Dennis McKinley (born July 25, 1981) is an American entrepreneur, reality television personality, and executive producer. He is best known for appearing on The Real Housewives of Atlanta as the former fiancé of cast member Porsha Williams, and for his various business ventures spanning hospitality, food and beverage, and media.
Early Life and Education
McKinley was born on July 25, 1981, in Detroit, Michigan, as Dennis Dean McKinley Jr. He has stated that he holds a culinary degree and completed the McDonald's franchise training program early in his career.
Career
Business Ventures
McKinley is the founder and CEO of Detroit Equities, an umbrella company for a portfolio of brands. These have included:
- CRU Lounge – A chain of hookah lounges, with over ten locations opened in Georgia.
- NYAK Cognac – A cognac brand produced in France, named as a portmanteau of "New York" and "Yak" (a colloquial term for cognac). The brand has collaborated with musicians including Trina, Young M.A, and Erica Banks.
- The Original Hot Dog Factory – A hot dog restaurant chain offering American and Mexican-style hot dogs, which McKinley opened to franchise opportunities. The brand was acquired by two franchise owners in 2023.
- QueenVirginRemy.com (QVR) – A distributor of imported hair extensions, which McKinley sold before serving as Chief Operating Officer of Henan Rebecca Hair Products Co., Ltd, described as the largest hair manufacturer in the world.
- All Star Kid – A company focused on teaching children through entertainment.
- MusicXchange – An app supporting crowdfunding and distribution of music.
- BoxTrucks.com – A commercial truck resale platform, co-founded in 2025.
Executive and Media Roles
McKinley has worked as an executive producer in advertising with 14+ years of experience, producing campaigns for clients including BMW, HomeGoods, Harman, and Steak 'n Shake. He also served as the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Rolling Out magazine. He worked as Chief Content Officer at HooplaSouth and has produced content including the film How She Move (2007).
Reality Television
McKinley gained wider public recognition through The Real Housewives of Atlanta, appearing as Porsha Williams' partner. He also appeared in spin-off series including The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Porsha's Having a Baby (2019) and The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Porsha's Family Matters (2021).
Personal Life
McKinley was in a relationship with Porsha Williams beginning in 2018. The couple became engaged in October 2018 and welcomed a daughter, Pilar Jhena "PJ" McKinley, in March 2019. They separated later in 2019 but have maintained a co-parenting relationship. McKinley has described himself as being from the west side of Detroit and comes from a small family, noting his mother Gina in social media posts.
