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Alongside the raw and honest caption is an image of a teenager in a pink boob tube – her hand resting on her burgeoning stomach, her belly button threatening to pop.

Despite looking like a completely different person, the teenager is Alex. The photo, taken some seven years ago, captures the “challenging” feelings she grappled while pregnant with her little boy Elijah.

A photo posted by Alex Nation (@alexandranation) on

Dec 1, 2016 at 4:18am PST

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Speaking to the Daily Mail yesterday, the former Bachelor contestant explained that judgement of her becoming a young mum came from all corners.

“I had women go up to my mum when we were in the supermarket, and they would be like, ‘Oh that is a real shame’,” she tells the publication.

“And my mum would be like, ‘No she is fine’.”

See the best of Alex Nation’s Instagram. (Post continues after gallery…)

One of my new favourite things is hearing about all the things you've learnt when you come home from school! I wonder what you'll tell me this afternoon?

Like mother like son // this mornings feels ???? #friyay #motherandson #stillsleepy #backtobed #nart #morningfeels

Today you grew up that little bit more and I couldn't be more proud. #firstdayofschool #prep #preppy #mylittleboyisgrowingup #mtelizaprimary #proudmum #proudmoment #howmanytears

My heart is so full ❣ #elijah #elijahgeoffrey #motherandson #mybestfriend #littledude #legend #iloveyou #thisstud #handsomeboy

My heart is so full ∞ #thislegend #littledude #littlemonster #monkey #lijey #LG #mymainman #motherandson

I'll follow you to the end of the earth little dude ????????

Little dude landed us safe and sound on the @goldcoast ???? Fortunately, at the age of 4 he knows how to chat up the air hostesses to get himself into the cockpit! Cheers

Cheeky skate with my little mate ❤️ #dismoment #this #somuchfun #fridayfun #friyay #mothersondate #littleman #adventuresofalexandelijah

Thank you for being the biggest legend I know ❤️❤️ #littleledge #numberone #mylittlemate #littlestud #thiskid #myworld #littlehero #elijahgeoffrey #lijey

The struggles of a stormtrooper are real ????

People also doubted her ability to make something of herself with a child entering her orbit at such a young age.

“I found that people who I would catch up with every now and then were saying, ‘She is throwing her life away, she won’t amount to anything’.”

The state of the reality star’s relationship with her ex-husband has been widely speculated since she was thrust into the public eye, but Alex says there is no animosity between them, adding that they “co-parent beautifully together”.