Prince's Ex-Wife Shares Incredible Story About How Reality TV Helped Her Become a Mom
Prince's ex-wife, Mayte Garcia, has experienced the tragedy of losing a child and is sharing details about what she and her rock icon husband went through during that difficult period. But her tragic story has a happy ending that will make you smile this Mother's Day.
At the Single Mom's Planet's "Single Mom Awards," in Los Angeles on Friday, Garcia opened up about the loss of their infant son Boy Gregory just one week after he was born. "Like most women, I always dreamt of becoming a mother," Garcia shared. "It just wasn't my time yet. After that, I was broken. And I lost hope. I basically gave up my dream of becoming a mom." Boy Gregory died from the rare Pfieffer syndrome, a tragedy they famously kept under wraps during an interview with Oprah Winfrey just days after his death.
Prince and Garcia had wed in 1996, but their baby's death and a subsequent miscarriage was too much for the couple, and they split in 2000. But, amazingly, the experience and even her marriage to Prince lead her down an unexpected path which gave her a chance to finally be a mother.
It all started a few years ago, when Garcia decided to co-star in VH1's Hollywood Exes. "For years my marriage to Prince was mine," she said Friday. "The idea of exposing my self to the world was terrifying. [But] I will never regret being a part of it, because the show served as therapy for me." Being a reality star led to her adopting a baby girl, her daughter Gia, after a viewer of the show reached out the arrange an adoption.
Garcia credits the show for bringing her and her daughter together. "I feel in love...with that baby girl," she said. "Five years later, she is my greatest gift."
No doubt Gia is a welcome source of joy for Garcia during this difficult time, after Prince's death. See the legacy that Prince will leave behind with BET Breaks, above.