Morgan Harvey: From Chef & Food Blogger to Author—Her Personal Journey Beyond Steve Harvey’s Shadow

Morgan Harvey is a talented chef, food blogger, and cookbook author. She is known as the stepdaughter of Steve Harvey, a famous TV host. But Morgan has built her own path. She creates recipes, shares cooking tips, and inspires people through her brand, I Need Some Mo. This article explores her life, education, career, family, and more. It shows how she became a star in her own right.

Early Life: Growing Up in Memphis

Morgan Harvey was born on June 1, 1985, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her birth name was Morgan Hawthorne. Her mother, Marjorie Elaine Harvey, raised her with love. Her biological father, Darnell Woods, was not a big part of her life. He faced legal issues related to drug dealing when Morgan was young. This led to her parents’ divorce. Growing up, Morgan lived in a lively city known for music and food. She loved spending time in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother. These moments sparked her passion for cooking.

Morgan grew up with two siblings, Jason and Lori. They shared a close bond. Their mother, Marjorie, worked hard to support them. In the 1990s, Marjorie met Steve Harvey, a comedian. Their meeting changed Morgan’s life. Steve and Marjorie married in 2007. Steve adopted Morgan, Jason, and Lori. They took the Harvey last name. This created a big, blended family. Morgan gained four step-siblings: Brandi, Karli, Broderick Jr., and Wynton. The family stayed close, supporting each other.

Memphis shaped Morgan’s love for food. The city’s barbecue and soul food inspired her. She learned to cook simple, tasty dishes. Her early life taught her resilience. She wanted to make her own name, not just rely on her family’s fame.

Education: Building Culinary Skills

Morgan always loved cooking. She decided to make it her career. After high school, she went to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She studied there from 2002 to 2006. Spelman is a well-known school for African-American women. It gave Morgan a strong education. She learned about leadership and creativity.

After Spelman, Morgan wanted to focus on food. She enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York. The CIA is one of the best cooking schools in the world. Morgan studied baking and pastry. She graduated in 2011 with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. At the CIA, she learned how to make cakes, breads, and desserts. She also studied cooking techniques and food presentation. Her training gave her the skills to become a professional chef.

While at Spelman, Morgan joined the Miss Black and Gold pageant in 2006. This event was run by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. It was a big moment for her. She met her future husband, Kareem Hawthorne, there. Her education and college life helped her grow. She gained confidence to chase her dreams.

Career: Creating a Culinary Brand

Morgan Harvey’s career is all about food and creativity. After graduating from the CIA, she worked in Atlanta. She joined well-known bakeries and event companies. These jobs helped her improve her cooking skills. She learned how to make dishes for big events. She also worked on her own recipes.

Morgan wanted to share her love for cooking. She started a blog called I Need Some Mo. The blog shares easy recipes and kitchen tips. It has fun ideas for home cooks. Morgan writes about healthy meals, party foods, and desserts. Her blog is simple and friendly. People love her clear instructions. She makes cooking feel fun, not hard.

In 2020, Morgan wrote an e-book called Party Heart. The book has 20 recipes for parties. It includes drinks, snacks, and desserts. The recipes are easy to follow. Anyone can make them at home. Morgan also teaches cooking classes. She shares her skills with others. Sometimes, she appears on The Steve Harvey Show. On the show, she cooks dishes and talks about food. These appearances help her reach more people.

Morgan is also an entrepreneur. She co-founded two card games: Lift Every Voice and Meme and Aight Imma Head Out. These games are fun for adults. They are sold through Kickstarter. Morgan runs a production company called East One Twelve with her husband. She also helps manage Steve Harvey Global, a company started by her stepfather in 2017. Morgan’s career shows her hard work. She does not rely on Steve Harvey’s fame. She builds her own success.

Personal Life: Love and Family

Morgan’s personal life is full of love. She met Kareem Hawthorne, also called DJ Bruckup, in 2006. They were at Spelman College. Kareem was part of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. They started as friends. Their friendship grew into love. In January 2012, Kareem proposed to Morgan. They got married on October 12, 2013. The wedding was at St. Philip Cathedral in Atlanta. It was a beautiful event with 235 guests. Steve Harvey walked Morgan down the aisle. The reception was at the St. Regis Atlanta hotel.

Morgan and Kareem have two daughters. Their first daughter, Elle Monroe, was born on March 22, 2015. Their second daughter, Marley Jean, was born on September 1, 2020. Morgan loves being a mom. She shares pictures of her family on Instagram. Her account, @morgan_janel, has nearly 100,000 followers. She posts about cooking, family, and life. Morgan balances her career and motherhood. She teaches her daughters about kindness and hard work.

Kareem is a DJ and CEO of T-12 Entertainment. He supports Morgan’s career. They work together on projects like East One Twelve. Their marriage is strong. They share a life full of love and respect. Morgan’s family life shows her values. She cares about her husband, kids, and siblings.

