Amber Portwood, Gary Shirley’s Daughter Leah Shares Senior Prom Photos

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Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley’s daughter is living a full circle moment.

Almost 20 years after being born on the show 16 and Pregnant, Leah recently shared photos from her senior prom, including sweet pictures with her dad, Gary.

On May 5th, Leah shared a photo of herself with friends, all dressed up for prom. She captioned the post, “Prom 2026!!,” hinting at plans for the future.

The photos showed everything from her pre-prom dinner to a fun photo booth session with friends at the dance, giving a complete look at her special night.

Gary was, as expected, incredibly proud of his daughter. He publicly shared his love in a comment, writing, “Leah, you are so beautiful. I love being your dad.”

Leah and her dad have a close relationship, but her prom is happening less than a year after she spoke on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter about being distant from her mother. This distance started because of things Amber said about Leah online.

Leah explained that she’d been struggling for a while, but something specific finally pushed her over the edge: another person’s online broadcasts where they made certain statements.

Leah confessed she was struggling with her mother’s activity online, explaining, “She was even discussing me with others.”

In the same episode, Leah directly addressed her mom via text. 

Leah sent a text saying she needed to be clear about something, even though it might be painful. She explained that, ever since 2011 when she was placed in her dad’s full custody, she’s been the one making the choice to keep their relationship distant, and no one else has pressured her. She felt recent activity online meant she needed to state this and set a firm boundary for her own well-being.

Leah has often talked about the difficulties in her relationship with her mother, explaining that they’ve felt disconnected since Leah was around ten years old.

Leah shared on Teen Mom: Next Chapter that while she doesn’t want to be around this person, she struggles with the fear of being left or rejected, something she believes will likely be a lifelong feeling.

For a status check on all the Teen Mom families, keep reading…  

Viewers first met Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra on the first season of 16 and Pregnant in 2009, when they made the heartbreaking decision to put their daughter, Carly, up for adoption. The couple, who are now married, tied the knot in August 2015 after being together for 13 years. They’ve since welcomed three more daughters: Novalee, Vaeda, and Rya.

Even though they still miss Carly, who lives with her adoptive parents, Brandon and Teresa Davis, the couple remain hopeful and continue to work towards a better future.

Catelynn explained to TopMob News in January 2025 that she and Tyler want to respect their daughter’s wishes regarding their relationship. She said they’re open to any level of connection—whether it’s with her biological siblings or with them—and will fully support whatever makes her comfortable, prioritizing her needs as an adoptee.

Maci Bookout and Ryan Edwards were still teenagers when they found out they were expecting, and their journey was documented on 16 and Pregnant. Despite getting engaged, the couple broke up less than a year after their son, Bentley, was born in 2008, and Maci struggled with Ryan’s lack of responsibility as a father.

Maci and Ryan are currently working on having a healthy co-parenting relationship. In a 2023 interview with TopMob News, Maci shared that Ryan has been more reliable and involved lately than in the past, and that they are both doing well.

Maci met Taylor McKinney in 2012, and they quickly became partners in life. They started a family with the arrival of their daughter, Jayde, in May 2015, followed by their son, Maverick, a year later. The couple then got married in Florida in October of the same year.

They’re partners in life and business, co-creating their fashion brand, TTM Lifestyle. In a 2023 interview with TopMob News, she described him as her ultimate companion, saying, ‘Even through difficult times, I always choose him. I genuinely like him. And honestly, I’d rather work through disagreements with him than not have anyone to challenge me at all.’

Even though they’ve both started dating other people, the stars from the MTV show The Challenge are still working together to raise their daughter, Ryder.

From the moment Cory became a part of Ryder’s life, we always discussed the type of father and parent he wanted to be,” Cheyenne told TopMob News in March 2020. “I didn’t want him to be the type of dad who just focuses on fun or social media; I wanted him to be fully committed. I think he understood my expectations from the start, which is why we’re able to co-parent so effectively.”

Cheyenne and Zach briefly broke up in 2018 but later decided to try dating again. She announced on Instagram, while celebrating her 28th birthday, that they were back together. They had their first child, a son named Ace, in May 2021, and married in September 2022.

In 2024, Cheyenne shared with TopMob News that the past two years had been about achieving personal goals. ‘We really wanted a baby, and we welcomed Ace. We dreamed of getting married, and we had a beautiful wedding. And we wanted to become homeowners, which we accomplished,’ she said.

