- This baby was born in Ethiopia and was adopted by a famous Hollywood couple.
- A few months after she was born, she was malnourished, dehydrated, and fighting a bacterial infection.
- Today, the baby, a girl, has grown into a beautiful and successful woman, and her father is proud of her.
The girl at a playground in New York City on August 26, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
This famous couple are parents to six kids, three were adopted, and three are their biological children. The couple divorced but still prioritize their kids in their separate lives. The Hollywood pair adopted one of their babies from Ethiopia.
The baby, a girl, was adopted from an orphanage. Her adoptive mother was informed that the girl was an orphan when she adopted her, but it later turned out that her biological mother was alive.
The girl is held by her dad while leaving a toy store on 57th Street in New York City on December 8, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
The biological mother reached out to her adoptive mother via the media when the girl was 12 years old in 2017. She revealed that she got pregnant after she was sexually assaulted. The poverty-stricken biological mother became ill after she gave birth and couldn’t keep the girl, so she gave her up for adoption.
The girl and her dad visit Central Park in New York City on August 28, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
The girl was born on January 8, 2005, and her adoptive mom, Angelina Jolie, adopted her in July 2005. Angelina, who is an actress, said she, her now ex-husband, Brad Pitt, and their kids were happy to have another addition to the family. The actress officially signed papers of adoption and raised her newly adopted baby daughter as her own.
Angelina Jolie and the girl are seen at Saks 5th Ave in New York City on August 12, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Even the girl’s biological mother, Mentewab Dawit Lebiso, admitted that the actress gave her daughter everything she could wish for. However, she noted that she still missed her baby as much as she knew she was being taken care of by a good family. Mentewab’s main wish was that she could have regular contact with her daughter.
The girl, Angelina Jolie, and Maddox Jolie-Pitt visit the Central Park Carousel in New York City on August 25, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
She pleaded with the actress to let her speak to her daughter, be part of her special days such as her birthdays, and for the girl to know her family in Ethiopia. Mentewab hoped that before she dies, she could get a chance to see the girl she gave up as an infant, and if that weren’t possible, then to just hear her voice would be enough.
Brad Pitt and the girl at a playground in New York City on August 26, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
The girl’s biological mom emphasized that she doesn’t want to take her back. It is unknown whether she got her wish or not, as Mentewab hasn’t spoken out again since 2017. Angelina, who was told the girl was orphaned by AIDS when she adopted her, also didn’t comment on the matter.
When Angelina developed her fashion brand, Atelier Jolie, her daughter was highly involved in the process.
Angelina Jolie, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Brad Pitt, and the girl visit The Field Museum in Chicago on August 11, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
The actress was happy that she got to adopt her daughter, especially from a country where six million kids do not go to school each year. She knew that if her daughter stayed in Ethiopia, the orphanage she was in wouldn’t have had any funds to send her to school.
The girl and Maddox Jolie-Pitt visit the Central Park Carousel in New York City on August 25, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Furthermore, just a day after Angelina adopted the girl, she started to worry that something was wrong because her six-month-old daughter was underweight at 9 lbs. due to malnourishment and not drinking enough formula. The actress eventually took the girl to a New York City hospital, where she was diagnosed with a bacterial infection.
The girl at a playground in New York City on August 26, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
The girl’s mother stayed by her side for a week as she was treated for the infection, which, left untreated, would have been life-threatening. The pediatrician and expert in international adoption medicine, Dr. Jane Aronso, who attended to the girl, diagnosed the illness as salmonella infection.
Brad Pitt and the girl visit Central Park in New York City on August 28, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Dr.Aronso treated the girl with fluids for dehydration and antibiotics, and she later left the hospital healthy and happy. “She’s a fighter,” the doctor noted. A friend of the actress also said the mom had so much admiration and respect for her daughter’s strength.
Brad Pitt and the girl visit The Field Museum in Chicago on August 11, 2007. | Source: Getty Images
Angelina was with her daughter for 24 hours when she was sick and was relieved when she got better. She had great faith in the girl from a young age. The actress knew how smart her daughter was and what a great lady she was going to be. Her instinct was right, as her daughter has grown to be a beautiful, successful, and exceptional woman.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt at the “The Breadwinner” premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada on September 10, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt’s Life Today
The girl in this story is Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, whose parents Angelina and Brad love dearly. The two raised Zahara ever since she was six months old. The pair’s other kids are Maddox, 22, Pax, 19, Shiloh, 17, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt at the premiere of “The Eternals” in London, England, on October 27, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
In 2022, Brad announced at the premiere of “Bullet Train” in Los Angeles that Zahara was set to join Spelman College in the fall. “I’m so proud of her,” he said. The dad of five seemed emotional as he added, “Yeah that’s beautiful. Really beautiful.”
Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend Variety’s Power of Women in Beverly Hills, California, on September 30, 2021. | Source: Getty Images
Brad praised his daughter more, saying, “She’s so smart. She’s going to flourish even more at college.” The actor said Zahara will use her time at the esteemed historically Black liberal arts college for women to find her own way and pursue her interests.
Angelina is also proud of her daughter, whom she describes as “grounded, decisive, and thoughtful.” When Angelina developed her fashion brand, Atelier Jolie, her daughter was highly involved in the process.
She helped the actress create designs of her trademark silk slip dress with a broad range of nude shades. Zahara had, on several occasions, found it hard to find a dress the right match for her dark brown skin tone.
Angelina Jolie and Zahara Pitt-Jolie are seen in New York City on January 11, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Zahara started her life in a very challenging way, battling a life-threatening illness, but she managed to overcome it all with the help of her parents. Today, Angelina and Brad are amazed by how great their daughter has turned out to be, and they are more than proud of her.