A woman in Airdrie, Kira Cousins, has caused a stir by fabricating a pregnancy and presenting a doll named Bonnie-Leigh as her newborn baby, only to later claim the infant had passed away. Cousins allegedly donned a fake baby bump, staged a birth scenario, and showcased a plastic Reborn doll as her daughter, Bonnie-Leigh Joyce, on social media. Leading up to the supposed birth, she shared images of baby scans, a gender reveal party, and items for the baby, including a pricey pram and car seat.
The situation escalated when it was revealed that Bonnie-Leigh was actually a doll, leading to outrage among friends and family. Screenshots of messages indicated that Cousins informed the man she claimed was the baby’s father about the fabricated death of their child. In a statement on TikTok, Cousins explained that her family and the baby’s father were unaware of the deception until she was exposed.
Suspicions arose when loved ones realized the baby never cried and Cousins prevented anyone from touching the “baby”. Neave McRobert, a friend, expressed feeling deceived after meeting the doll at a supermarket and shared conversations and now-deleted posts about Bonnie-Leigh. Reactions to Neave’s video were filled with shock and disgust.
Reborn dolls, like the one used in the ruse, can cost between £30 to £2000 and are designed to resemble real infants, with some models featuring sound effects and realistic functions. An acquaintance of Cousins suspected the fake pregnancy, noticing inconsistencies in Cousins’ appearance and the doll’s presentation but refrained from speaking out due to fear of backlash.
The incident has sparked widespread attention and raised concerns about the lengths some individuals may go to deceive others.