Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's adopted daughter, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, entered their lives at the tender age of six months.
Originally named Yemsrach, her adoption process was completed two years later, solidifying her place as the couple's daughter.
In a recent interview, Zahara's biological mother, Mentewab Dawit Lebiso, disclosed the tragic circumstances surrounding Zahara's conception and the reasons that compelled her to give up her daughter for adoption. Mentewab revealed that she had kept silent about the traumatic experience due to societal norms within her community that discouraged victims from speaking out.
Despite the challenges, Mentewab expressed gratitude towards Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for providing Zahara with a new opportunity. She acknowledged that her daughter's adoption by a globally renowned figure was a stroke of luck and wished Zahara the best, acknowledging Angelina Jolie as more of a mother figure in Zahara's life.
Mentewab also shared that her only source of information about Zahara's upbringing was through the media and occasional updates from one of her brothers residing in the United States. Recalling the dire circumstances surrounding Zahara's infancy, she emphasized how her daughter was on the brink of death, malnourished and unable to cry.
Detailing the events leading to Zahara's adoption, Mentewab explained that when her family discovered her pregnancy, she was ostracized and forced to leave her home. Alone and unable to work, their health deteriorated, leading them back to her village seeking assistance. It was there that Mentewab's mother suggested putting Zahara up for adoption, a decision Mentewab would not have chosen if circumstances allowed.
The adoption process garnered controversy when Zahara's maternal grandmother initially claimed the baby was an orphan with HIV. However, in 2017, she recanted this statement, revealing it was a fabrication to conceal the truth about Zahara's origins.
