When MTV introduced a new TV show in 2009 called 16 and Pregnant, fans were equally intrigued and shocked.
The reality TV series followed pregnant high school girls navigating finances, relationships, and the responsibilities of becoming a teenaged mom, all while dealing with the social pressures and gossip from fellow students.
Now, we’ll look at a few of those single mothers and see what they’re doing a decade since the show wrapped up in 2014.
Despite the availability of sex education and contraceptives across the United States, three out of 10 American girls will get pregnant before reaching 20.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US teen birth rate is “substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations,” which is a “significant contributor to high school dropout rates among girls.”
Hoping to inspire kids to practice safe sex, the TV series 16 and Pregnant offered viewers an intimate look into the lives of the young women facing the challenges related to teenage pregnancy, like adoption, early marriage, high school gossip and learning to be a mom.
Nikkole Paulun
This Michigan-born mother was only 15 when she had her first son, Lyle, in November 2009. In 2011, Lyle’s father Josh Drummonds ended up in jail for larceny and forgery, and since, he racked up more prison time with charges like domestic assault, evading police and trespassing.
In 2015, Paulun had daughter Ellie with her now ex-boyfriend Ryan Rice, and in 2020, she married Kyle Ledda, who she shares son Bodhi, born in 2021.
Whitney Purvis
Georgia’s Whitney Purvis was 16 years old when she had her first son, Weston Jr., with boyfriend Weston Gosa in April 2009.
The first season episode shows the young girl dealing with several issues as a pregnant teen, like social isolation, financial problems and dropping out of high school.
After giving birth, the very young family moved out of Gosa’s parent’s home and struggled with the adult responsibilities of living on their own while caring for a baby.
Both Purvis and Gosa have a list of charges, including theft, criminal trespassing, and driving with a suspended license.
Before they split in 2014, they had their second son, River, who was about 10 months old when Purvis met her now husband Keith Mason. According to her Instagram, Purvis – who appears to be working as a chef – had her third child, son Collin, in May 2023.
Lori Wickelhaus
Lori Wickelhaus appeared on the show as a 17-year-old girl, who was having her first child with then boyfriend, Cory Haskett. The Kentucky-born girl was adopted, and she struggled whether to keep her baby or allow him to be raised by a family who really wanted him.
Aidan was born in December 2009, and she decided to put him up for adoption.
In 2013, Wickelhaus had a baby girl named Rylynn, and in 2014, she gave birth to son Logan.
Aidan’s adoptive parents allowed Wickelhaus visits with the boy, up until 2020 when the 28-year-old pleaded guilty to 20 counts of child porn possession. She was sentenced to seven years but after only 26 months behind bars, she was released in November 2023.
Jenelle Evans
Jenelle Evans first appeared on 16 and Pregnant while pregnant with her first son, Jace, whom she shares with Andrew Lewis. In 2014, she then had son Kaiser with former fiancé Nathan Griffith, and daughter Ensley (born January 2017) with her now husband David Eason.
Starring on Teen Mom, the spin-off to 16 and Pregnant, Evans ran into a lot of problems.
After Eason brutally beat and killed her dog Nugget, he was fired from the show and despite his abusive nature, Evans stayed with the man, which resulted in her also being booted from the series.
According to TMZ, Eason continues to show his terrible colors. In mid-January 2023, he’s facing charges for assaulting Jace: “a misdemeanor child abuse and one count of felony assault by strangulation.”
Chelsea Houska
In 2009, South Dakota’s Chelsea DeBoer (née Houska) was 17 when she and boyfriend Adam Lind welcomed daughter Aubree. After Lind became a new dad, he lost interest in DeBoer and was distant from his new baby.
DeBoer later appeared with Aubree on Teen Mom, which also followed her tumultuous relationship with Lind that ended in 2012.
In 2014, the young woman met Cole DeBoer and in 2016 the couple were married. Together, they share son Watson, who was born in 2017, daughter Layne (born 2018) and Walker (born 2021).
Catelynn Lowell
Michigan’s Catelynn Lowell (now Baltierra) was 16 years old when she appeared on 16 and Pregnant. Baltierra was pregnant with her then stepbrother Tyler, who is now her husband.
The couple welcomed their daughter Carolyn in May 2009, but decided to give her up for adoption.
After having daughter Novalee in January 2015, the two wed later that year. The happily married couple also share daughters Vaeda, born in 2019, and Rya, who was born in August 2021.
Maci Bookout
Maci Bookout (now McKinney), was a 16-year-old mom from Tennessee when she first appeared on 16 and Pregnant, and then the spin-off series, Teen Mom.
Struggling in her relationship with Ryan Edwards, who wasn’t ready to be a husband or father, Bookout carried through her pregnancy and welcomed son, Bentley in October 2008.
Later splitting, Bookout married Taylor McKinney in 2016, and together they share daughter Jayde Carter, (born in 2015) and son Maverick, who born the same year they wed.
Did you ever watch this show or any of its spin-offs? What do you think of these teen moms? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section and then share this story so we can hear what others have to say!
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