She continued, explaining she simply didn’t want to do anything – no goals, no striving. She just wanted to relax, be peaceful, and enjoy being with the people around her. That was enough; she didn’t need or want anything more.

Cheyenne revealed she was pregnant with her third child during an episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter that aired in May 2025.

Zach shared with Us Weekly that he and his partner had mixed feelings about having a baby for a while. He initially wanted a child, then she did, and then his feelings changed. Eventually, they both agreed it was the right time and decided to try.

It might seem unlikely to find love while filming a reality show, but Cory and Taylor Selfridge, who first connected on Ex on the Beach, have proven it’s possible. Years later, they’re still together and are parents to two daughters, Mila and Maya.

He told TopMob News in 2023 that he and his partner recently purchased a house. He then acknowledged the public’s curiosity about their wedding plans, saying they’ve discussed it and are moving in that direction. He explained they just need to finalize the details – like the ring and him proposing – and that both he and his partner want to get married, but are taking things one step at a time.

Shortly after marrying Mackenzie Standifer in May 2017, Ryan entered rehab. Their son, Jagger, was born in 2018 while Ryan was still receiving treatment.

Mackenzie and her husband welcomed their daughter, Stella, in January 2020, but Mackenzie filed for divorce three years afterward.

Let me tell you, life moves quickly! After Ryan and Mackenzie went their separate ways, he found love again with Amanda in 2023. Things blossomed, and he actually proposed during a wonderful family vacation the next year – so sweet!

The pair welcomed daughter Presley in February 2025, seven months before announcing their marriage.

Despite a very public and difficult breakup in 2013, the couple successfully co-parented their daughter, Leah, who is now a teenager, for many years.

Amber explained to TopMob News in January 2022 that while they enjoy each other’s company, they maintain some space in the relationship. She described it as a close-knit family, prioritizing that dynamic above all else.

Families sometimes have disagreements, and Amber and Gary are no exception. They’ve publicly aired their issues in recent years, especially on social media, and her strained relationship with Leah has been featured on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.

I was really invested in Amber and Matt’s relationship, and it was heartbreaking to see them struggle. After years together, a proposal, and even trying to work things out on Marriage Boot Camp, they sadly called off their engagement back in 2017. It was tough to watch, especially knowing Matt had moved all the way from Boston for her.

Amber explained on Dr. Drew Pinsky’s podcast that she and her partner eventually reached a breaking point. She said she simply stopped caring about the relationship, and emotionally shut down to protect herself from further hurt. She felt like she had built a wall around her feelings.

Amber found love while filming Marriage Boot Camp with a crew member named Andrew Glennon. They first appeared as a couple at the 2017 MTV Movie Awards, and in May 2018, they welcomed their son, James.

Amber and Andrew separated shortly after Amber’s arrest for domestic battery in July 2019. Following a difficult legal dispute, Andrew, who is from California, was granted full legal and primary custody of their son in 2022.

I’m really proud of how much work I’ve put into becoming a better person, especially for my kids. I’ve always been open about the tough times I’ve faced – things like struggling with addiction and my mental health – but I truly believe everyone deserves a chance to move forward. It’s frustrating to feel like I’m constantly defined by mistakes I’ve made in the past, and I want to show everyone that people can change and grow.

I’m so inspired by her strength! She says, and it really resonates with me, that even if life hasn’t been easy, if you’ve genuinely tried to grow into a better person – someone more grounded and compassionate – you just have to keep going. That’s exactly what I plan to do, because like her, my kids mean absolutely everything to me, and I’ll always fight for them.

Amber met Dimitri Garcia online, and he first appeared on Teen Mom OG in April 2020. Amber described him on the show as a handsome man from Belgium, ten years her senior at 39. They began talking and decided to meet in person because they were developing feelings for each other.

Okay, so back in April 2021, during the Teen Mom OG reunion, Amber said she was still with Dimitri! She told everyone they’d known each other for a year and a half, which, like, wow. But then she dropped this bomb – she hadn’t actually seen him in a whole year! It was so confusing. And then, fast forward to June 2024 on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, she was with someone new – Gary Wayt! It was a shock, honestly. They never really said it was over with Dimitri, but there he was, Gary! I was so surprised!

Amber met Gary 2.0 on a dating app in the fall of 2023, and he quickly became more involved when she introduced him to her fellow cast members during an online conversation.

Although Gary proposed in May 2024, their engagement didn’t last long. During a trip to North Carolina for her brother’s wedding in June, Gary left after an argument, and Amber filed a missing person’s report.

