A woman who deceived her family and friends by pretending to have a baby has reportedly left her residence and gone into seclusion. Kira Cousins from Airdrie in Scotland faced online backlash after convincing her loved ones that a plastic doll was her newborn daughter. She went to great lengths by wearing a fake pregnancy bump for months and staging a solo “birth.”
The 22-year-old’s charade was exposed when her family discovered that her supposed infant, Bonnie-Leigh Joyce, was actually a lifelike Reborn doll. Outraged by the deception, people who had purchased gifts for the baby were left feeling betrayed. To avoid the backlash, Kira is said to have vacated her Airdrie home.
A former friend expressed concern over Kira’s behavior, stating that she needs help and that her actions have caused distress, particularly to her mother, who is reportedly not speaking to her. Kira had shared images of baby scans and a gender reveal party leading up to the fabricated birth on October 10, where she claimed to have delivered a 5lbs 4oz “daughter.”
In the buildup to the hoax, Kira posted what appeared to be computer-generated videos of the “baby” moving in her belly, along with pictures of baby clothes and gifts she had received, including a pram worth £1,000. She also fabricated hospital visits and claimed that her baby had a heart defect detected during prenatal tests.
Eventually, Kira admitted to the deception, acknowledging that she faked scans, messages, and an entire birth story, passing off a doll as a real baby. She apologized to her friends and family for the lies, expressing regret for the hurt she caused and acknowledging the loss of trust.
Neave McRobert, a friend of Kira’s, revealed that suspicions arose when the baby did not cry in a video and Kira refused to let anyone touch the infant, citing health concerns and hospital visits. Neave shared conversations where Kira had misled them about the doll, leaving everyone feeling deceived.
Screenshots of conversations with Kira and images of the doll were circulated online, exposing the extent of the deception. Neave expressed feeling manipulated and deceived by Kira’s elaborate scheme.