The daughter of former Emmerdale actress Sammy Winward has revealed she is expecting her first child, but the joyful news is clouded by a painful family estrangement that has lasted for two years.
A Bittersweet Announcement
Mia Winward-Dunn, aged 20, publicly announced her pregnancy on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with The Sun, where she proudly showed her baby bump for the very first time. However, Mia described the occasion as 'bittersweet', as her famous parents remain unaware of her impending motherhood.
The central reason for this silence is a deep rift that opened in the summer of 2024. Mia's mother, Sammy Winward, who is best known for playing Katie Sugden in the long-running ITV soap, cut ties with her daughter over Mia's decision to pursue a career on the adult subscription platform, OnlyFans.
A Family Divide Over Career Choices
The estrangement from both her mother and her father, ex-footballer David Dunn, 46, has been complete. Mia admitted in her interview that she has not yet reached out to her parents to share her pregnancy news. She explained the difficult situation, stating, 'I haven’t reached out to them yet and they don’t really know how to contact me.'
Mia further highlighted the emotional complexity of her predicament, adding, 'I am emotionally vulnerable while I’m pregnant and I really don’t want a big, stressful situation.' This statement underscores the delicate balance between her personal joy and the desire to avoid reigniting a painful family conflict during a sensitive time.
Navigating Pregnancy Without Parental Support
The situation presents a challenging path forward for the expectant mother. While celebrating a new chapter in her life, she is doing so without the support of her immediate family, a consequence of the disagreement over her professional choices. The rift, which began when Mia was just 18, has now extended into a period that many would consider a milestone requiring family closeness.
The story highlights the modern tensions that can arise within families when younger generations embark on careers within the digital economy that older generations may struggle to understand or accept. For now, Mia Winward-Dunn is preparing for motherhood independently, with her parents unaware of their new status as grandparents.
