The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum Monica García had been with her boyfriend, Braxtonfor almost “a year” before her surprise pregnancy news came.
Garcia, 39, confirmed on the Thursday, April 11, episode of the Viall Files podcast that the couple is expecting their first baby together. Garcia, who recorded the episode when he was seven weeks pregnant, has four older daughters with his ex-husband Mike Fowler.
“I literally just found out. … I didn’t tell a damn person except my best friend,” Garcia said on the podcast, noting that Fowler didn’t even know. “I shouldn’t be [pregnant]. I literally laid in the emergency room crying my eyes out. Because I’m like, ‘I’m 39, there’s no way that’s possible.’ I take contraceptives. There was no way I was supposed to be pregnant. … It’s so scary, but it’s so crazy.”
Garcia recorded the “Viall Files” episode three weeks before its release. Days before Thursday, she jumped on Zoom with a podcast host Nick Viall to further describe her romance with Braxton and confirm his name.
Keep scrolling to meet Garcia’s boyfriend:
How did Monica meet Braxton?
Garcia met Braxton while she was filming Season 4 ROSLC.
“He works in Utah at Wasatch Excursions. He manages this property,” she explained, noting that Braxton was 28 at the time. “And there it is Heather [Gay] and I shot our snowmobile scene.”
During the outing, Garcia asked Braxton if he was single and he said he was “courting” another woman. “I’m like, ‘What the hell does courting mean?’ I am not there Bridgerton Mal,” she joked to Viall. “I do not know what that means.”
Courting is a term often associated with the Mormon faith, which both Garcia and Braxton practiced. Both are not yet members of the church. (Garcia had been excommunicated after telling her bishop about her affair with her brother-in-law.)
A few weeks later, Garcia began dating Braxton after she entered her phone number into his phone during the outdoor adventure.
Braxton’s job
Braxton is the manager of Wasatch Excursions, which offers snowmobile, ATV and UTV tours to Wasatch Mountain State Park in Utah. According to a local Fox13 interview from October 2022, Braxton Knight is the general manager of Wasatch Excursions. Garcia also follows a private Instagram account belonging to a man of the same name.
How did Braxton find out about Monica’s pregnancy?
Garcia informed Braxton of her pregnancy as she boarded her flight to California before Viall’s podcast recording.
“Actually, I kind of messed up. I made him so dirty when I told him,” she said. “I was on a business trip and was on a plane. He said, “I love you so much,” and I said, “I’m pregnant,” and then [turned] my phone [on airplane mode for takeoff]. That was so crazy, but it worked because I was so afraid of his answer. I thought something like ‘airplane mode’ and he had time to process it.”
After Braxton finished editing and Garcia’s flight landed, he revealed that he was “excited” to become a father for the first time.
“We were both in shock but he was incredible [and] so supportive,” she added.
Almost a social media official
Garcia seemingly hinted at Braxton’s identity in an Instagram video on Monday, April 8.
“‘You have no reason to be here! NONE. No reason!’ The reason and
Purpose🤍🤍🤍” she captioned her post. “It’s not about you, it’s never been about you and it never will be about you, but keep focusing on me, bb✌🏽.”
The upload included a video of a mysterious man, his face hidden from the camera, carrying Garcia away.
Keep it secret. Lala Kent, Jana Kramer and other stars had partners whose identities they kept secret. The “Vanderpump Rules” star raised eyebrows when she shared a glimpse of a mystery man on her Instagram Story in November 2022. Kent’s mysterious social media upload came after she made headlines with her high-profile appearance […]
When did Braxton meet Monica’s daughters?
Garcia wanted to wait until her relationship with Braxton was “serious” before introducing him to her children.
“I’m very, very protective of my girls and honestly the pregnancy is what set everything in motion,” Garcia said on Thursday’s episode. “I didn’t let him come to my house until he met my children. He has now met my children [and] the reason why I would always go to him [house] was that I didn’t want him to meet my girls until I knew it was serious.”
Garcia wanted to break her mother’s unofficial tradition because she had “met every single man” her mother had dated over the years. “I wouldn’t do that with my daughters,” the Bravo star emphasized.
They name their baby after Nick
Garcia and Braxton haven’t found out the gender of their little one yet, but plan to soon. Based on the podcast announcement Garcia teased on the podcast, Braxton apparently also wants to name her baby after Viall. She jokingly explained that Braxton wanted her child’s middle name to “include Nick” as a tribute.