Millions of people struggle with infertility, and celebrities are no exception. Each one of these celebrities has had trouble conceiving naturally and looked at surrogacy.
Deciding to go the surrogacy route is not an easy choice and certainly not for everybody. However, having celebs talk about their struggles to have children and proudly sharing their surrogacy stories is quickly helping make surrogacy more visible and widely accepted both for straight and gay parents.
Singers: Surrogacy Sagas in the Music Domain
Elton John
The legendary singer Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, have two children, Zachary and Elijah, who were born through surrogacy. Elton John and David initially considered adoption but decided to build their family through surrogacy. Their story has been widely covered and has contributed to raising awareness and acceptance of surrogacy in the public eye.
Ricky Martin
In August 2008, the renowned Latin-American singer Ricky Martin became a father for the first time through gestational surrogacy. He welcomed twin baby boys Matteo and Valentino into his family.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West
While Kim Kardashian West is mainly known for her reality television career, her husband, Kanye West, is a prominent musician and producer. The couple opted for surrogacy to expand their family after Kim’s health complications during previous pregnancies.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
Since getting married in 2018, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have marvelled the world by sticking together during difficult times amidst busy personal schedules and growing popularity in the entertainment scene. The couple surprised the world in January 2022 when they took to Instagram to confirm the news that they welcomed a baby via surrogacy. They requested privacy during this special time as they sought to focus on their family.Â
Actors and Actresses: Exploring Surrogacy Narratives
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka
Actors Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka opted for egg donation and surrogacy to welcome their twins. They have shared their joy and the ups and downs of parenthood on Instagram, normalizing the path they’ve chosen.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
Actress Nicole Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, have two children together, one through surrogacy. Their surrogacy journey has been part of their story as a family.
Amber Heard
Renowned film actress Amber Heard took to Twitter and Instagram to announce the birth of her daughter birthed through surrogacy. Speaking to her millions of followers on social media, Heard revealed that some years ago she decided to have a child on her terms. She emphasized that she hoped society arrives at a point where it is considered normal to not have to get married to have a child. Heard named her daughter Oonagh Paige Heard, in honor of her late mother and commented that the child was the beginning of the rest of her life.
Robert De Niro
Actor Robert De Niro had three kids through surrogacy, normalizing surrogacy as a valid means of family expansion.
George Lucas
Director and producer George Lucas welcomed his daughter through a gestational surrogate in 2013, contributing to the acceptance of surrogacy as a means of family building in the entertainment industry.
Angela Bassett, Dennis Quaid, and Sarah Jessica Parker
These actors have been among the early celebrities to discuss their surrogacy journeys openly. Angela Bassett became a mother in 2006, while Dennis Quaid and his wife welcomed twins via surrogate in 2007. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick had twins born via surrogacy in 2009, breaking down barriers and increasing awareness of surrogacy as a valid path to parenthood.
Athletes: Surrogacy Stories in the World of Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo
Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo had three kids with the help of a surrogate mother, emphasizing that surrogacy allowed him to expand his family, even in the world of sports.
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union
NBA player Dwyane Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, had a daughter through surrogacy in 2018. Their journey serves as an example of how surrogacy can be a wonderful blessing for families.
Tyson and Rachel Gay
American sprinter Tyson Gay and his wife Rachel opted for surrogacy to have their daughter, Trinity Gay, in 2004. Trinity followed in her father’s footsteps and became a track and field athlete.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
In 2017, tennis superstar Serena Williams and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian embraced surrogacy to welcome their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.” Serena has been open about her struggles with pregnancy complications and her decision to use a surrogate.
Talk Show Hosts: TV Hosts Sharing Parenthood Journeys
Andy Cohen
Bravo’s TV host Andy Cohen and blogger Perez Hilton, both single fathers, have embraced surrogacy to become parents. Andy Cohen welcomed his first child, Benjamin Allen Cohen, in February 2019 via surrogate. Recently, in April 2022, he announced the birth of his second child, Lucy Eve Cohen, born through surrogacy. Cohen’s journey to fatherhood is a testament to the enduring power of dreams and determination.
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Shaun T
Celebrity fitness expert Shaun T and his husband became fathers via a surrogate mom. They expressed deep gratitude to the surrogate who helped make their dreams come true.
Adrienne Bailon and Israel Houghton
Adrienne Bailon, a former co-host of “The Real” talk show, and her husband, Israel Houghton, embarked on a surrogacy journey that culminated in the birth of their newborn son. Their path to parenthood was filled with challenges, and they expressed gratitude for their “angel surrogate.”
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy FallonTV host Jimmy Fallon and his wife have two girls via a surrogate mom, showcasing that surrogacy can be a beautiful path to parenthood and expanding their family.
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Giuliana Rancic and Husband
TV host Giuliana Rancic and her husband welcomed a son in 2012 via a surrogate after struggling with infertility, miscarriages, and breast cancer. Their journey highlights the resilience and love that surrogacy can bring to families.
Fashion Icons: Models Redefining Motherhood through Surrogacy
Karolina Kurkova
The Czech model and former Victoria’s Secret Angel had her second child, Noah Lee Drury Kurka, through surrogacy in 2015, contributing to the acceptance of surrogacy in the fashion and modelling industry.
Rosanna Davison
Former Miss World Rosanna Davison welcomed her daughter Sophia through surrogacy in 2019. She described the birth of her child as emotional, historic, and hugely exciting for her family. Davison commented that she had dreamt of having a baby traditionally and that experiencing some failure prompted her to opt for the surrogacy route. The top model added that the choice to do surrogacy was not arrived at lightly and she braced herself to deal with the legal challenges as they occurred along the way. 
Celebrity Surrogacy: Renewed Visibility and Acceptance
Happily, the list of straight and gay celebrities who have decided to open up and share details about their surrogacy process is getting longer and longer every day.Â
We are thankful to these brave celebrities who not only shared the glamorous part of having a baby but also gave regular people insight into the pain and hardships of infertility, illness, and the complex journey that is surrogacy and helped normalize surrogacy as a valid process to complete your family.