Kira Cousins confessed to faking her pregnancy and the birth of her ‘daughter’, with the truth unravelling after a newborn doll was found in her bedroom
The young woman who fooled her whole family into thinking a toy doll was actually her newborn baby has said she “f****d up,” admitting she “didn’t know how to stop” her months-long ruse.
Kira Cousins, a 22-year-old from Airdire, Scotland, has sensationally revealed she faked her pregnancy and pretended to give birth to her “daughter” Bonnie-Leigh Joyce.
The lengths Kira went to are almost too bold to be believed. Feigning pregnancy for nine months using a prosthetic bump, the young woman kept social media followers updated on her progress, sharing videos of her “wee princess kicking”, as well as of her pink confetti-strewn gender-reveal party.
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It’s understood that family and friends were left completely in the dark as to what was really going on, and the ‘mum to be’ was even gifted a lavish £1,000 pram, newborn clothes and a car seat. Even Kira’s boyfriend, the father of the supposed baby, reportedly had no clue that there was no real child to be held and cared for.
Kira then took things a step further, pretending that she’d given birth alone to a 5lbs 4oz little girl who suffered from a heart condition. Concerns were eventually raised, however, when those close to Kira noticed the ‘baby’ had not cried and that Kira refused to let anyone touch her, claiming this was because she’d had recent check-ups.
Kira’s mum discovered a newborn doll in Kira’s bedroom, leading to the family crashing into complete chaos.
Screenshots of messages believed to have been sent by Kira seemed to show her informing the man she claimed was Bonnie-Leigh’s father that their baby had passed away. Then, in a statement posted on TikTok, Kira revealed: “In my own words let’s set this straight. I was in bed when my mother came into my room and found it to be a doll.
“Prior to this, I had been keeping myself away from literally everyone. The next thing I know, I was confronted by all the family. Don’t for one minute think they let me away with this, they haven’t. And none of them knew. Neither did the dad and his family.”
As Kira’s story sparks shock across the country, consultant psychologist Dr Joanna Silver has told The Mirror why some women might go to such extreme lengths to pretend to be pregnant.
She said: “There are many reasons why someone might fake a pregnancy. For some women, it may come from deep emotional distress or loneliness. Others may have experienced infertility or baby loss and carry unresolved grief. It is important not to label these women as deceitful, as acting pregnant can sometimes express a longing for belonging, connection, or care.
“Faking a pregnancy can bring up a range of painful emotions. As the story develops, anxiety, guilt, and shame often build. Once the lie begins, it can be hard to stop and tell the truth, especially with the fear of being judged or rejected by others.”
Dr Joanna continued: “When friends and family discover what has happened, they may feel betrayed or angry, particularly if they had felt invested in the pregnancy. While those feelings are understandable, it’s helpful to recognise that this behaviour usually stems from distress and sadness rather than manipulation. It can often be a cry for help and a sign that the person needs psychological support.
“Fake baby dolls can sometimes act as a symbolic replacement for the child they longed for. Caring for a doll can temporarily soothe deep pain or loss, but it rarely brings the comfort or closure the person hopes for. Compassionate understanding and support are key to helping someone move forward.”
After it emerged that Kira had faked the pregnancy, she shared a second more lengthy statement to say, “I’m sorry”. In a now-deleted Instagram story, she wrote: “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 f****d 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.
“I’m trying to figure myself out and get help because this version of me isn’t someone I want to be. I know I’ve ruined a lot of trust and that “sorry” won’t fix everything but it’s all I can say right now.”
She added: “I’m so sorry. You were there for me through it all. You cried happy tears, picked me up, brought me places, believed everything I said. You didn’t deserve to be lied to like that. None of you did.
“Everyone who came to the gender reveal, all the people who gave me gifts or support – I f****d up and I hurt a lot of people. And to everyone I made look bad along the way – the dad and his family, especially – I’m sorry. I made you out to be horrible people when, really, I was the one in the wrong. Completely.”
In response to the apology, Dr Joanna commented: “Kira’s apology shows signs of remorse and self-awareness. She does not excuse what she did and acknowledges both the harm caused and her own emotional state at the time.
“Her words suggest that she was acting from a place of confusion and distress and not manipulation. It is good to read that she is looking to get help as people who feign pregnancy need psychological support and understanding.”