Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star Ryan Edwards has come a long way from his teenage days.
When making his TV debut on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant in 2009, the high school student and his then-girlfriend Maci Bookout were preparing to welcome a child named Bentley.
Cameras continued to roll as the pair became parents, broke up and learned how to coparent successfully.
Now that Bentley is officially a teenager — he turned 16 in 2024 — Edwards (who has been open about his addiction struggles) finds himself in a new chapter of his life. Since 2023, the reality star has been in a healthy relationship with Amanda Conner.
“I think we’ve both come a very long way,” he exclusively shared with Us Weekly in October 2024. “I just think we both want a lot better for each other.”
Keep reading to learn more about how their love story came to be:
Fall 2023
Edwards reportedly met Conner when he was participating in court-ordered rehab for his ongoing drug addiction. In April 2024, Bookout confirmed to Us that her ex was one year sober.
“He’s doing really well,” she gushed. “He’s doing the work.”
May 2024
Edwards’ ex approves! In an exclusive interview with Us, Bookout shared her seal of approval in regards to her ex’s new girlfriend. “We’re definitely friends. She’s really easy to be around,” she said. “You know when you meet people and you can just feel the energy? She’s just got really good energy.”
October 2024
On October 9, Edwards and Conner exclusively confirmed to Us that they are expecting a baby girl in the spring of 2025. “I’m very excited,” Edwards shared. “I actually wanted a girl.”
Conner vowed she wouldn’t be a helicopter mom, but hoped her child wouldn’t go through everything she went through like challenging family dynamics. “I just want her to be very open to the world,” she explained, “but strong minded about certain things.”
November 2024
To celebrate the arrival of their baby girl, Edwards and Conner hosted a baby shower with their extended family. Social media posts showed Bookout was invited to the bash and stopped by with her husband Taylor McKinney.
January 2025
Edwards confirmed he and Conner were engaged via Instagram on January 12 when the reality star shared a video of himself getting down on one knee to propose.
For the special moment, which was seemingly captured by MTV cameras, the reality star invited his eldest son, Bentley, to witness the romantic gesture. (Edwards also shares Jagger, 6, and Stella, 5, with ex-wife Mackenzie Standifer.)
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter returns on MTV Thursday, January 30, at 8 p.m. ET.
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