Priyanka Chopra Jonas has explained why she and husband Nick decided to use a surrogate, having been criticised for their choice after announcing the birth of their baby last January.
Priyanka, 40, and musician husband Nick Jonas, 30, revealed they had welcomed a baby girl named Malti last year, saying in an Instagram post: “We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcome a baby via surrogate.
“We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family. Thank you so much.”
One year on, Priyanka has opened up about the journey towards motherhood, saying she has to be ‘protective’ about her daughter in the wake of backlash for the approach they took – not least because little Malti was born prematurely at six months and had to spend three months in the NICU.
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In a new interview with British Vogue, she said: "I've developed a tough hide when people talk about me.
"But it's so painful when they talk about my daughter. I'm like, 'Keep her out of it.'"
Priyanka spoke about Malti - now 10 months old - arriving three months premature, recalling how she was ‘smaller’ than her hand.
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The star also said she and Nick - who got married back in 2018 - were stood there watching as their newborn baby was intubated.
"I know what it felt like to hold her little hands when they were trying to find her veins,” she said.
"So no, she's not going to be gossip."
She added: "I've been really protective of this chapter of my life with my daughter. Because it's not about my life only. It's hers too."
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Priyanka explained that the use of a surrogate was medically necessary in her case.
While she did not go into the specifics, she confirmed she had ‘medical complications’, saying: "This was a necessary step, and I'm so grateful I was in a position where I could do this.
“Our surrogate was so generous, kind, lovely and funny, and she took care of this precious gift for us for six months."
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In a message to her critics, Priyanka said defiantly: "You don't know me. You don't know what I've been through.
"And just because I don't want to make my medical history, or my daughter's, public doesn't give you the right to make up whatever the reasons were."
Jess Hardiman