An expectant mother who possesses 15 lifelike Reborn dolls for parental practice is concerned that the recent scandal involving Kira Cousins and her counterfeit baby may perpetuate the stereotype that doll owners are eccentric. Jess Ellis, aged 29, started crafting and amassing these realistic dolls after struggling to conceive due to a PCOS diagnosis.
She admires their beauty and believes they elicit similar emotions to those felt by mothers caring for infants. Nonetheless, Reborn dolls have garnered attention this week after revelations that Kira Cousins, 22, allegedly pretended to give birth using one of these dolls.
Reportedly, she received numerous valuable gifts before her family uncovered that her newborn daughter was actually a doll. Cousins wore a fake baby bump, shared baby scan photos, organized a gender reveal event, and even posted a video of the ‘baby’ kicking.
Jess, an HR professional from Newham, London, stated, “I absolutely cannot support what she’s done.” She commenced her collection in May 2020, seeking solace during the pandemic. Her initial doll, Rebecca, cost £250, and she quickly expanded her assortment with newborn-like dolls Zain, Sam, Annalese, and Aria.
To date, Jess has spent over £6,000 solely on baby accessories. The dolls’ calming effects stem from their weighted feel and the diversion of dressing them up. Additionally, Jess believes they stimulate similar maternal hormones as a real baby, offering solace to women facing conception challenges or couples dealing with miscarriages.
However, she fears that Cousins’ purported actions might create misconceptions about Reborn dolls. She expressed, “Most individuals acquire a Reborn out of admiration for the dolls, but they also serve as a source of comfort for those grieving, proving highly beneficial.”
“I am concerned that stories like this reinforce the perception that Reborn doll owners are irrational, believe the dolls are real, and attempt to deceive their loved ones, which is not the case at all,” she added.
Jess, who shares doll videos on her TikTok and YouTube channels, mentioned that she has not encountered any negative feedback yet. She remarked, “I have not faced any backlash thus far – I made a video discussing this incident, so we will wait to see the nature of the comments I receive.”