Entertainment

'Teen Mom 2' Stars Then & Now: Fans Won't Believe the Difference!

EntertainmentPublished May 22, 2015
By Suzee Skwiot
featured-img-of-post-186153MTV

When these gals appeared in the sophomore season of MTV's hit show 16 and Pregnant, fans immediately took a liking to Kailyn Lowry, Jenelle Evans, Leah Messer, and Chelsea Houska. The teen moms shocked us with their honest stories and their complicated struggles as high school students who unexpectedly got pregnant. But in the several years they've spent in the spotlight, these young ladies have grown into mature 20-somethings right before our eyes.

Their transformations have been major and played out on center stage in front of all their adoring (and not-so-adoring) fans. Whether they've welcomed more children, pursued their dream careers, gone through difficult breakups and divorces, or even just grown their social media followings to staggering new heights, these four ladies have gone through quite the variety of serious life changes.

More from CafeMom: 15 Biggest 'Teen Mom' Scandals: From 'Whoa!' to Totally Insane

Their road to adulthood certainly hasn't been easy. It seems people are always waiting for the next controversy, to criticize their parenting skills, or to shame them for their life choices. But, through it all, these ladies have defied the odds and held their heads up high as they navigate the highs and lows of life on Teen Mom 2. Take a look at how much Chelsea, Jenelle, Kailyn, and Leah have changed since their first appearances on 16 and Pregnant.

1/10
Then: Chelsea Houska-placeholder
Then: Chelsea Houska
MTV

Then: Chelsea Houska

The South Dakota native was a self-described "Daddy's Girl." The avid softball player and her dad did everything together and seemed to agree on most things ... except on her boyfriend (and baby daddy), Adam. And quickly after giving birth, we saw exactly how unreliable the teen dad really was.

2/10
Now: Chelsea Houska-placeholder
Now: Chelsea Houska
chelseahouska/Instagram

Now: Chelsea Houska

Now, the no-longer-teen-mom has a preschool graduate! She's no longer with daughter Aubree's father (Adam), and has a hunky new man, Cole DeBoer.

3/10
Then: Jenelle Evans-placeholder
Then: Jenelle Evans
MTV

Then: Jenelle Evans

When we first met Jenelle, the Oak Island, North Carolina teen was dating her then-baby daddy Andrew. She fought with her mom, Barbara, about her partying ways, and quickly found out that Andrew was not intersted in being a dad to Jace.

More from CafeMom: 10 Most Scandalous 'Teen Mom' Moments of 2014

4/10
Now: Jenelle Evans-placeholder
Now: Jenelle Evans
j_evans8209/Instagram

Now: Jenelle Evans

Jenelle is now mom to 5-year-old Jace and 10-month-old Kaiser (with ex-boyfriend Nathan Griffith). She's come a long way in her relationship with her mom, Barbara, who she recently praised in a sweet Mother's Day post, and continues to pursue a medical assistant degree.

5/10
Then: Kailyn Lowry-placeholder
Then: Kailyn Lowry
MTV

Then: Kailyn Lowry

The Nazareth, Pennsylvania teen was struggling in her relationship with her mother, and lived at then-boyfriend Jo's house with his family as they parepared for the arrival of their son, Jace.

6/10
Now: Kailyn Lowry-placeholder
Now: Kailyn Lowry
kaillowry/Instagram

Now: Kailyn Lowry

Now, she's a best selling author, and a mom to two little boys, including her younger son, Lincoln, with now-husband Javi Marroquin.

More from CafeMom: Can You Match the 'Teen Mom' Star to Her Tattoo?

7/10
Then: Leah Messer-placeholder
Then: Leah Messer
MTV

Then: Leah Messer

When Leah first appeared on 16 and Pregnant, she was expecting twins with Corey Simms. The two had a one night stand and unexpectedly conceived, but were willing to give their relationship a shot.

8/10
Now: Leah Calvert-placeholder
Now: Leah Calvert
leahdawncalvert/Instagram

Now: Leah Calvert

She's mom to twins Aliannah Hope and Aleeah Grace, and welcomed third daughter Adalynn Faith with second husband Jeremy Calvert.

9/10
Then: Teen Mom 2 Girls-placeholder
Then: Teen Mom 2 Girls
MTV

Then: Teen Mom 2 Girls

Coming off the second season of the smash hit, the ladies came together to film Teen Mom 2, and each faced their own set of struggles. 

More from CafeMom: 15 Craziest 'Teen Mom' Parenting Fails

10/10
Now: Teen Mom 2 Girls-placeholder
Now: Teen Mom 2 Girls
MTV

Now: Teen Mom 2 Girls

Now, they have degrees (or are currently pursuing them), second and third children, best selling books, and are gearing up to film the sixth season of their hit show.

teen mom
Cafemom Logo
This is motherhood #nofilter

AboutTermsContactPrivacyPRIVACY SETTINGSSUBMIT A STORY
© 2024 WILD SKY MEDIA.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA
| FAMILY & PARENTING
CAFEMOMMAMÁSLATINAS
LITTLETHINGSMOM.COM
This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol: BMTM.