And while Gary was soon located, the duo’s engagment wasn’t the only thing left broken. 

Amber shared on Teen Mom: The Next Chapter that she went through the incredibly difficult experience of believing her fiancé had died for several days. She described grieving and struggling to understand why anyone would intentionally cause her such pain, emphasizing how challenging this time is for her.

She explained, “He really hurt me. I was doing well, emotionally stable, but this is the first time in years I’ve felt lost and upset, and it’s all because of getting married.”

Gary and Kristina Anderson had their daughter, Emilee, in April 2015, and later that year, they got married in a lovely beach wedding.

In a 2022 Instagram post, Gary shared how much he appreciated someone, calling them a beautiful soul and saying he couldn’t manage life without their support.

Farrah Abraham’s daughter, Sophia, was born in December 2008, two months after her father tragically died in an accident.

After losing her high school boyfriend, Farrah’s first significant relationship was with real estate agent Simon Saran. They dated on and off for more than two years.

Their breakup in 2017 was really messy, even involving legal letters, but they did try to be friends afterward, at least a little.

Simon explained to TopMob News that he wasn’t angry with Farrah, but they simply had different lifestyles. He felt she preferred a superficial life, while he valued authenticity. He expressed his good wishes for her future success.

Jenelle Evans and Andrew Lewis, parents of now-teenager Jace, separated shortly after he was born in 2009, and Jenelle wasn’t very involved in raising him.

As a mom, it really bothered me when Jace’s dad would come and go. I shared on Teen Mom 2 that I worried about getting my son’s hopes up, only to have him disappear again. It’s tough, because it is his father, but I needed to protect Jace from that cycle of disappointment. I just wanted stability for him, and that meant managing expectations around his dad’s involvement.

Jenelle has had a complex family life. She was married to Courtland Rogers for a year and had a son, Kaiser, with her former fiancé, Nathan Griffin, in 2014. Later, in September 2017, she married David Eason on their property in North Carolina, after they had a daughter, Ensley, eight months prior.

Following a difficult period where David faced a misdemeanor charge of child abuse concerning Jace – which Jenelle believed was a false accusation – she announced they were separating.

She said she would have gotten divorced immediately if North Carolina law hadn’t required a year of legal separation, and proof of living at two different addresses.

Their divorce was finalized in July 2025.

Do you remember the guy who asked Chelsea Houska when he could finalize the paperwork to deal with their child? He referred to their child as a ‘mistake’.

Completely in the rearview. 

Despite a difficult past, Teen Mom alum and HGTV personality Chelsea Houska has a surprisingly good relationship with her high school ex, Adam Lind, who is the father of her oldest daughter, Aubree. She told Us Weekly that they have an open and positive connection with no lingering negativity, and they are comfortable seeing each other when their paths cross.

Chelsea and Cole DeBoer first met in a charming way at a gas station back in 2014, and later married in October 2016. They grew their family with the arrival of their son, Watson, in 2017, followed by daughters Layne in 2018 and Walker in 2021. Now, the couple is sharing their life and design talents with their new HGTV series, Down Home Fab.

Honestly, when Chelsea talked about returning to TV, she really wanted something fun and positive where we could all see the real her and the family. She said it just felt right because it was a chance to be completely ourselves, and that’s what made this opportunity so amazing.

Chelsea shared with TopMob in June 2025 that many of her friends feel finished having children, but she isn’t sure if she’ll ever feel the same way.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen many young relationships face challenges, and Leah Messer and Corey Simms’ story is one of them. They were high school sweethearts who became parents to twins, Aleeah and Aliannah, and quickly decided to try and build a life together. Unfortunately, despite their best intentions, things didn’t work out, and they filed for divorce just six months after their wedding in October 2010. It just goes to show that even when there’s love and a family involved, relationships can sometimes take unexpected turns.

Corey has been married to Miranda Patterson since 2013.

Leah married Jeremy Calvert, a pipeline worker, in 2012, and they had a daughter, Adalynn, in 2013.

Even after their separation in 2015, they’ve tried to share parenting responsibilities for their daughter, though it hasn’t always been easy.

Leah shared with TopMob News that watching her daughters grow is like seeing a fuller, happier version of herself. She finds it incredibly rewarding to support their passions and be involved in their lives, describing it as a magical experience. She especially loves being a mom to girls.

Leah and her daughters were already smitten with Jaylan Mobley, a United States Army officer, when they publicly announced their relationship on Instagram in 2021.

The couple announced their engagement in August 2022, but broke up that October. 

