted to do a scan on my uterus. I reluctantly agreed and there, in the radio scan, we found a heart beat!’

‘It was an “Oh My God!” feeling for me; I was not shocked, but actually quite thrilled. I wanted a baby now! But my excitement was dampened a bit at the thought of how Tony, the baby’s daddy, would react to the news,’ Angel reflects

A nervous Angel anxiously waited for the right moment to break the news to Tony. ‘We had only dated for half a year and here I was, pregnant with his child. What would his response be? Would he think I wanted to trap him? All these questions flooded my mind as I drove home to reveal the news to him’ Luckily, she says, Tony was happy to receive the news.

Angel reveals that Tony is not someone in the limelight; he is a businessman that not many people know about. He’s 40, divorced and with one teen daughter.

So are there any wedding bells? ‘I’m sorry to break your heart but I’m not the kind of girl to quickly walk down the aisle simply because I am expecting a baby,’ responds AngeI. ‘I know society expects it of me to be married, but my relationship with Tony is a bit complicated. We were just getting to know each other when the pregnancy happened. So we shall continue to know each other better. I am not saying he is a bad man; on the contrary, he is a great man. I love and he loves me. We just need to clean up our issues before saying “I do”.

‘I’m not ruling out marriage, but for now we are taking one day at a time I truly thank God because I wanted to have a baby or be married by the time I became 30.
I turn 30 in September this year and will have had my baby. The rest will follow ’

As an actress in a popular TV drama series, pregnancy out of wedlock has not been the easiest for the actress. ‘I have been judged; I’ve heard people talking in whispers, “hey, isn’t that Miss Morgan? Is she pregnant? Haiya, and she is not married!- This is one of the things that made me stop my motivational talks to girls in schools. I know in the eyes of the society I am not a role model,’ submits Angel.

Despite this, Angel says her pregnancy has made her a better person She has more self-control and is more forgiving. Most importantly, she has been able to know who her true friends are. ‘Now that I am not partying as much as I used to, I have discovered that most of my friends were only party friends.

Very few even call or text to find out how I am doing, which is okay, because now I know who I can call a friend and who is just another person I know.’

‘My greatest friends have been my mum and my sister who are walking this journey with me. It was only in October last year that my younger sister, Jackie, lost her two-and-a-half-month-old baby boy to pneumonia. That was a really difficult time for her and all of us, but she is healing slowly and may God continue to give her grace

Angel also checked the sex of her baby and she generously reveals that she is expecting a baby girl. ‘I don’t understand why some people still don’t check the sex of their babies. It only makes sense to know, as this helps you to prepare the baby room and co-ordinate colours. It also prepares you psychologically. So unless otherwise, the latest scan showed that we are expecting a baby girl.’

What Angel says about…

Baby names

‘I am particular. You really have to give your baby a name with a meaning. I am most certainly naming my baby girl Imani. Her second, Waithera, in honor of my mum, who is a very special woman.’

Relationship with her mother

‘My mum is my best friend and has been for the longest time. We talk about everything, she knows everything about my relationship with Tony and all she wants is for me to be happy. She has not pressured me to get married just for the sake of the baby, but has only encouraged me to go with what I feel Is right.

Hopes for her baby girl

I am praying to be best friends with my daughter so that when she is facing a challenge she won’t run away from me, but will come to share what she is going through.’

Angel hopes that her daughter will acquire some of the things that made Tony attractive to her. Tony is a warm, loving, calm and collected man; he is easily approachable. If Imani would get that from him I would be glad. I hope to pass on some confidence to my daughter. I pray that I will be able to keep my daughter away from some of the weaknesses I picked up along the way and from which I have learnt lessons.’

Pregnancy out of wedlock

‘1 would not want to go through the same situation again alone. For me, if the next time is not in a marriage setting, then I’d rather be content with my one daughter Imani.’

Angel’s last words to anyone planning to get pregnant are: ‘Plan; it is a plus to do so. Take a day at a time. Believe in the power of prayer, it works miracles’

Angel’s pregnancy habits

1. Cravings – Chilli mangoes and Chinese-made prawns.

2. She can’t stand fizzy drinks and junk food. Well, she is thankful that this condition will keep her from gaining excessive weight during the pregnancy. No more nyama choma and soda. Before pregnancy she would gulp down litres of sodas in a day.

3. Walks and swims a lot to Keep in shape and prepare for the baby. She wants to go through normal delivery and these exercises will help her get ready for the big push. She is scared of the push but consoles herself in the fact that she will not be the first or the last to go through it!

4. She is such a lady, she loves her nails manicured, pedicured, and polished. And finds herself dressing more femininely.

There has been no nausea or swollen feet. But there have been extreme mood swings and can go for three days with her phone switched off intentionally.

‘Nine tough hours…’ Angel welcomes Baby Imani

When I realized my pregnancy was overdue by 10 days, I booked myself for induction on 27 July.

The birth process began at 11 am. One trying time this was! I still don’t have the words to describe what exactly I went through…. I almost gave in the middle, but they kept urging me on. But the nurses were amazing; they ‘breathed with me’.

Nine tough hours later, Imam announced her arrival with the best cry Angel had heard

She was strong – a bouncing 3 kg, and beautiful -‘She looks like the dad,- says Angel.

So far she has been the perfect baby. She falls asleep as soon as she is full. And she has an appetite and a half. No sooner are her eyes open than she is searching to suckle.

I notice she likes attention-she must be held when she is awake. Then it is clear that she is an intelligent girl. She knows it when she isn’t in my arms and doesn’t hesitate to let me know that -with a wail

Motherhood. Is it what I expected? No. It’s an even better feeling. The care is more challenging than I anticipated, though. It is tough – as I have never wanted the best for someone like I do now. I am still in the ‘she is all MINE!’ daze.

There is definitely a new me. I have better peace of mind, and lots of respect for mothers.

Photoshoot Stockists

Hair by Sheez@Newyork-Kenya Cinema 2nd floor

Jewellery and accessories by Shee Jewels – Excell Building, Dubois Road, stall no. D6

Handbags by Mollys Maternity Wear Jamia Mall Stall no F23

Wardrobe by Roc A. Lady-Jamia Mall, Stall no. F47 & Molly’s Maternity Wear – Jamia Mall Stall no. F23

Shoes by Fashion Spot – Jamia Mall, Stall no. F85B.

END:PG46/20-25