I've spent £20k on 24 doll babies – I spend hours a day playing with them, my boyfriend thinks it's odd but I want more
PRIDE & TOY I've spent £20k on 24 doll babies – I spend hours a day playing with them, my boyfriend thinks it's odd but I want more
When it comes to babies, I definitely have my hands full. Right now, Louisa is in her baby seat and Albee and Harmony are sleeping in their cots.
Zadie and Zelda are in the living room, while their big sisters Pieta, four, and Daida, two, are relaxing on their chairs.
Advertisement
4
Mary Lee Beatson loves playing with her babies and has so far collected 24 reborn dolls
4
Mary Lee dressed dolls Albee, Pieta, Daida and Harmony up for St Patrick's Day
Meanwhile I'm walking in circles in my living room, soothing Ozzie in my arms.
In total I have 24 babies, but my house in Lake City, South Carolina, is peaceful and quiet and my beautiful children never get a day older. That's because I'm a 'reborn mummy'.
As a child, I loved stuffed animals and My Little Pony, but I didn't really play with dolls. Then, in October 2022, when I was 39, I was shopping for Halloween decorations when I spotted a zombie doll called Ruby.
Advertisement
'Reborn mummy'
I was so excited to bring her home and couldn't bear to box her away when the holiday was over.
Suddenly, I had a reason to buy cute baby clothes I'd seen while out shopping. It was such fun to dress Ruby that I started to Google other dolls I might buy.
That's the first time I read about reborns, which are hyper-realistic, life-sized baby dolls. They're works of art, sculpted and hand-painted to look just like real babies. I was blown away.
Inspired by Ruby, I wanted to pick something a little different. In March 2023, I saw a reborn with two faces, painted to look like clowns.
I fell in love instantly and called them Penny and Dima.
Advertisement
Ozzie came next, and after I'd removed the nappy that is always placed over the doll's face by sellers to protect their delicate features, it was so exciting to unwrap him from his box and see his gorgeous face emerge.
I've spent £350 on a reborn doll to battle my empty nest - my hubby is 'weirded out' by it but it's been life-changing
By April, Albee had arrived, quickly followed by Zadie and Zelda.
I never do things by halves. Within months I had three more – Daida, my gorgeous two year old, who is 81cm tall, tiny baby Harmony and Burgundy Rose, a reborn baby werewolf.
It made me so happy to see them in my house. I even bought a baby car seat and took Ozzie to work with me.
My shift patterns meant I had a room at work to sleep in that I shared with a colleague.
Advertisement
I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange
She walked in one day to see Ozzie on the bed and was shocked, thinking I'd left a real baby in there alone!
Another colleague gave me an outfit for Pieta, my 101cm-tall four year old, that his daughter had grown out of.
They never made me feel that it was weird to have the dolls, and, like my friends and family, they always want to hear about my new arrivals.
But I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange.
That's why I put a photo of me holding a reborn on my Facebook dating profile in November 2024.
Advertisement
They're a huge part of my life – I can spend hours a day playing with them – and that isn't going to change.
I've since met my boyfriend and he accepts it, but finds it odd. The other day we were sitting on the sofa watching TV as I held Ozzie.
As I got up to get a drink, I handed him Ozzie, but he looked at me like I'd grown an extra head!
4
Mary Lee has an eclectic collection including reborn werewolf Burgundy Rose
4
Mary Lee snaps doll daughter Melitina 'playing' Twister
Advertisement
When I take the babies out in public, I get all kinds of reactions.
Most people just think they're real, but when I explain they're reborns, I get everything from confusion and intrigued questions, to shock and fear.
To me, they have their own personalities. Melitina and Burgundy Rose are energetic and cheeky, Daida is sweet and kind and Ozzie is peaceful.
Unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things
And, unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things. They're only there to make me feel happy.
I love to share our life on my YouTube channel. I might take them for walks, 'feed' them with a real baby bottle filled with fake formula, dress them up for Valentine's Day or just cuddle them.
Advertisement
Trolls have made comments, but they don't bother me. I think part of what upsets people is how much they cost.
So far, I've spent £20,000, with Pieta and Daida costing £1,500 and £2,300 each. I've also made lots of friends with other reborn mums online.
I can't wait to keep welcoming reborns into my life. If anyone thinks that's a waste of money, I don't care. I work hard and my dolls bring me a lot of joy. What could possibly be wrong with that?'
