A 22-year-old woman from Airdrie, Scotland, has sparked widespread outrage after orchestrating an elaborate hoax involving a fake pregnancy, staged birth, and a lifelike doll presented as her newborn daughter. The deception came to light when her mother discovered the doll in her bedroom, leading to a family confrontation.
Kira Cousins meticulously fabricated her pregnancy by wearing a prosthetic baby bump, sharing fabricated ultrasound scans, and even hosting a gender reveal party.
She posted numerous photos on social media, portraying herself as a glowing expectant mother, and claimed to have given birth to a girl named Bonnie-Leigh Joyce. The hoax was further compounded by fabricated medical stories, including a heart defect diagnosis for the baby.
Over the course of several weeks, Kira is reported to have claimed she was attending hospital appointments and informed family and friends that her unborn child had a heart defect identified during prenatal screenings. Supporters reportedly bought her newborn essentials, including a pram and car seat, with an estimated value of £1,000.
The truth unraveled when Cousins' mother found the doll in her bedroom. Prior to the discovery, Cousins had falsely informed the alleged father that their newborn had died. Following the revelation, she admitted to the deception in a now-deleted Instagram post, acknowledging that she had faked the entire pregnancy and birth. She explained that the doll's realistic features, such as movable limbs and facial expressions, had convinced others that it was a real baby.
Kira’s friend, Neave McRobert, said doubts began to surface when the baby never cried and Kira consistently refused to let anyone hold her, claiming the infant had just returned from a hospital visit. “Everyone believed her. She even held a gender reveal, shared scan photos, and said the baby had a heart defect. Then she texted me saying the baby was born. We were all overjoyed,” Neave recalled.
Kira later took to Instagram to issue a public apology, expressing remorse to everyone affected by the hoax. In her post, she revealed that the prank had led to a flood of death threats, and she attributed her actions to unresolved trauma from her past.
The incident has drawn significant attention on social media, with many expressing disbelief and anger over the deception. Some individuals have speculated about potential psychological issues that may have contributed to Cousins' actions.
(Rh/Eth/ARC)
