When a 17-year-old Kailyn Lowry first appeared on MTV’s 16 & Pregnant in 2010, her reality was defined by an absolute lack of a safety net. Facing homelessness, navigating a fractured relationship with her child’s father, and lacking any familial support, she signed up for the show out of what she later described as “pure desperation.” She needed a way to provide for her newborn son, Isaac, and a path to college.

Fast forward to today: Kailyn is no longer just a face from a reality TV franchise. At 34, she has successfully pivoted away from the MTV cameras to build a booming multimedia network, all while managing one of the most famously large and complex modern families in the public eye.

Kailyn tells off producers

@pookey_bear5 we love a confident queen 👸🏼 #teenmom #kail #larrythelobster #funnymoments #babymamanodramapodcast ♬ 365 – Charli xcx