Angie Kent has publicly addressed criticism following her announcement of an IVF pregnancy and her decision to become a single mother by choice. The 36-year-old former reality star, who is four weeks pregnant, faced backlash from some online commentators who deemed her choice "incredibly alarming" and "incredibly selfish."
Kent shared one of the critical messages, which suggested she was setting herself and her child up for a difficult and isolating life. In response, she defended her decision, emphasizing that motherhood is inherently challenging and that she has worked hard to reach this point.
"Do not underestimate a woman who has been through IVF and surgery after surgery," Kent wrote on Instagram. "I have planned, sacrificed and fought tooth and nail just to get to this moment." She urged critics to direct their energy elsewhere, stating, "So let's chill out a bit on the 'alarming' and 'terribly sad'. We've heard it all."
Kent further elaborated on her stance in a subsequent Instagram post, asserting that calling a woman "selfish for choosing motherhood on her own terms is rooted in patriarchal conditioning and internal misogyny." She challenged the notion that a family is incomplete without a man, citing psychological research that indicates children raised by solo mothers by choice thrive equally well as those in two-parent households.
"Children don't need one specific family blueprint," Kent stated. "Women do not need permission or a partner to build a life and family." She added that such criticism disrespects women who choose this path and shames single mothers, whether by choice or circumstance.
Kent had previously announced her pregnancy by sharing a childhood photograph with her late father, revealing that a blood test confirmed her four-week pregnancy after an embryo transfer. She has been documenting her fertility journey, including egg retrieval and embryo creation, on the show Big Miracles and intends to remain open about her pregnancy experiences.