Amber Portwood was born in Indiana in 1990. From a young age, she aspired to be part of the Hollywood industry and pursued opportunities to work in entertainment. She gained national recognition in 2009 through her appearance on MTV's reality show 16 and Pregnant, which chronicled her teenage pregnancy journey. This led to a primary role in the spinoff series Teen Mom, where she continued to document her challenges as a young mother.
Amber began dating Gary Shirley at age 16. After roughly two and a half years together, the couple discovered Amber was pregnant. She gave birth to their daughter, Leah Leann Shirley, in 2008 at the age of 18. At the time, Amber and Gary were not married. Despite their efforts to co-parent, their relationship was often tumultuous and played out publicly on television, leading to legal and custodial complications later on.
Amber's life has been marked by several legal controversies, which have impacted her public image. In 2010, footage aired of her being physically violent toward Gary Shirley, prompting an investigation by Child Protective Services and local police. Legal analyst Dan Abrams from NBC discussed the potential ramifications she could face under Indiana law. Subsequently, a restraining order was issued prohibiting contact between the two parents due to concerns over their daughter's well-being.
In 2012, Amber was sentenced to five years in prison after violating probation terms related to drug possession charges. Initially offered a rehabilitation program as an alternative, she chose to serve jail time instead. Her decision and resulting incarceration drew significant media attention and raised awareness about addiction and mental health issues.
| Net Worth 2021: | 10 thousand |
