Michelle Money is one of the most vocal alums of The Bachelor franchise, but the 35-year-old hair stylist has been keeping a secret that shaped her life in a big way. According to Us Weekly , Michelle Money became pregnant at age 15 and gave her child up for adoption. Money shared the surprising revelation in a video for PMD skincare, and she also posted a photo of her newborn son on Instagram.
In the video, which you can see below in its entirety, Michelle reveals that her mom took her to the doctor and was with her when she found out she was pregnant at age 15. Money said she painfully weighed all of her options, ultimately deciding that adoption was the right choice for her.
“You go through all of the options in your head of how to deal with this,” Michelle said in the video. “The decision to place this baby for adoption was not an easy one, but it was the right one.”
Money also described the emotional day she gave birth to her baby boy and then had to hand him over to a social worker.
“It was bittersweet,” Michelle said. “Just the process of labor and the process of delivering and feeling love that I’ve never felt before. It rocked me. When the moment came for me to say goodbye and hand him over to the social worker … it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
After getting pregnant at 15, #TheBachelor ‘s Michelle Money placed her son up for adoption: https://t.co/iXwr2s7bJW pic.twitter.com/P6ng3nVcRg
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) July 28, 2016
The video includes footage of Michelle Money in the hospital shortly after giving birth. Michelle is seen rocking the baby in her arms before she says goodbye to him. Michelle shared her very personal story as part of a motivational message for the skincare brand’s series, called “Empowered by PMD.” Her message is that every woman faces struggles, but that they can still feel empowered and beautiful.
After Michelle Money spoke out about her teen pregnancy and adoption, fans took to social media to praise the reality star for sharing her story. Several fans called Michelle “brave” for speaking out, and others thanked her. Money even received a comment from fellow Bachelor alum Arie Luyendyk Jr., who told her that he “obviously didn’t know this” but that it was ” a very brave thing to do and I applaud you.”
@MoneyMichelle obviously didn’t know this.. was a very brave thing to do and I applaud you. Much love
— Arie Luyendyk Jr. (@ariejr) July 27, 2016
Huge props to . @MoneyMichelle for being a rare”celebrity” breed and sharing her teen pregnancy adoption story. Choose life!
— Brittany Pounders (@LibertyBritt) July 28, 2016
On behalf of birthmothers, THANKS for speaking publicly a/b your adoption decision. We need more brave women like you
— a m w (@ayeemdoubleu) July 27, 2016
Michelle Money competed on Brad Womack’s season of The Bachelor in 2011, as well as the spinoffs Bachelor Pad and Bachelor in Paradise . Money currently appears with on-and-off boyfriend Cody Sattler on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars . Money is also a single mom to an 11-year-old daughter, Brielle, whom she describes as her “strength” and her “light.”
Michelle has been very upfront about how hard it is to date while raising her daughter, but she is blessed to have a close co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband, Ryan Money. In an interview with Good4Utah, Money revealed that she is able to maintain a good relationship with her ex for the sake of their daughter. Michelle said she worked through the awkwardness and hurt of her divorce and that her daughter will never hear her say a bad word about her father. Michelle sits alongside Ryan and his wife, Ashley, for Brielle’s’ soccer games and school events.
Michelle Money has not given any further details on her son, who would now be 20 years old. While she is raising her daughter as a single mom, in a conference call shortly after her first Bachelor stint, Michelle said she would like to have more children someday.
“I want to get married, I want to have more kids,” Michelle said, according to Buddy TV. “I want to be in a committed, healthy relationship with somebody.”
Take a look at the video below to see Michelle Money sharing her teen pregnancy and adoption story.
[Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Leisure Opportunities]