‘My organic mum advised everybody I used to be stillborn after dishonest on her husband’

In a story that sounds like something out of a movie, Alicia Mae Holloway has revealed the shocking truth about her adoption.

Her biological mother, after an affair, told her family and friends that baby Alicia had died at birth. But Alicia was born alive and, unbeknownst to her mum’s loved ones, was adopted by another family.

Alicia’s story has captivated nearly 33M likes on TikTok, where she recently opened up about the incredible details of her life.

“When I found out my biological mum had told everyone I was stillborn, I felt sorry for her,” the 28-year-old from West Virginia said in a TikTok video that has since gone viral.

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“But I was also grateful because, in the end, I was given to an incredible family.”

Alicia’s journey to the truth began years before she was even born. Her biological mother was married to a white man at the time and already had three children with him. When she had an affair with a black man and became pregnant, she kept her pregnancy a secret from nearly everyone, knowing her husband was not the father. Instead of revealing the truth, she continued with her pregnancy as though nothing had changed.

“For nine months, her friends and family thought that she and her husband were going to have their fourth child together,” Alicia explained.

“Everyone was excited for them to have another baby.”

However, when Alicia was born, her mother made a choice that would set a new course for both of their lives. Rather than admit to the affair, she told her loved ones that her child was stillborn. Friends and family mourned with her, sending flowers and cards, as she grieved what they believed was the loss of her child. But the truth was very different: Alicia was alive, and her mum had given her up for adoption.

“The reason she told everyone I was stillborn is because she didn’t want to admit she had cheated on her husband,” Alicia shared.

“She thought that was the best thing to do at the time.”

Growing up, Alicia had no idea about her complex backstory. She was raised by a loving adoptive family, who became her true parents. Her adoptive mum and dad, who had been searching for a child to complete their family, found Alicia in an extraordinary way that adds yet another twist to her story.

Alicia’s adoptive mum, unable to have more children, had been consulting a psychic, which was quite unusual for their devout Christian family. “The psychic told her to go to this random place in Washington, Pennsylvania,” Alicia said.

“So my parents drove there, not really knowing what they were walking into.”

When they arrived at a warehouse, they found themselves in a room with about 50 other people, all sharing personal struggles. A woman – Alicia’s biological mother – stood up and told her story.

“She was saying, ‘I’m white, married to a white guy, and we have three white kids. I had an affair with a black man and I’m pregnant with his baby, but my family is racist. We can’t afford to raise this child.’”

At that moment, Alicia’s future parents looked at each other and knew they were in the right place.

“They were like, ‘There’s our baby,’” Alicia shared. Her adoptive parents took her home, and from that day on, Alicia was part of a family that loved and supported her, giving her a life she cherishes deeply.

It wasn’t until Alicia was almost 18 that she met her biological mum for the first time. During their emotional conversation, her biological mother explained the truth. She had made the decision to tell everyone Alicia was stillborn because she didn’t believe her child would be accepted by her family. As Alicia explains it, “She told me that I wouldn’t have been accepted because I was a product of infidelity and because I was black.”

The revelation was shocking, but Alicia found that she couldn’t be angry. “Honestly, my initial reaction was that I felt sorry for her because she’s the one who has to carry this lie throughout her life,” Alicia admitted. “It breaks my heart for her, because to this day, her friends and family don’t know that I exist.”

Her biological mum’s confession stirred up mixed emotions for Alicia. While part of her felt empathy, another part felt gratitude. Despite the unusual circumstances, Alicia is thankful for the choice her biological mother made. “Thank you for making the incredibly hard decision to give me up for adoption,” Alicia said, expressing her appreciation. “You gave me to the two greatest people to ever walk the planet.”

Alicia also credits her adoptive parents with giving her opportunities she may never have had. “I have the world’s best family, best friends, and the incredible gift of dance,” said Alicia, who is a professional ballerina. She believes her life would have been vastly different if she had grown up in the environment her biological mother described.

Despite the “messed up” nature of her story, Alicia has chosen to look at the positives.

“She thought that that was the best thing to do,” Alicia said of her biological mum’s decision. “Honestly, as humans, I feel like that’s all we’re ever trying to do: the best we can.”

Her story has touched thousands on TikTok, where many followers have commented on her resilience and her ability to find compassion for her biological mum. Alicia’s journey from a concealed pregnancy to a celebrated life as a dancer is one of resilience, compassion, and self-discovery.

In a powerful message to others, Alicia reminds her viewers that every choice shapes who we become. Her biological mum’s decision, as difficult as it was, ultimately led Alicia to a life filled with love, opportunity, and purpose.

“I’m here today because of the choices my biological mum made, and I wouldn’t trade my life for anything,” Alicia said.

Today, Alicia hopes her story encourages others to be open-minded and compassionate, recognising that sometimes people make choices based on fear or pressure.

“It’s easy to judge, but at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to do our best,” she reflected.

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