In a story that has gripped both fans of British television and followers of celebrity family drama, Mia Winward—the 20-year-old daughter of Emmerdale actress Sammy Winward and former Premier League footballer David Dunn—has revealed she is pregnant with her first child. Yet, in a twist that has added a bittersweet note to her announcement, Mia has not told her parents about the pregnancy, the result of a family rift that has persisted for nearly two years.
Mia’s journey to motherhood, as reported by The Sun, is unfolding against a backdrop of estrangement and emotional vulnerability. The young model, who now lives in the picturesque Lake District with her boyfriend of one year (whose identity she has kept private), made her pregnancy public in January 2026. But she has purposefully kept the news from her parents. "I haven’t reached out to them yet and they don’t really know how to contact me. I am emotionally vulnerable while I’m pregnant and I really don’t want a big, stressful situation," Mia explained to The Sun—a sentiment echoed in multiple outlets including The Mirror and Daily Star.
The fracture in the Winward family began in 2024, when Mia joined OnlyFans, the subscription-based content platform that has become both lucrative and controversial for many young creators. According to Daily Star, Mia’s parents—particularly her mother, Sammy, best known for her role as Katie Sugden on ITV’s Emmerdale from 2001 to 2015—were deeply disapproving of the move. The fallout was swift and severe: "She said some pretty mean things when we did last speak, it was awful. But I absolutely love my mum, I love all of my family but none of them speak to me now," Mia told The Sun in August 2024.
The estrangement extended to her father, David Dunn, a former Blackburn Rovers player, who reportedly called his daughter a derogatory name after learning about her OnlyFans involvement. Mia has since described her parents’ reaction as not just hurtful, but also bewildering. "I think she’s got some animosity towards me. I think she is maybe just jealous about me doing so well and so quickly. I think that’s what my parents’ issue is really. They think I’ve done it off their backs, but actually, behind the scenes, it takes a lot more work than just being their daughter," Mia reflected in her interview with The Sun.
Despite the family’s disapproval, Mia’s time on OnlyFans was, by her own account, both empowering and financially rewarding. She described earning as much as £100,000 a month and said, "I feel so empowered on OnlyFans. I am my own boss and I’m confident in myself and what I’m doing." The experience, she added, allowed her to travel the world for shoots with "amazing people" and brought her a level of independence she had never known before. "It was the best year or two of my life," she told The Sun and Daily Star.
Yet, the moment Mia discovered she was pregnant, her priorities shifted. She immediately ended her OnlyFans career, embracing what she described as a "quieter lifestyle" in the countryside. The move to the Lake District with her partner marked a new chapter—one focused on preparing for motherhood and, perhaps, healing old wounds. "Now that I have my own baby inside me, I just couldn’t imagine not speaking to my child," Mia said, revealing how her pregnancy has given her a new perspective on her parents’ decision to cut ties.
Still, the road to reconciliation appears far from straightforward. Mia admits that the process of forgiveness hasn’t even begun. "We’ve got a lot to work on. There’s a lot to forgive and that process hasn’t even started yet," she confessed, while also expressing hope for the future. Shopping for baby clothes with her mum, she mused, "would be a lovely thing to do." She believes Sammy would be "an amazing grandma" and wants her family to be a part of her child’s life, even as she acknowledges the emotional obstacles that remain.
The emotional toll of the family feud has been considerable. Mia alleges that her attempts to reconnect have often been met with hostility. "I feel like at this point it is going to have to be them coming to me because I’ve tried to maintain contact in the past and they just don’t have any of it and then I end up getting all the abuse like through the phone, through text messages, calls," she told Daily Star. Despite this, Mia has managed to stay in touch with one family member, though she has kept their identity secret.
As she navigates pregnancy and the challenges of estrangement, Mia has also reflected on the broader implications of her choices. She suspects her family’s reaction may stem from a mix of jealousy and protectiveness. "I think my family are being protective over me," she acknowledged to Daily Star, adding that she did not regret her OnlyFans career and was proud of what she had accomplished independently.
Public reaction to Mia’s story has been mixed, with some expressing sympathy for her situation and others questioning the decisions that led to the rift. The narrative has also sparked broader conversations about generational divides, the stigma surrounding adult content platforms, and the pressures faced by young women in the public eye. In the age of social media, where family disputes can quickly become public fodder, Mia’s openness about her struggles has resonated with many who have experienced similar conflicts.
For now, Mia is focused on her pregnancy and the impending arrival of her child, due around Easter 2026. She remains hopeful that, in time, forgiveness and understanding will pave the way for a renewed relationship with her parents. "I want to make sure that I’m completely and utterly ready," she said, signaling her intent to approach any reconciliation with care and self-awareness.
As the Winward family drama continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the bonds of family, however strained, are rarely broken beyond repair. With a new life on the way and the possibility of reconciliation on the horizon, Mia’s story is a poignant reminder of both the fragility and resilience of family ties.
