sMothered star Brittani is bravely discussing her lifelong body struggles caused by a rare genetic condition. Brittani and her mother, Mary Cooper, took a break from the series for a few seasons but returned for Season 5, facing numerous challenges along the way. Now, Brittani is opening up about a deeply personal issue that has haunted her for years. Here are the details.
sMothered Star Brittani Reveals Struggles Stemming from ‘Missing Gene’
Brittani and her mother, Mary, gained attention during Season 2 of sMothered for their unconventional behaviors, such as showering together, which was attributed to Brittani’s anxiety. They also ventured into controversial territory by getting colonics as a team. While Mary had a partner named Frank Canuto, who was well-liked by fans, Brittani did not approve of him. Later on, Brittani came out as bisexual, leading some viewers to speculate that it was a deliberate attempt to provoke a reaction from Frank. Eventually, they left the show and did not return until the current season.
In the latest season, they no longer bathe together, although Mary is present in the bathroom while Brittani showers behind a see-through curtain. Brittani now has a boyfriend whom Mary is not particularly fond of. Tragically, Frank passed away shortly after marrying Mary, which has been a difficult adjustment for the family. Additionally, Brittani has recently opened up about her body insecurities, including her flat buttocks. Mary believes that these insecurities are being perpetuated by Brittani’s boyfriend, but there is a deeper underlying issue. It turns out that Brittani was born with a condition that has affected her physical development beyond her years.
The condition that the sMothered star has is called congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Initially, Brittani participated in beauty pageants, but her dreams were shattered due to this condition. Mary explained the situation in detail, saying:
“I wanted to keep Brittani in pageants for as long as she wanted to be in pageants. Eventually, it stopped, only because of her health issues. I was in the bathroom getting her ready for her shower and noticed she was getting hair all over her body. Under her chin, arms, pubic hair, her breasts were developing. I was astonished.”
Further elaborating, Mary revealed, “It’s a missing gene.” This genetic condition affects approximately 1 in 15,000 individuals and causes puberty to begin around the age of four or five. Brittani shared her traumatic experience of developing physically at such a young age and how it affected her, especially in the face of cruelty from others. She expressed:
“I went through so much change in so little time. My bone size progressed when I was five, and I had the body size of an 11-year-old. It was pretty scary because I didn’t know what was happening. I felt like, ‘Why me?’ I just wished that I was born more normal. I would be made fun of because I always stood out.”
These revelations have led some viewers to speculate that Brittani may have autism or a related condition. Now, she has shed light on the early trauma she endured, offering a clearer understanding of why she relies heavily on her mother, who was likely the only consistent source of support during her challenging experiences.