Follow Mary Lee at Youtube.com/@maryleesbabies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
JoJo Siwa makes shocking career move just one day after revealing she was 'pressured' to call herself a lesbian
JoJo Siwa cancelled her performance at Saturday's Pride celebration in Chicago. Back Lot Bash Chicago, the organization putting on the event, made the announcement early Saturday morning with a quick note in its Instagram Stories. 'Due to a scheduling conflict, JoJo Siwa will no longer be performing at Chicago's Back Lot Bash,' it read, without further explanation. The news comes one day after the Bulletproof singer, 22, who defines herself as queer, revealed to the Daily Mail that she felt pressured into calling herself a lesbian. 'When I came out at 17, I said: 'I'm pansexual, because I don't care [about gender]." But then I kind of boxed myself in and I said: 'I'm a lesbian.' And I think I did that because of pressure.' The Dance Moms alum has had several relationships with women since coming out in February 2021. 'In a weird way, I think [the pressure] came a little bit from inside the [LGBTQ] community at times. From people I know, from partners I've had,' she contended. 'You just get put in this world where you feel like, because you now have said, 'Oh, I'm a lesbian', you have to be a lesbian. And the truth is, sexuality is fluid.' Siwa met her current love interest, Chris Hughes, 32, while they were both competing on Celebrity Big Brother UK. The TV presenter defended Siwa after fellow contestant Mickey Rourke, 72, made homophobic comments. The two became friends, and then 'platonic soulmates' and then it developed into something more with the couple going public with their romance earlier this month. 'I'll just say that it took time. It took time away and then it took time together.' She now calls Hughes 'the favourite part of my life.' For those who think the liaison is just for PR, they couldn't be more wrong, the Guilty Pleasure singer told The Guardian. The cancellation came one day after Siwa revealed in an interview with Daily Mail that she felt pressured into identifying as a lesbian, even though she had originally come out as pansexual; Pictured in London on June 2 Siwa postponed the US leg of her tour earlier this month, hinting that more European dates might be added instead. The news comes amid the news Columbia Records had dropped her; Pictured in London in June 2024 'Clearly, you've never been around us. I won't ever speak for him, but for me personally, the happiness in my life just radiates off of me right now,' she told the outlet. 'Literally yesterday, I was massaging my cheeks; I've never [before] been in pain from smiling so much.' The Karma artist was set to return to the US next week for the American leg of her tour, but an announcement made on the website said the dates have been postponed, with those who bought tickets would receive a refund. She also teased that there would be more shows in Europe announced soon in a hint that she could be staying in the UK for longer. It comes just days after it was revealed JoJo has been dropped by record label Columbia just one year after being signed.
STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
In Pictures: Thousands take to streets for 30th Edinburgh Pride parade
Edinburgh was a sea of colour on Saturday as the city celebrated its 30th Pride parade. Thousands flocked to the capital with flags and banners, with some in attendance from the very first event in what has been described as a 'milestone moment' for the LGBTQ+ community. Edinburgh was painted with all the colours of the rainbow to promote inclusivity and diversity. Former X-Factor star Diana Vickers will also be taking to the stage in the capital. Getty Images Scotland's LGBTQ+ community attend the annual Pride March on June 21, 2025 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
The best pictures from Pride Cymru 2025 as thousands take to the streets in celebration
Pride Cymru returned to Cardiff today with thousands taking part in the city's biggest annual march, marking the 40th anniversary of the first Pride event in Wales. The original Pride in 1985 drew fewer than 100 people and today's event saw more sign-ups in advance than ever before. The atmosphere throughout the day was upbeat and full of colour, with families, community groups, and performers all taking part. Many attendees spoke about the importance of visibility and creating space for people to be themselves and the importance of children being able to see people expressing themselves freely and positively in public. A pro-Palestine protest group, Cymru Queers for Palestine, blocked the original route near Cardiff Castle. The group said they had tried to engage with Pride Cymru beforehand but felt their concerns were ignored. Hannah, from Cymru Queers for Palestine, told WalesOnline: "We contacted Pride, met with them and they ignored us. So we will not stop and we will not rest until we say that Pride Cymru has no ties to the Israeli war machine." The parade was redirected, and Pride Cymru later released a statement emphasising Pride as a space for both celebration and protest, stating: "Despite our best efforts to engage with the group ahead of and during the event, the situation on the ground made it impossible to proceed with the original parade route as planned." They continued: "Pride is a space for protest, celebration, and solidarity. We remain committed to creating a Pride that reflects the diversity and voices of our entire community." Attendees also highlighted how Pride remains rooted in activism, especially in the face of growing challenges to LGBTQ+ rights. The celebrations are continuing in Cooper's Field with performances from Ella Henderson, Shola Ama, Kimberly Wyatt, Booty Luv, and more Local drag performer Carrie Sauce.
