Woody Randall and Amani Aliyya, of hit reality TV show Married At First Sight fame, announced, on Feb. 15, that they were expecting their first child together.
“We’re so blessed to be able to embark on this journey of parenthood as we celebrate our second anniversary together,” they told Essence.
The couple met during season 11 of the Lifetime show, which took place in New Orleans, La., and aired from Jul. 15 to Oct. 29, 2020.
They said they discovered Amani’s pregnancy after she got sick from what she thought was food poisoning. At the time, Woody was anticipating a baby.
“We found out I was pregnant after I was about eight weeks,” she tells us. “I had been feeling pretty sick after a visit to LA filming for the MAFS Boston special. I assumed it was food poisoning from ahi tuna, but Woody hoped I was expecting.”
It took three pregnancy tests to confirm that the reality TV star had a bun in the oven.
“I took a pregnancy test that weekend and got a negative result. After getting home and still feeling nauseous, Woody insisted that I take another test,” she said. “I reluctantly took another test one Saturday morning and yelled for him to come in the bathroom. He smiled and said, ‘What, are you pregnant?’ I nodded and handed him the positive pregnancy test. He smiled so big! I kicked him out of the bathroom.”
After taking the third test, Amani was finally convinced that she was pregnant.
“… I took another test and got another positive result,” she added. “Today, I am 24 weeks (six months) and couldn’t be happier.”
Woody has been pretty excited about the news, as he took to Instagram to share a sweet post about his wife’s pregnancy and their two-year marriage anniversary.
“Big 24 months, baby! Every day of this journey has been well worth it. I’m looking forward to these next steps, sweets,” he wrote beneath a montage video. “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close. -Pablo Neruda. Love you, and my Lil baby.”
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Amani also took to her Instagram page to commemorate her anniversary as well as being six months pregnant.
“Today makes 24 months I’ve been married to the love of my life, Woodrow Randall. The biggest gift of all is being 24 weeks pregnant with the new love of our life. Baby Randall coming June 2022!” she said.
In Season 11 of Married At First Sight, Woody and Amani were matched as strangers, but they had already met two weeks prior. Amani was bartending part-time at Culture Park lounge when Woody waltzed in, and they began conversing. Unbeknownst to them, they were each other’s future spouses, and the rest was history.
Since their stint on reality television, the pair created a Youtube Channel called Woody and Amani Randall, accumulating over 70,000 subscribers.
“I think what I’ve learned about love is it really can be unconditional. I never imagined I would get there with my spouse, especially as quickly as I got with you,” the Chicago native told her New Orleans-born husband.
Woody responded, saying he didn’t think he would get the marriage he desired, but his wish was fulfilled after marrying Amani.
“When I looked at love, I always wanted to be married. I wanted to have the happiness. But honestly speaking, I didn’t genuinely think I would get it. But being married to Amani, everything I didn’t expect, I now have.”
MAFS has been in its 15th season, with the latest episode airing on Lifetime on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
