Ashanti reveals she secretly gave birth to a baby boy in July as she shows off postpartum body

Ashanti welcomed a baby boy with her husband Nelly in July but has only just revealed the news.

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Ashanti has given birth to a baby boy
Ashanti has given birth to a baby boy

Ashanti has given birth to a baby boy.

The 43-year-old pop star tied the knot with 'Hot In Herre' singer Nelly, 49, in December 2023 and the couple welcomed baby Kareem in mid-July, but did not reveal the news until Wednesday (21.08.24) night.

A representative for the couple told People: "Ashanti and Nelly welcomed their baby boy, Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, on July 18, 2024. The proud and happy parents are so in love with KK!"

The 'Foolish' hitmaker also took to Instagram as the news broke to share candid snaps of her body a month on from giving birth.

She declared: "Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do!"

In the caption of the post, Ashanti noted that plans are not "always on time" and that has realised that "nothing could have prepared" her for being a mother, no matter how many years she had longed for it.

She said: "Funny how life’s plans aren’t…always on time.. lol. I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time now but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings! This is what postpartum looks like I’m loving these super cozy @fridamom shorts! I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby."

Nelly already has daughter Chanelle, 30, and Cornell, 25, with his his ex-girlfriend Channetta Valentine and adopted his nephew Shawn, 27, and niece Sydney, 20, following the death of their mother in 2005.

Ashanti - who was initially in a relationship with Nelly from 2003 until 2013 but reconciled with him a decade later - recently confessed she was "shocked and happy and emotional" all at once when she found out she was pregnant because becoming a mother was what she had wanted for so long.

She told 'Entertainment Tonight': "I was so shocked and happy and emotional. I always dreamed about it.I wanted it so, so bad and I just feel like the timing was perfect."