The popular reality series 90 Day Fiancé has captured audiences’ attention with the latest season showcasing Shekinah Garner and her daughter Sofie. As viewers delve into Shekinah’s journey, curiosity arises regarding Sofie’s father and Shekinah’s previous relationships. After relocating from Los Angeles, Shekinah’s relationship with Sarper Güven from Turkey began through a dating app while she visited Istanbul. Their romance was featured prominently across two seasons of 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, although Sarper’s controlling demeanor and anger issues drew criticism from fans.
While Shekinah initially moved to Turkey, she frequently returned to the U.S. to see her daughter, Sofie, who attends boarding school. This arrangement allowed her to maintain a connection with her child. With Sarper now moving to the U.S. on a K-1 visa to marry Shekinah, his next challenge was winning Sofie’s approval. Shekinah cautioned Sarper that if her daughter did not like him, it would jeopardize their marriage plans.
No Previous Marriages for Shekinah
Sofie’s Biological Father: Berto Matta
Interestingly, Sarper is Shekinah’s first legal husband; she was never married to Berto Matta, the father of her child. She and Berto, who met when Shekinah was just 23, were together for four years. Regrettably, Berto left to grow a business in Costa Rica, which led to a prolonged absence from Shekinah and Sofie’s life. This separation proved detrimental to their relationship, as Berto grappled with the challenges of not being present during Sofie’s upbringing.
Has Sarper Met Sofie?
Sofie’s Initial Impression of Sarper
Despite ongoing co-parenting efforts between Shekinah and Berto, the arrival of Sarper in the U.S. marked a significant change, introducing Sofie to a potential new stepfather. Prior to meeting him, Sofie’s opinions were already influenced by her aunt Shariyah’s interactions with Sarper. In episode 9 of the current season, Sofie finally agreed to meet Sarper, who planned a whale-watching excursion to ease the pressure of their initial encounter.
“I feel like I’d already seen him before because of all the pictures and like I already knew how he looked talked, but I also feel like I want to get to know him more as a person as well.”
During the meeting, Sofie was particularly concerned about how Sarper would treat her mother. Their whale-watching trip, unfortunately, didn’t go as planned. Sarper faced challenges amidst the sea conditions, leading to an unofficial “first impression disaster,” which ended with an apology from Sarper, who revealed he had changed since he first met Shekinah.
Sofie was open to the possibility of a fresh start with Sarper, hoping he would show genuine intentions moving forward. Sarper’s acknowledgment of his past behavior resonated with her, as she sought assurance that he was sincere in his desire to grow and improve.
Does Shekinah Have More Children?
Future Family Plans for Shekinah and Sarper
As of now, Sofie is Shekinah’s only child. Sarper has a son from a previous relationship, whom he has not met, but his aspirations for a larger family are in contrast to Shekinah’s wishes. She has expressed a desire to not undergo any more childbirth after spending her twenties raising Sofie. Recently, a fan asked the couple about their future family goals, to which Sarper replied, “The main thing is putting [a] signature to [heart emoji],” indicating they might prioritize marriage over expanding their family.
90 Day Fiancé airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT on TLC.
Source: Sarper Güven/Instagram