In a story that blurs the lines between creativity and concern, Cristian Montenegro, a 27-year-old from Bogotá, Colombia, has become the center of a peculiar narrative. After facing numerous romantic disappointments, Montenegro made a decision that has since captivated and disturbed the online community: he created his own family, comprised entirely of rag dolls.
Montenegro’s unconventional family consists of four dolls, the largest of which resembles a woman and has been named Natalia Ortiz. According to Montenegro, he shares three children with this doll. This narrative began to unfold on social media in 2022 when Montenegro started posting photos with the rag doll, artificially inserting them into his life through edited images that included real people. This move was soon followed by the introduction of two smaller dolls, referred to as his children, Adolfo Daniel and Leidy María, purportedly with Ortiz.
The Bogotá resident has continued to document his life with these dolls, sharing their outings to parks and rides on the TransMilenio, Bogotá’s bus rapid transit system. This has led many online to speculate about the nature of Montenegro’s actions, with some suggesting it’s a creative, albeit bizarre, way to garner attention. However, Montenegro refutes these claims, attributing his behavior to the anguish of failed relationships.
In an interview, Montenegro revealed the depth of his emotional strife, noting that his initiative to start a rag doll family came after his last girlfriend broke up with him over his proposal to have a rag doll child, a proposition that even led to a baby shower for the inanimate object. “Living alone and unable to find anyone in my life, I decided to invent and create my family so we could all be together and accompany me into adulthood,” Montenegro explained, highlighting a profound sense of loneliness and desire for companionship.
In a surprising turn of events, Montenegro claimed to have burned the rag dolls after entering a real relationship with a woman he met online from Mexico. However, the relationship faltered, leading him back to his fabric family. He has since announced the arrival of a ‘third child’ with his doll partner, a new rag doll named ‘Sammy’. This revelation has reignited concerns about Montenegro’s well-being, as he continues to treat the dolls as living members of his family, even simulating a pregnancy with additional fabric stuffed under the doll’s dress.
Montenegro’s actions have made him a trending topic on social media, with many voicing concerns about his mental health and suggesting the need for psychiatric evaluation. Others worry about the potential societal implications of his behavior. Complicating matters further, Montenegro has been seen with injuries, claiming his life has become a living hell.
This story raises questions about the intersection of social media, mental health, and the human need for connection and belonging. While some view Montenegro’s actions as a harmless, if eccentric, way to cope with loneliness, others see a disturbing tale that underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues in the digital age.
