Inside Lena Dunham, Kim Kardashian & More Celebrity Surrogacy Journeys
The Girls creator announced in a new essay for Vogue that she and husband Luis Felber have welcomed a daughter via surrogate.
While Dunham always knew she wanted to be a mom, her plans for starting a family evolved after her ongoing battle with endometriosis led her to undergo a hysterectomy at the age of 31.
“In the moment, my pain was so overriding I put those other thoughts aside and it was only in the aftermath of the surgery that I started to feel the weight of what had happened,” the actress, now 40, told Today in April. "Some people don’t dream about being mothers, but I had and it was a big part of my identity was that I was going to do that someday and in this way."
But "the amazing thing is, since then, I have met so many people who have built their families in so many different ways,” she continued. “I’ve really come to a place where I feel really excited. In whatever way it happens, I will feel so grateful.”
It’s a sentiment Kim Kardashian shared when she and then-husband Kanye “Ye” West welcomed daughter Chicago West, 8, and son Psalm West, 7, with the help of a surrogate after she endured difficult pregnancies and delivering to bring eldest children North West, 13, and Saint West, 10, into the world.
"Honestly, when it’s done, I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made," she added. “I think it was such an amazing experience. I would recommend it for anyone. I am the biggest fan of surrogacy.”
TheStewartofNY/Getty Images/Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
However, everyone’s journey with surrogacy is different. And Olivia Munn admitted she initially had some concerns about not being able to carry her and now-husband John Mulaney’s 2-year-old daughter Méi. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 less than two years after they welcomed 4-year-old son Malcolm, the actress suffered side effects from her hormone-suppressing medication that ultimately led her to have her ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes removed.
“I think the most surprising part about the surrogacy journey was that the sadness I felt from not being able to carry my daughter really dissipated once all of my hopes and dreams were placed into this other woman and I knew that she was really kind and cared so much," The Newsroom alum told Self in 2025, "I just sat in my gratitude instead of living in any fear or sadness or concern."
To see what more stars have shared about their surrogacy journeys, read on.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Luigi & Iango
Naomi Campbell
The supermodel confirmed in June 2024 that she welcomed both her daugther in 2021 and her son in 2023 via surrogate.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Michelle Williams
The Emmy winner confirmed via shout-out that she and husband Thomas Kail had welcomed their third child together and Michelle's fourth overall.
"I've got to give a big shout-out to Christine," she said during an Aug. 18, 2025, appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. "Because this last baby did not come through my body, but the miracle of our little girl is thanks to Christine."
John Legend & Chrissy Teigen
The couple welcomed baby boy Wren Alexander Stephens in June 2023 after Chrissy gave birth to older children Luna, Miles and Esti.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Casey Wilson & David Caspe
The Happy Endings duo welcomed their third child—a baby girl named Frances Rose—with help from an "angel" surrogate, Casey shared in January 2023. "A large factor of surrogacy was my postpartum depression that I had through both kids," she said. "It's actually a very strong choice to make when you're parenting other kids, and for myself."
Nick Jonas & Priyanka Chopra
"We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate," the singer and actress shared in January 2022. E! News later confirmed they named her Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.
Instagram/Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian & Tristan Thompson
In July 2022, The Kardashians star welcomed a baby boy, Tatum Thompson, via surrogate with the NBA player, though the pair split soon after their son was conceived.
Rebel Wilson
The Pitch Perfect star welcomed a daughter named Royce Lillian in November 2022, writing at the time, "I can't even describe the love I have for her, she's a beautiful miracle!"
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Paris Hilton & Carter Reum
The couple welcomed both their son Phoenix, who was born in January 2023, as well as their daughter London, who arrived that November, via surrogate.
Alec & Hilaria Baldwin
In March 2021, the actor and his wife announced the arrival of baby no. 6, a daughter named Lucia. A source close to the couple confirmed to E! News she was born via surrogate.
Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Kristen Wiig & Avi Rothman
The Bridesmaids star and her husband welcomed twins via surrogate in 2020.
Kandi Burruss
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star welcomed daughter Blaze Tucker via surrogate in Nov. 2019.
Kim Kardashian & Kanye West
Following two high-risk pregnancies, The Kardashians star and the rapper, who have since divorced, enlisted the help of a gestational carrier to welcome daughter Chicago West in January 2018 and and a baby boy, Psalm West, in May 2019.
Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/REX/Shutterstock
Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade
The Bring It On star and the retired NBA player welcomed a healthy baby girl, Kaavia, via surrogate on Nov. 7, 2018. "Our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts as the most loveliest of all the lovely days," the actress shared.
Instagram / Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen
The Watch What Happens Live host became a first-time dad with the arrival of his son, Benjamin Allen in February 2019. "I'm in love," he wrote on Instagram, adding, "And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And I'm a dad. Wow." Three years later, daughter Lucy joined their family.
Tyra Banks
The supermodel and Erik Asla welcomed their first child, York Banks Asla, via a surrogate in 2016.
Neil Patrick Harris
The actor and husband David Burtka welcomed their twins Gideon and Harper via a surrogate in 2010.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images For CMT
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban
The Oscar winner and the country music singer, who've since divorced, welcomed daughter Faith in December 2010 via a surrogate. She joined the pair's first child together, daughter Sunday Rose, and Kidman's eldest children with ex Tom Cruise, Connor and Isabella.
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Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick
The Sex and the City star and the Ferris Bueller's Day Off alum welcomed twins Tabitha and Loretta in 2009. They joined big brother James.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF
Elton John
The legendary British singer and hubby David Furnish welcomed sons Zachary and Elijah via surrogate in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
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Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show host and wife Nancy Juvonen welcomed two daughters, Winnie and Frances, via a surrogate in 2013 and 2014.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Elizabeth Banks
The Pitch Perfect star and husband Max Handelman welcomed two sons, Felix and Magnus, via a surrogate in 2011 and 2012.
Lucy Liu
In 2015, the notoriously private Charlie's Angel actress announced the birth of her son, Rockwell Lloyd Liu, via surrogate.
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Ricky Martin
The Latin performer became a father to twins Matteo and Valentino in 2008.
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Jordana Brewster
The Fast & Furious star and then-husband Andrew Form welcomed two sons, Julian and Rowan, via a surrogate in 2013 and 2016.
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Ellen Pompeo
The Grey's Anatomy star and husband Chris Ivery revealed in 2014 that they'd welcomed daughter Sienna via surrogate. The actress gave birth to their first child, daughter Stella, in 2009, and the couple welcomed a third child, son Eli, in 2016.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Family Equality Council
Ryan Murphy
The Glee creator and husband David Miller welcomed sons, Logan and Ford via a surrogate in 2012 and 2014, and son Griffin joined their family in 2020.
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
George Lucas
The Star Wars creator and wife Mellody Hobson welcomed their first child, daughter Everest, via a surrogate in 2013.
Shayne Lamas
In 2015, a year after suffering a miscarriage, The Bachelor star and Lorenzo Lamas' daughter Shayne Lamas and husband Nik Richie welcomed their second child, son Lyon, via a surrogate —the reality star's stepmother, Shawna Craig. The child joined big sister Press Dahl.
Amy Smart
After battling fertility struggles for years, the actress and husband Carter Oosterhouse welcomed daughter Flora via surrogate in December 2016.
Katey Sagal
The Married...With Children star and husband Kurt Sutter welcomed daughter Esme Louise in 2007 via a surrogate.
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