Hunter and his girlfriend Bella are featured in the new season of the TLC series Unexpected, which focuses on the ups and downs of unplanned pregnancies, particularly among teen mothers.
The pair have documented their road to parenthood on the show, as viewers will get an inside look into the relationship of the teens as they prepare to welcome their first child.
“I was 12 when I found out I was going to be a dad,” Hunter explains in a confessional for the new TLC series. “Now I’m 13. I didn’t think I would be finishing 8th grade and becoming a dad at the same time.”
Hunter’s dad said he had ‘ruined’ his life, however the teen disagrees. “I do not feel like I ruined my life,” he says on the show.
Hunter’s girlfriend Bella was just 14 when she discovered she was expecting which came as a shock. “I didn’t think at 15 I would be pregnant,” she said in a confessional. “I didn’t think with a 13-year-old either.”
The young dad also faced challenges completing the 8th grade, with Bella offering encouragement as she didn’t want to be two grades above him while raising their toddler. Plus, as a freshman, he wouldn’t be able to be her date for prom.
Bella, who has a social media following after discussing her pregnancy online, explained that she immediately knew she was pregnant when her period was late.
“We could have waited a little bit longer, I guess. But it was his idea,” she claimed.
The young couple appear on the new season of Unexpected (TLC)
While sitting next to her mother, Falen, for the confessional, the teen says, ‘the condom broke’ after her mother says she was ‘trying to prevent teenage pregnancy’.
Her mother adds: “I literally think my heart sank that day.”
Hunter and Bella welcomed their baby in March 2025, and she’s been keeping her followers updated with how things are going.
Bella defended her decision to take part in the TLC series amid backlash.
“If I didn’t want to share my story and let people know my situation, ’cause it is pretty unique compared to other people’s, I wouldn’t do it.
“The other reason my mom posts TikToks is ’cause it was my idea,” she said.
Hunter is coming to terms with becoming a dad and finishing 8th grade (TLC)
“My idea to share my story for other girls out there going through the same thing. They struggle with it because it’s hard, it’s not easy, it’s really, really hard.
“And I would never recommend it to anybody. But everyone out there saying I’m being exploited, this is not true.”
Bella’s father Kris also spoke out to defend of the family’s decision to take part.
“Due to all the trolls and the women quickly being known as what I have to say on TV as the unscrewables, they are going to make season 7 hot. It’s going to be a hot season.
“All [the critics] are doing is making us the stars of the show and I got to tell y’all, my royalty check is going to be so fat.
“We’re going to be able to buy a lot of groceries, so thank you all. It’s freaking awesome and you all have a great night.”
The young mom shocked the show’s fans when the trailer for the new season dropped, in part due to the age-gap with her boyfriend Hunter, who is now 13.
With shade coming at her from all directions, Vaughn decided to respond to her critics in a video shared with her 60,000 TikTok followers.
One of the main points that the teen mom had to address in her response was that the father of her child – a boy named Wes – was not even a teenager when their baby was conceived.
Bella Vaughn was 14 when she got pregnant with her boyfriend Hunter, who was 12 at the time (Instagram/@_izabellamarie)
“I understand it doesn’t make it any better. I understand he was sexually ready faster than I was, and that’s OK, but I was ready when we had sex,” she said.
Many online had questions for the reality TV star about the dubious ethics of her falling pregnant by a 12-year-old boy, questions that Vaughn revealed had also been asked by the police.
With the new mom facing harsh words before Unexpected has even aired, she shot back: “You can all stop saying that it was illegal and that I raped him because I didn’t.
“It was both intentional. On both sides, people have already said that. We’ve already talked to the cops about it. It was consensual.”
“I am a mother. I did have that baby. I did grow that baby for nine, almost 10 months. Hunter is a father.”
But that is not to say that her journey through teenage pregnancy has been straightforward or without contention, as at the very outset her parents and boyfriend Hunter’s parents were at loggerheads.
Vaughn’s family wanted to keep the baby, while Hunter’s supported her getting a termination.
Vaughn’s family were dead set on keeping the baby (Getty Stock Image)
This led to some of her critics arguing that she had baby trapped the young boy, a claim that Vaughn forcefully pushed back on.
She said: “I did not ruin Hunter’s life. I gave, when I found that I was pregnant, I gave him the option. I said, ‘If you can’t do this or you don’t want to be here, that is fine. I understand we’re both very young, but I can do this on my own or with you. It’s your decision. Whatever you choose, I’m fine with’.”
