Copyright dailystar
A new 'mum' has been accused of carrying out a months long ruse to trick her family into believing a doll was her new born baby. Kira Cousins, from Airdrie, allegedly donned a prosthetic bump, feigning childbirth, and presented a plastic Reborn doll as her baby girl named Bonnie-Leigh Joyce. The 22-year-old announced the arrival of her "daughter" on social media earlier this month, asserting she gave birth alone with Bonnie-Leigh entering the world on October 10, weighing 5lbs 4oz. In the run-up to the supposed "birth", Kira posted photos of ultrasound scans and videos of her extravagant gender reveal party. She also shared footage of the "baby" kicking in her belly, along with images of newborn clothes and items purchased for Bonnie-Leigh by well-wishers, including a £1,000 pram and a car seat. She even made posts about hospital appointments and complications with the baby, alleging that antenatal tests had detected a heart defect, reports the Daily Record. However, uproar ensued when Kira was exposed online as a fraudster. Friends revealed how her family and the alleged "father" of the baby discovered six-day-old Bonnie-Leigh was a doll after her mum found the prop in her bedroom. Screenshots of messages purportedly sent by Kira shortly afterwards seem to show her informing the man she claimed was Bonnie-Leigh's father that their baby had passed away. When approached by the Record, Kira Cousins declined to comment. In a statement posted on TikTok she penned: "In my own words let's set this straight. I was in bed when my mother came into my room and found it to be a doll. "Prior to this, I had been keeping myself away from literally everyone. "The next thing I know, I was confronted by all the family. Don't for one minute think they let me away with this, they haven't. "And none of them knew. Neither did the dad and his family." Mate Neave McRobert revealed that doubts initially emerged when relatives noticed nobody had heard the "baby" crying, whilst Kira refused to allow anyone to hold her, claiming Bonnie-Leigh had recently attended Wishaw General Hospital for medical examinations due to poor health. In a video statement recorded on October 16, Neave revealed: "I noticed Kira had deleted every picture and video of Bonnie-Leigh from our chats. "I asked her why and she ignored me. I then asked the baby's dad 'Is this a doll?' and he said, "Yes, it's a doll". "She even went to the extreme of texting him saying, 'Bonnie-Leigh died'. I can't imagine how he must feel right now and everyone else who has been lied to for months and months. "Everybody believed her. She had a gender reveal, she posted scan photos and even said the baby had a hole in its heart. "Then she texted me saying the baby was born. We were all so happy." Neave shared screenshots of her exchanges with Kira regarding Bonnie-Leigh, alongside others displaying the doll in a collection of now-removed posts from the "new mum". Neave also recounted how she encountered her former friend and the "baby" Bonnie-Leigh during a supermarket visit. She added: "I feel worse because I'm one of the few people to meet this 'baby'. I feel totally used and drained. Everyone got conned by her." Neave's video elicited thousands of horrified and disgusted responses. Reborn dolls, like the one utilised in the shocking ruse, retail between £30 to £2000. These dolls are crafted to resemble real-life babies, with some models capable of producing crying sounds and even fake tears. Some dolls can even simulate wet nappies. A family friend of Kira's, who requested anonymity, expressed shock at the news to the Record but admitted she had suspected the pregnancy was a hoax from the start. Describing Kira as a "serial liar", she revealed: "I have known her for 10 years and she has lied about all sorts. "She came into my house twice before this doll appeared and me and daughter noticed straight away that her bump wasn't real. It was all lumpy. She was wearing very thin pyjamas and you could see the straps on her back holding it on. "When she posted the picture of her supposed baby, it knew looked like a doll but I would have been slaughtered if I had spoken out about all this and said I didn't think any of it was real. "People would have thought I was crazy." For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
