There are few things people get judgmental about more than motherhood. And young motherhood? It can bring out even more side-eye glances and shaming comments. But no matter how old you were when you became a mother, you can take some serious inspiration from celebrities who became moms in their 20s.
Despite the comments you may get about being a young mom, having a baby in your 20s isn't rare. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average age of mothers giving birth has increased since 2000, but the number is still in the 20s. In 2000, the average age was 24.9 years old and in 2014, that number increased to 26.3 years old.
But it still doesn't make your young mom status exempt from everyone's criticism and advice. It's been suggested that if you wait longer to have a child, you have a better chance of pursuing an education and thriving in a career before motherhood takes over. Sure, that makes sense, but I firmly believe that any mom, no matter how old she is, is capable of achieving the career and education she wants. In fact, I'm willing to argue that being a young mom means you're even more determined to succeed, especially with little eyes watching you.
These 19 celebrities may have already found success before they became moms in their 20s, but that doesn't stop them from continuing to grow, work hard, and make their dreams come true. Trust me, when you're 24 and folding burp cloths, these ladies can give you the extra dose of inspiration you need.
1Ashlee Simpson
If you ever watched Ashlee Simpson's reality show on MTV, then you probably also wanted to dye your hair black, wear leather cuffs, and play guitar. Her rock-and-roll lifestyle continued in 2008 when Simpson gave birth to her first child, Bronx Mowgli at the age of 24, according to People.
2Hilary Duff
I was a total Lizzie McGuire fanatic, so seeing Hilary Duff as a mom just makes me love her even more. (And have you seen her show Younger? So good.) People noted that Duff was only 24 years old when she gave birth to her son Luca, and she has proven that success can be had by any mom, no matter how young she is.
3Reese Witherspoon
While the topic of success is up, it's time to talk about Reese Witherspoon. People noted that Witherspoon gave birth to her first child when she was only 23. Young? Definitely. But her incredible career that followed is inspiration for any young mom out there.
4Sofia Vergara
Not only was Sofia Vergara young when she became a mother (20 years old, according to People), but it was not very long after she gave birth that she also became a single mom. Talk about some serious inspiration, right?
5Jennifer Hudson
Musical powerhouse Jennifer Hudson has already been an incredible inspiration to the world, but even more so to moms in their 20s as Hudson was only 28 when she had her son, according to The Daily Mail.
6Miranda Kerr
Not only did supermodel Miranda Kerr have a natural delivery, as noted on E! Online, but she also gave birth to her baby boy when she was just 28 years old.
7Brandy
If you didn't sing Brandy songs into your hairbrush in the '90s, then I'm not sure you're real. The singer was always one of my favorites, especially seeing her as a mother to her beautiful daughter. Chron noted that Brandy was 23 when she gave birth, but her age hasn't stopped her from blossoming as a mother and woman.
8Blake Lively
One half of the world's favorite couple, Blake Lively, is more than just a great actress — she's also a mom in her 20s. Us Weekly reported that Lively gave birth to her first child, James, when she was 27, but she will also be a mom of two in her 20s as she's currently due with her second child.
9Ayesha Curry
Chef and wife to NBA MVP Steph Curry, Ayesha Curry has been very open about the passion she has for both her career and raising her daughters. USA Today noted that Curry is currently 27, and already a mom to two beautiful girls. She's showing them just how capable women are of handling both a family and a career.
10Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba was once known for her acting career, but now her name is synonymous with her company, Honest, and its products catered to babies, children, and more. Maybe it's because her first child, Honor, was born when Alba was just 27, according to People. Seems like the perfect way to blend both family and success, right?
11Kate Hudson
I will never stop loving Kate Hudson. Especially when I discovered that Hudson became a mom at 24, according to People.
12Tess Holliday
Supermodel Tess Holliday recently gave birth to her second child, but The Guardian noted that Holiday became a mom when she was only 20, giving birth to her first child, Rilee.
13Victoria Beckham
It seems like Posh Spice has been a mother forever. So it makes sense considering that back in 1999, Beckham gave birth to her first son, Brooklyn, when she was 24, according to The Chicago Tribune.
14Jessie James Decker
Singer Jessie James Decker always keeps it real on her Instagram, but I feel even more of a connection to her as a mother since Decker was only 27 when she gave birth to her second child last year, according to Us Weekly.
15Britney Spears
Hard to believe that Britney Spears is part of this club, right? But Today noted that Spears was just 23 when she gave birth to her first child and 24 years old when she had her second son, according to People.
16Kristin Cavallari
Reminiscing of Laguna Beach? Me too. But the cast is all grown up, even if a lot of them are still in their 20s like Kristin Cavallari. The reality TV star recently gave birth to her third child, making her a mom of three at the age of 28, according to E! Online.
17Kendra Wilkinson
More reality stars becoming moms in their 20s. Us Weekly reported that Kendra Wilkinson was just 28 when she gave birth to her daughter, making her the mother of two children before she even hit 30.
18Ciara
Before she became Mrs. Russell Wilson, Ciara already had a sweet man in her life. The singer gave birth to her little boy, Future, when she was just 28 years old, according to Us Weekly.
19Bryce Dallas Howard
One of my favorites, Bryce Dallas Howard is about as normal as you can get in Hollywood. In a letter on Goop, Howard wrote that she became a mom at 25, and battled postpartum depression.
