A teenager who got pregnant at 14 by a 12-year-old at the time has hit back at claims she's being exploited as she prepares to appear on a popular TV show.
Bella, who is now 15, fell pregnant by her boyfriend Hunter, who is now 13, and the couple are one of the focal points of the upcoming season of TLC's Unexpected. Bella's family reportedly wanted her to keep the baby, while Hunter's family were more keen on a termination.
Viewers were left shocked when the young couple's ages were first confirmed and Bella, who has since amassed a huge following on TikTok, faced a lot of backlash on social media in particular.
However, she's now taken to the video-sharing site to hit back at those who have claimed that she is being exploited, and also shared more warnings about the reality of teen pregnancy, having also been accused of glamourising her own situation.
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On a recent TikTok, the teenager said: "This video is for everyone saying I'm being exploited.
"If I didn't want to share my story and let people know my situation, 'cause it is pretty unique compared to other people's, I wouldn't do it.
"The other reason my mum posts TikToks is 'cause it was my idea.
"My idea to share my story for other girls out there going through the same thing. They struggle with it because it's hard, it's not easy, it's really, really hard.
"And I would never recommend it to anybody. But everyone out there saying I'm being exploited, this is not true.
"Social media was my idea. I've always wanted to do social media, like, even long before I got pregnant.
"I didn't want to do it for pregnancy. I just always wanted to do social media."
She's also since denied claims that she planned to get pregnant, and explained that her parents have been extremely supportive both before and after her son Wesley was born back in March 2025.
"They are so amazing, so much better than other parents," Bella said, adding that she knew 'right from wrong' when it came to having a child at such a young age.
Although she has found fame on social media, she seemingly still wants her account to highlight just how hard being a teenage mum can be.
"We would never recommend it to anyone," she clarified.
Unexpected premieres on TLC from 16 February
Topics: TLC, TikTok, Social Media, Parenting
James Moorhouse