Kira Cousins, 22, from Airdrie, Scotland, faked having a baby to scam her loved ones – and now she’s set to tell her side of the story on an exclusive TV documentary
A mum who deceived loved ones by faking a pregnancy has sparked fury after securing an exclusive television deal.
Kira Cousins duped friends and family by wearing a fake baby bump before claiming to have given birth to a daughter named Bonnie-Leigh Joyce. But the deception was uncovered when her mum discovered the “baby” was actually a lifelike Reborn doll after entering her bedroom.
Now, it has emerged that the 22-year-old is preparing to share her account of the hoax after agreeing terms with an undisclosed production company.
A PR firm representing her said that a public statement regarding the programme’s broadcast date will be issued on Monday.
A family friend of Kira’s, who wished to stay anonymous, told of her disgust at the possibility of her making money from the controversy.
She told the Record: “I am not surprised Kira is capitalising on this. She will be thriving off of all the attention. It’s not right that she is making money from what she has put people through. She should be embarrassed, to be honest.”
“She clearly needs help. She put those closest to her through a world of hurt and she is still going.”
The woman also revealed she had been contacted by documentary producers, but declined to speak to them. She continued: “I was offered money from a production company who said they were making a programme on Kira.
“They told me they were from London and they specialise in premium documentaries for major streamers. I am sure there are some who are happy to make money out of this, but I haven’t even replied.”
It comes after local media reported Kira’s Instagram story recently showed her enjoying herself abroad. One snap taken is of Templo Ecumenico el Salvador, a church in Gran Canaria’s Playa del Inglés.
In the weeks leading up to the ‘birth’ of her ‘daughter’, who she claimed weighed 5lbs 4oz, Kira posted baby scans and videos of her lavish gender reveal party.
She even uploaded photos of newborn clothes and items loved ones bought, including a £1,000 pram and a car seat, as well as what is believed to be AI-generated footage of the ‘baby’ kicking in her tummy.
Posts were also made by the supermarket worker regarding hospital appointments for the infant, and she claimed ante-natal tests had detected a heart defect in her baby.
The ‘mum’ was exposed on social media after her own mother discovered the doll, while screenshots of messages showed her seemingly telling a man she claimed was Bonnie-Leigh’s dad that their baby had died.
Reborn dolls can cost anywhere from £30 to £2,000. Some models even mimic crying sounds, produce fake tears and wet nappies.
In a statement shared online last week, Kira said: “I wasn’t pregnant. There was no baby. I made it up and kept it going way too far. I faked scans, messages, a whole birth story, and acted like a doll was a real baby.
“I know how bad it is, I messed up. I just didn’t know how to stop once I started. I don’t have a proper excuse. I wasn’t in a good headspace, but that doesn’t make what I did okay. I know this is gonna stick with me for a long time and that I’ve probably lost friends I’ll never get back.”
