A woman has revealed she fell in love with a ragdoll – and has gone on to marry and start a “family” with the toy.

Meirivone Rocha Moraes, 37, from Brazil, met the love of her life after complaining to her mum about being single and having nobody to dance with.

Her mum created Marcelo the ragdoll for her – and it was love at first sight.

The pair entertained a whirlwind romance and after a few months Meirivone found herself “pregnant”.

But not wanting to have a baby out of wedlock, the pair decided to get married in a ceremony which was attended by 250 people.

Having spent their week-long honeymoon at a beach house in Rio de Janeiro, the couple waited anxiously until their offspring arrived.

She “gave birth” in just 35 minutes at home, with a doctor and nurse on site, while livestreaming it to an audience of 200 people.

Despite living happily as a family, Merivone says she is struggling to pay the bills as the only breadwinner.

"It was a wonderful day for me, very important, very emotional," Meirivone told NeedToKnow.online.

"He is a man I always wanted in my life. Married life with him is wonderful.

"He doesn't fight with me, he doesn't argue and he just understands me.

"Marcelo is a great and faithful husband. He is such a man and all women envy him.

"When my mum made Marcelo and first introduced me to him, I fell in love with him. It was love at first sight.

"It was because I didn't have a forró dancer. I would go to these dances but wouldn't always find a partner.

"Then he entered into my life and it all made sense.

"The wedding was a wonderful day for me, very important, very emotional. It rained a lot but it was wonderful.

"From the moment I walked down the aisle to the end, it was just beautiful.

"Then went to the wedding night with my husband Marcelo and we enjoyed our wedding night a lot.

"He has so many great qualities but the only downside is he's lazy. He doesn't work at all.

"But I am a warrior and I keep it going for us."

After gaining one stone and 4lb during pregnancy, Meirivone welcomed her doll-child Marcelinho into the world on 21 May and says the birth was pain free.

She added: "It's true, Marcelo got me pregnant. He didn't take care of himself and he didn't use a condom.

"He got me pregnant. I took the test – it was positive. I couldn't believe it.”

As for the labour, Meirivone had a relatively easy ride.

She said: "I didn't feel the contractions in pain.

"Seeing the placenta and the umbilical cord and the blood made it all real.

"He was here in 35 minutes and he is great.

"It really upsets me when people say this is fake. It makes me so angry.

"I am a woman of character. My father, my mother taught me to be honest, to be a good person and not want to take advantage of anything."

ENDS