Family Dynamics: A Blended Family

Morgan is part of a big, blended family. Her mother, Marjorie, and stepfather, Steve, have seven children together. Morgan, Jason, and Lori are Marjorie’s kids. Steve adopted them in 2007. Steve has four kids from his earlier marriages: Brandi, Karli, Broderick Jr., and Wynton. The Harvey family is close. They support each other’s dreams.

Morgan’s siblings are successful, too. Lori Harvey is a model and influencer. Jason Harvey runs a shoe company called Yevrah. Brandi Harvey is a wellness coach. Karli Harvey is a motivational speaker. Broderick Jr. has a clothing line. Wynton Harvey is a photographer. The family often shares moments on social media. They celebrate holidays and events together.

Steve and Marjorie’s love story is special. They met in the 1990s at a comedy club in Memphis. Steve was still married then. He saw Marjorie and said, “I’m going to marry her.” Years later, they reconnected. Both had been through divorces. They married in 2007. Their marriage created a strong family. Morgan admires their love and support.

Morgan’s biological father, Darnell Woods, was involved in illegal activities. He went to prison when Morgan was young. This was hard for her family. But Marjorie raised Morgan and her siblings with strength. Morgan stays focused on her own path. She does not talk much about her biological father. Her family’s love keeps her grounded.

Culinary Philosophy: Making Food Fun

Morgan’s cooking is about joy. She believes food brings people together. Her recipes are simple but tasty. She uses fresh ingredients. Her dishes mix Southern flavors with new ideas. For example, she makes sweet potato cheesecake and broccoli cheddar quiche. These recipes show her creativity.

Morgan wants cooking to be easy. Her blog, I Need Some Mo, helps beginners. She shares tips like preparing food the night before. This saves time for busy people. Her e-book, Party Heart, has recipes for fun events. Morgan’s goal is to make cooking less scary. She wants everyone to try it.

On Instagram, Morgan posts colorful food pictures. She shows step-by-step recipes. Her followers love her ideas. She also shares healthy eating tips. Morgan’s philosophy is simple: food should be fun and bring people closer.

Challenges and Achievements

Morgan faced challenges in her career. Being Steve Harvey’s stepdaughter brought attention. Some people thought her success came from his fame. But Morgan worked hard to prove herself. She studied at top schools. She built her own brand. Her blog and e-book show her skills.

Morgan’s achievements are many. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. She started I Need Some Mo. Her e-book, Party Heart, is popular. She co-founded fun card games. She also appeared on TV, sharing her recipes. Morgan’s net worth is estimated at $1 million to $5 million. This comes from her blog, book sales, and businesses. Her hard work made her a success.

Morgan also faced personal challenges. Her biological father’s legal issues were tough. Growing up in a blended family took effort. But Morgan stayed focused. She built a happy life with her husband and kids. Her story shows resilience. She turned challenges into opportunities.

Public Image and Media Presence

Morgan is known for her cooking and family ties. Her stepfather, Steve Harvey, is a TV star. He hosts Family Feud and The Steve Harvey Show. Morgan appeared on his show several times. She cooked dishes and shared tips. These moments helped her reach more people.

Morgan’s Instagram is a big part of her image. She posts about food, family, and life. Her account is friendly and real. People like her honest style. She does not focus on fame. Instead, she shares her passion for cooking. This makes her relatable.

Morgan stays out of drama. Some websites mention rumors about her family. For example, there were false divorce rumors about Steve and Marjorie in 2018. Morgan ignores these stories. She focuses on her work and family. Her public image is positive and inspiring.

Net Worth and Financial Success

Morgan’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $5 million. This comes from her blog, I Need Some Mo. Her e-book, Party Heart, also earns money. She makes income from cooking classes and TV appearances. Her card games and production company add to her wealth.

Some sources report different net worths. For example, one says $640,000. Another says $2 million. These numbers are estimates. Morgan’s exact earnings are private. Her success shows she built her own wealth. She does not depend on Steve Harvey’s money.

Morgan’s Future Plans

Morgan has big dreams. She wants to grow I Need Some Mo. She plans to write more cookbooks. She may start online cooking classes. A cooking show could be next. Morgan wants to inspire more people to cook. She also wants to keep her family close.

Her card games are growing, too. Lift Every Voice and Meme is popular. She may create more games. Morgan’s future is bright. She mixes cooking, business, and family in a unique way. Her fans are excited to see what she does next.

Why Morgan’s Story Matters

Morgan Harvey’s journey is inspiring. She grew up with challenges. Her father’s legal issues and family changes were hard. But she stayed strong. She studied hard and built a career. She did not rely on Steve Harvey’s fame. Instead, she created her own success.

Morgan shows that hard work pays off. Her cooking is simple and fun. She helps people enjoy food. Her family life is full of love. She balances work and motherhood. Morgan’s story teaches us to follow our passions. It shows we can overcome obstacles.

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