INCREDIBLE GLOW UP Teen Mom’s youngest stars have become teenagers in a transformation no one expected

Maci Bookout stole the hearts of many viewers when she set aside her love for softball and volleyball in season 1 of 16 and Pregnant to become a dedicated mother to her son Bentley, whom she welcomed with then-boyfriend Ryan Edwards.

Years later, Bentley is no longer the adorable baby we fell in love with. At 17 years old, the teenager now towers over his mother, and it seems he’s taken a liking to sports as well: his Instagram page boasts photos of him playing baseball and golf.

Bentley is also a big bro Maci’s children with husband Taylor McKinney: Jayde, born in 2015, and Maverick, born in 2016.

Season 1’s Farrah Abraham had a story that was particularly heartbreaking: her daughter Sophia’s father died in a car accident one month before the baby’s birth.

Farrah has since raised Sophia as a single mother while also starring on other reality TV shows. She was featured in Teen Mom: Family Reunion, Marriage Bootcamp: Hip Hop Edition, Couples Therapy and Celebrity Big Brother.

Sophia seems to have grown into an artsy and independent 17-year-old. The teen recently attended her first prom wearing an all-black ensemble with a full face of goth makeup, and has gotten body modifications with mom’s blessing.

“Prom 2026 🖤 Thank you so much mother for making this prom such an amazing, fun experience. I’m so grateful for my beautiful, caring friends for making this very memorable night so fun,” Sophia wrote on Instagram.

“THE BEST ❤️❤️❤️ LOVE YOU GORGEOUS,” Farrah responded in the comments.

It’s no secret that Jenelle Evans has had some issues since coming onto our screens on 16 and Pregnant season 2. Due to her tumultuous relationships, substance abuse issues and legal troubles, her mother Barbara took over custody of her son Jace (whom she welcomed on the show) in 2010.

Jenelle got custody back in 2023, though months later, 14-year-old Jace ran away from home after an incident involving Jenelle and her then-husband, David Eason, Entertainment Tonight reported. Child Protective Services launched an investigation, which they dropped in February 2024. Jace later returned to the home.

In March 2024, Jenelle — who also has two other children, Kaiser and Ensley — revealed she had filed for a legal separation from Eason after six years of marriage.

In March 2026, Barbara filed for emergency custody of 16-year-old Jace, after news broke that Jace was in a mental health facility after allegedly pulling a gun on his grandmother. A representative for Jenelle confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly.

According to TMZ, Jace allegedly put a gun to his head and threatened to shoot both himself and his grandmother. Officers responded to a disturbance after Barbara called 911 on Feb. 22, according to a Boiling Springs Lakes Police Department police report obtained by PEOPLE.

In April, Jenelle gave an update on Jace while on the La Femme Talk podcast.

“I’ve been very quiet online,” she said. “Behind the scenes, I’ve been actually getting help for my son as needed, and he’s in a safe place … He’s very happy right now, and he’s very focused on himself. And I think that’s the most important thing.”

When Chelsea Houska’s ex-boyfriend, Adam Lind, wouldn’t fulfill his fatherly duties after they welcomed Aubree on Teen Mom 2, her father Randy gladly stepped in. He supported the teen mom with her new baby, was there for birthdays and other big celebrations and saw that Chelsea and Aubree were housed and financially taken of.

Fast forward to now: Aubree is 16 years old and thriving. “I have a 16 year old 🥲 my girl. We have been through it all together and I’m so proud of the woman she is becoming,” Chelsea wrote in celebration of Aubree’s milestone birthday. “She has an awesome style, loves skateboarding and music. And is cooler than I’ll ever be 🖤🖤🖤🖤”

Chelsea married her husband Cole DeBoer in 2016 and they welcomed two more daughters, Layne Ettie and Walker June, as well as son Watson Cole. Chelsea and DeBoer also star in their own HGTV series, Down Home Fab.

Like some of her fellow costars, Amber Portwood also had difficulty navigating teen parenthood. She previously admitted to having substance abuse issues while filming 16 and Pregnant and in 2019, faced legal troubles after her ex-boyfriend Andrew Glennon accused her of assaulting him while he was holding their son. Though she denied the claims, Portwood was charged with domestic battery, criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon and domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than 16 years old. She plead guilty to domestic battery and was sentenced to 2.5 years of probation, per E! News.

As seen on Teen Mom, Amber’s ex-boyfriend Gary Shirley became the primary caregiver for their daughter Leah, who is now 17. She is a big sister to Shirley’s daughter Emilee, whom he shares with wife Kristina. Amber also welcomed son James with Glennon in 2018, but lost custody in 2022, after which Glennon and James moved to California.

Amber continues to be estranged from Leah, as showcased on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.

Kailyn Lowry and her son’s father Jo Rivera also had a hard time finding common ground as teen parents. Though they were on and off for a while, they ultimately decided to part ways and co-parent their son, whom they named Isaac.

Nowadays, it seems the parents are in a better place. Kailyn even launched a podcast in 2023, Baby Mamas No Drama with Jo’s wife, Vee Rivera, and named Jo as one of her biggest supporters. (The show ended in 2024.)

In 2025, Lowry’s son came out, and also revealed he now goes by his middle name, Elliott, while on his mom’s new podcast Barely Famous.

“I want to be clear that this is for me,” the teen said of his appearance on the episode. “My life is my life and I can do what I want with it. And for people to take things from my life, like personal stuff, is not okay. If I want to share it, I should share that on my own terms.”

Now 16, Elliot is a proud big brother to seven additional siblings, as Kailyn welcomed six more kids and Rivera had a daughter with Vee.

Leah Messer welcomed twin girls Aliannah and Aleeah during season 2 of Teen Mom. One of the challenges Leah and ex-husband Corey Simms had to navigate was the fact that their daughter Aliannah was born with titin muscular dystrophy — a rare disorder that’s usually only found in adults.

Despite their rough start and the eventual ending of their marriage, it seems Simms and Leah found a healthy and positive way to co-parent their now-16-year-old twins, who are constant fixtures on their mom’s Instagram.

Aliannah and Aleeah are also big sisters to Adalynn, whom Leah welcomed with ex-husband Jeremy Calvert.