Time flies. It really does. It feels like just yesterday we were watching a wide-eyed teenager from Anderson, Indiana, navigate the messy world of high school and pregnancy on MTV. But that was 2009. How old is Amber Portwood today? Honestly, the math might surprise you because she’s been on our TV screens for nearly two decades.
As of early 2026, Amber Portwood is 35 years old. She will celebrate her 36th birthday on May 14, 2026.
She isn't that "Teen Mom" anymore. She’s a woman who has lived several lifetimes in the public eye. From the early days of 16 and Pregnant to the intense legal battles and the recent chaos of her personal life, Amber’s age is a marker of how long the Teen Mom franchise has actually lasted. It’s been a wild ride.
The Timeline: From 18 to 35
Amber was born on May 14, 1990. When she first appeared on 16 and Pregnant, she was just 18 years old. She gave birth to her daughter, Leah Leann Shirley, on November 12, 2008.
📖 Related: Kendra Wilkinson Photos: Why Her Latest Career Pivot Changes Everything
Think about that for a second.
Her daughter Leah is now 17 years old.
It’s a bit surreal to realize that Amber’s first child is nearly the same age Amber was when she started her reality TV career. While most people in their mid-30s are settling into careers or starting families, Amber has been doing it all—the good, the bad, and the very ugly—under a literal spotlight since her late teens.
Life at 35: Where is she now?
Currently, Amber is navigating a very complicated chapter. 2025 was a massive year for her, and not necessarily in a "peace and love" kind of way. After the bizarre disappearance and subsequent breakup with her fiancé Gary Wayt in late 2024, Amber has been trying to find her footing again.
👉 See also: What Really Happened With the Brittany Snow Divorce
She’s recently mentioned dating someone new—a guy with a "mountain accent" from North Carolina who apparently has a steady job. After years of high-profile drama with exes like Matt Baier and Andrew Glennon, maybe "steady" is exactly what she needs. But with Amber, you never really know.
Why Everyone Asks "How Old Is Amber Portwood?"
People aren't just curious about a number. They’re curious because her maturity level has been a constant topic of debate. On TikTok Lives and during Teen Mom: The Next Chapter reunions, fans often point out that she seems "stuck."
It’s a common psychological observation in reality TV: stars who get famous very young sometimes stop "growing" emotionally at the age they became famous. Whether you believe that or not, 35 is a significant milestone. It’s the mid-thirties. The "grown-up" years.
✨ Don't miss: Danny DeVito Wife Height: What Most People Get Wrong
Recent Drama and Career Shifts
The big news lately isn't just her age; it's her job status. There have been heavy reports that Amber has officially walked away from the Teen Mom franchise. Some sources say she quit; others hint she wasn't invited back to the most recent reunions.
- The Leah Situation: Her relationship with her daughter Leah remains strained. Leah has expressed interest in being adopted by her stepmother, Kristina Shirley.
- The Andrew Dynamic: Surprisingly, her relationship with Andrew Glennon (the father of her son, James) has reportedly improved. They are allegedly co-parenting better than ever, which is a huge shift from the 2019 machete incident that dominated headlines.
- The TikTok Era: These days, if you want to know what's going on with Amber, you don't go to MTV. You go to her TikTok Lives. That’s where the raw, unedited, and often controversial "real" Amber lives.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Age
We tend to think of reality stars as characters, not people. When we ask how old is Amber Portwood, we're looking at a woman who has spent her entire 20s and half of her 30s being paid to be vulnerable (and sometimes volatile).
She’s dealt with Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder—diagnoses she’s been very open about. At 35, she’s still trying to manage those conditions while the internet watches her every move. It’s not an excuse for some of her past actions, but it’s the context of her life.
Actionable Takeaway: How to Keep Up
If you’re following Amber’s journey, stop relying on the heavily edited MTV episodes. They are usually months, if not a year, behind.
- Check the Source: Follow her actual social media accounts for real-time updates.
- Verify the Gossip: Use sites like The Ashley’s Reality Roundup for the most accurate behind-the-scenes production tea.
- Respect the Boundaries: Remember that while she’s a public figure, she’s also a 35-year-old mother of two trying to navigate a very public mid-life transition.
The reality is that Amber Portwood isn't going anywhere. Whether she's on TV or just on your phone screen via a live stream, her story is far from over. 35 is just the beginning of this next, potentially final, chapter of her reality fame.