The Definitive Ranking of the ‘Teen Mom’ Stars!

Updated: Sep 26, 2014 4:54 pm

By In Touch Weekly

Parenting isn’t easy. It’s especially hard when you’re in your early 20s and have to deal with establishing financial stability and planning your child’s future—in addition to your own.

No one knows this better than the ladies of Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2!

Even though they have a sweet side gig (being a reality star sounds like a pretty great part-time job), these ladies deal with serious hardships—and viewers have been there for the highest highs and the lowest lows.

To show what a ride parenthood truly can be, we decided to create a definitive ranking of the ladies of the Teen Mom franchise—while highlighting their best (and worst) parenting moments.

1 of 9

Farrah Abraham

Age: 23

Kids: Sophia, 5

Worst: This is a toss-up. While we’re tempted to say it was when she waxed her daughter’s eyebrows (though some praised her for making her daughter more comfortable), we’re going to have to go with her sex tape. Or maybe when she implied that her daughter will have her own sex tape—which she’d be totally cool with, by the way!

Best: Um, well, she definitely makes money to make sure her daughter’s life is stable. So, there’s that. That counts for something, right?

2 of 9

Jenelle Evans

Age: 22

Kids: Jace, 5 and Kaiser, 3 months.

Worst: She had a pretty bad heroin habit. So that definitely wasn’t great. Neither were her multiple arrests (for marijuana possession, and disturbing the peace and violating parole and what not). She was also semi-abusive towards her boyfriend, Nathan’s, dogs once…

Best: On the bright side, it looks like she’s getting custody of her older son, Jace, soon! And if her mom, Barbara, thinks she’s worthy of custody, then she has to be doing something right.

3 of 9

Amber Portwood

Age: 24

Kid(s): Leah, 5

Worst: It goes without saying that Amber’s habits when it came to drugs and domestic abuse weren’t great—especially since she constantly hit her baby daddy Gary in front of their daughter.

Best: Strange as it sounds, turning herself in for a 5-year prison sentence was probably the best thing Amber ever did for her daughter—since it helped get her back on the right track.

4 of 9

Leah Messer-Calvert

Age: 22

Kid(s): Ali & Aleeah, 4, and Adalynn, 19 months.

Worst: Fans were shocked to see Leah looking unusually loopy after taking pills that were prescribed to treat her anxiety—while watching and driving her kids.

Best: Any Teen Mom 2 fan can tell you the dedication she puts into fighting for Ali is incomparable. And if that’s not enough, she always goes out of her way to ensure Aleeah that she’s special in her own ways—especially when she’s envious of her sister’s wheelchair.

5 of 9

Kailyn Lowry-Marroquin

Age: 22

Kids: Isaac, 4, and Lincoln, 11 months.

Worst: One controversial moment came when Kailyn allowed her older son, Isaac, to play in the dog’s crate. While fans criticized the decision, she stood her ground and encouraged him to use his imagination. Another controversy arose when she hit her husband Javi.

Best: The best thing Kail ever did for Isaac was make peace with his father, her ex Jo Rivera.

6 of 9

Chelsea Houska

Age: 23

Kids: Aubree, 5.

Worst: The worst thing Chelsea ever did for Aubree was take back her dad, Adam Lind! Luckily, it would appear she’s finally put her bad boy ex behind her—and is very careful about his time with Aubree.

Best: To make her daughter’s life the best it could be, Chelsea went back to school so she can support herself and her daughter. Plus, she dresses Aubree way better than the rest of the Teen Mom kids—sorry guys!

7 of 9

Maci Bookout

Age: 23

Kids: Bentley, 5

Worst: When Bentley was younger, Maci moved him out of state—and far away from his dad, Ryan Edwards, so she could be closer to her boyfriend. Definitely a selfish move for a parent.

Best: It appears that literally everything else Maci does in in the best interest of her child—so kudos!

8 of 9

Catelynn Lowell

Age: 22

Kids: N/A

Best: Catelynn and Tyler — who are expecting a daughter right now — gave their firstborn, Carly, up for adoption when they felt they couldn’t give her the life she deserved. As difficult as it was for them, it was the best thing for their child.