How Francesca Farago and Jesse Sullivan’s Path to Parenthood Strengthened Their Bond
Francesca Farago and Jesse Sullivan embrace the arrival of their twins on November 11 without any fears. The couple, a reality star and a TikToker, reflects on how their journey has fortified their relationship.
Their desire to start a family emerged soon after meeting, precisely during their fourth date. TikToker Jesse recalls on a March podcast, "We fell pretty hard pretty fast. While driving, we discussed how we would grow our family. It felt like we were crafting our entire lives at that moment." Remarkably, almost three years later, they began their family journey almost exactly as envisioned.
In line with their early discussions, Francesca and Jesse welcomed fraternal twins after connecting over TikTok’s LGBTQ Trailblazers event in 2021. Jesse proudly shared on Snapchat, "Baby boy was born at 7:31, and baby girl was born at 7:33. They were perfect. So sweet, so cute."
Notwithstanding their plans, their path included challenges. The couple navigated a long-distance relationship, a brief separation, and reconnected post-Francesca's stint on Perfect Match in 2022. Their engagement announcement came in April 2023, along with plans to put wedding preparations on hold to prioritize parenthood. "We envision a grand wedding, but imagine how adorable it would be with a little baby or two in our arms," Francesca explained during February’s People’s Choice Awards. "We hope to first welcome a baby and then have our big wedding."
Jesse, who came out as transgender in 2019, and Francesca delved into in vitro fertilization (IVF), sharing their journey on social media. "We’re eager to begin and document this process, as not many showcase it," Francesca mentioned in a 2023 YouTube video.
Jesse undertook the IVF process first, having his egg retrieval on his 34th birthday in August 2023. "From eight retrieved eggs, five developed into embryos and three survived. We keep those embryos ready in the freezer," Francesca shared on TikTok.
The following month, Francesca initiated her IVF journey, retrieving about 50 eggs. However, due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the number for testing decreased. "We saved 11 eggs for donations and sent out 25 for testing," she explained, revealing that 18 remained viable. Ultimately, only eight embryos emerged as transferable.
They decided Francesca would carry their children. Although the egg transfer was initially set for October 2023, it got postponed due to Francesca experiencing a "bad reaction" to IVF. After their first embryo transfer failed, the couple expressed their sorrow. "We’re mourning that one baby girl embryo we lost," Francesca penned on TikTok, encouraging others going through IVF.
Nonetheless, their journey turned positive with the second embryo transfer in March when Francesca’s joyful announcement came. "AHH IM PREGNANT!" she declared on TikTok, revealing their news on Transgender Day of Visibility. "We wanted to celebrate this with all of you." They were thrilled to share that Arlo would be the coolest older sibling.
In early April, they confirmed they would have twins. "We’re having twins!" Jesse enthused, sharing preparation plans. They engaged their audience by posting updates including Francesca’s baby bump, ultrasounds, and baby name considerations.
Throughout, Jesse supported Francesca, having experienced parenthood as a teen with his child Arlo. Francesca noted, "It’s been a dream to have Jesse understanding all I’m feeling. He’s been the best support system."
Francesca expressed gratitude to her social media community, recalling advice from a follower that urged her to check her cervix due to health concerns. This led to essential consultations on her short cervix, potentially safeguarding her pregnancy.
Despite her fears on TikTok of potential complications, Francesca asserted this period was her happiest.
They joyfully hosted a baby shower in July, sharing they were expecting a son and a daughter.
After their mountain getaway in September and moving into their renovated home in October, they settled in as they awaited the twins. Francesca shared about the birth experience on social media, revealing an emergency C-section.
Though they haven’t shared the twins' names or appearances, Francesca exclaimed, "Initially, I thought the girl would look just like me, and the boy like Jesse and Arlo. It turns out, she resembles Arlo as a baby, while he looks like me, with curly hair."
Now embarking on their new journey, they feel stronger than ever, united by shared experiences. "We’ve faced various challenges — long-distance, reality shows, breakups — and each time, it strengthened us. IVF brought us closer, as did the embryo transfer. Supporting each other during hardships has been transformative," Francesca explained.
