In this touching portrait series, we speak with new moms and moms-to-be about the beauty of motherhood. Here, journalist Alicia Quarles shares her journey. Photographed by Erin Bowman for EBONY Media.
Emmy-winning journalist, former E! News talent and current GMA 3 contributor Alicia Quarles has an extensive resume. She spent years working to bring forth some of the world’s top trending stories and news, and most recently, the California native added her most prestigious career title to date—mother to twins Harlow and Hudson.
We spoke with Quarles, where the first-time mom opened up about her unique motherhood journey and overcoming the odds as a woman who has dealt with fibroids. Below, read Alicia Quarles’ personal reflection on the road to bringing her babies into the world.
Motherhood is home. My mom has always been my home, my best friend, and solace. Now I get to be that for not only one life, but two. I get to be their refuge, and now they are mine.
“My mom has always been my home, my best friend, and solace. Now I get to be that for not only one life, but two.”
Alicia Quarles
I get up so early each morning and just look at them and smile. It’s also when I spend one-on-one time with each twin. The number one thing I feel is happiness, and the second is shock and awe that God picked me to be their mom. I waited so long to be a mother, and I didn’t think it would ever happen for me. Now I have a daughter who looks exactly like me, it’s like copy and paste. She grew under a huge fibroid and is so strong. All odds were against her. My son loves to laughs so much and enjoys being held.
I’m so looking forward to seeing life through their eyes and creating new traditions with them. I look forward to my first upcoming Mother’s Day, Christmases, Easters, and just those milestones with my children.
When I found out I was having twins, there was so much joy. It was confirmation that these babies were meant for me. My journey to motherhood wasn’t easy. I’ve been told for so long that I wouldn’t be able to bear children because I had huge fibroids, one being as large as a grapefruit. When it came to fruition, I adopted the mindset that I’m just going to make this happen.
I’m not married, and I’m doing things a little different. I was married previously, but it didn’t work out. For so long I did my career thing, and I didn’t want my life to pass me by without children. As I approached 41, I knew that if I wanted to be a mother, I would simply have to be a mom. When I went to freeze my eggs at 35, a male doctor initially told me it wouldn’t work because of my fibroids. Four years later, I went to a female doctor, and she told me it was certainly possible, and I ended up with 17 eggs.
“For so long I did my career thing, and I didn’t want my life to pass me by without children.”
Alicia Quarles
To the women who want to be moms, you can absolutely be a mother. It just may come in different forms and in different ways. As Black women, we get it done. I’m grateful that my community has rallied around me, and their father has been so supportive and is very active in their lives. I’m the best mother I can be because I have such an awesome village. I wouldn’t choose to do motherhood any other way.