Looking back, I really needed that breakup,” the Teen Mom star told TopMob News a year later. “I’ve grown a lot since then, and I finally feel like my life is starting fresh.”

Kailyn Lowry became a mom at 17 when she and her high school boyfriend, Jo Rivera, had their first child, Isaac, in 2010.

Okay, so they did break up after a year, but honestly, it’s amazing how well they get along now! Kailyn and Jo have really figured out co-parenting, and get this – she even had a podcast, Baby Mamas No Drama, with Jo’s wife, Vee, for years! It was incredible. I remember Kailyn tweeting after Jo and Vee’s wedding in 2018, and she was so genuine! She said they’d come a long way since they were teenagers, and that she couldn’t have asked for a better stepmom for Isaac. It just proves they really do care about Isaac, even if their romantic relationship didn’t work out. I was seriously impressed!

Kailyn’s son, Lincoln, was born in November 2013, about a year after she married Javi Marroquin. At the time, Kailyn was a star on the show Teen Mom 2.

The couple separated in late 2016 and have experienced difficulties in their relationship as they’ve both continued their lives.

Kailyn Lowry began dating Elijah Scott, while Javi Marroquin married Lauren Comeau in a small ceremony on Vero Beach, Florida, in April 2025. Lauren shared on Instagram that only Javi’s father, their children, Eli and Maizee, and their pastor were present. They’re planning a larger reception with family and friends this summer. Lauren explained that everyone was supportive, and Javi’s mother had already been there for many of their son’s milestones. They wanted a special, intimate wedding focused on their children and with Lauren’s father walking her down the aisle.

In August 2025, several months after their June beach wedding, the couple announced they were expecting their third child. Javi shared the news on Instagram, calling the baby “the best honeymoon souvenir” and praising his wife as a strong and amazing mother. He expressed how lucky they both are to be growing their family again.

Kailyn and Chris had two sons, Lux and Creed, during their complicated relationship, but they ultimately broke up for good.

She told TopMob News in 2020 that they weren’t speaking at all. While she hoped things would improve eventually, she wasn’t expecting a major reconciliation. She didn’t have any bad feelings and simply wished for the best possible outcome for their children, whatever that might be.

Kailyn felt she’d found a solid and lasting relationship with construction worker Elijah, who is father to her son Rio and twins Verse and Valley. She told People that Elijah is different from her previous partners. He works a physically demanding job, pouring concrete and getting his hands dirty, but he’s also deeply devoted to family – both his own and theirs. Kailyn feels they’re a great match and he’s been a wonderful partner.

A strong enough one that she finally said yes to one of his many proposals, in fact. 

Kailyn told TopMob News in September 2024 that her now-partner, who was originally a neighbor, proposed to her multiple times. She didn’t refuse, but she kept saying she wasn’t ready yet.

Ultimately, though, the timing wasn’t right, Kailyn revealing in July 2025 that they had split. 

She explained on the Give Them Lala podcast that she receives a lot of criticism for ending relationships with her children’s fathers. She clarified that she left those relationships because she refuses to tolerate mistreatment.

Kailyn has known Ike for a long time, going back to high school, but they didn’t become a couple until 2025, after she and Elijah broke up.

She admitted in a January 2026 video for her Patreon subscribers that she hadn’t been looking for a serious relationship, but felt an instant connection after their first time together – both of them knew it was something special.

Kailyn and Ike quickly started living together, a choice she understands might initially seem self-centered to her children.

She explained that when there’s a real connection with someone, it’s undeniable. She also emphasized the importance of her own happiness, stating that she needs to feel fulfilled as an individual before she can be a good mother. And while she’s not looking to men to make her happy—her past relationships actually prove the opposite—she acknowledged that they’ve consistently made her unhappy.

Jade Cline, from Indiana, and Sean Austin have faced challenges since their daughter, Kloie, was born in 2017, but in January 2022, Jade hinted to her fans that things were improving for them.

She shared with TopMob News that they’d experienced significant positive changes in their lives, particularly for Sean and his future. She expressed immense pride in him and their current situation. They announced their engagement eight months later and were married in October 2023.

Jade admitted in 2024 that her relationship isn’t flawless, but she emphasized that she and her partner love each other and are able to overcome challenges together.

Ashley Jones and Bar Smith, who are both from California, got married in a private ceremony in 2021. They had welcomed their daughter, Holly, four years earlier.

But after calling off their romance several times, Ashley officially filed for divorce in 2024. 

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2026-05-06 16:21