SISTER: Ivy (16 turning 17 july 2023)

SISTER: Avani (14 turning 15 july 2023)

mom: timna (49)

Home Location: Tampa, FL

Ivy and Avani are two very different sisters. Ivy is a glamourous, girlie-girl, little person who was born with Achondroplasia and her “little” sister is Avani, who is an average height, athletic young woman who loves sports and fitness. The two couldn’t be more different than one another. Where Ivy is Type-A, controlling, logical, ambitious, outspoken and assertive, Avani is passive, easy-going and quiet. Not the type to make waves. Ivy is high-maintenance, precocious and mature beyond her years, where Avani is still relishing being an average all-American teenager. Ivy was featured in Master Chef Jr on Fox on Season 7 in 2019 and Avani was featured on American Ninja Warrior Jr in 2020.

Timna is a single mother of two very opposite daughters. Her former husband was in the military oversees so the family lived in Europe growing up. They’re used to moving quite often, from country to country but the three women now call Florida home. The girls still have a relationship with their father, but it’s been the charismatic and outgoing Timna, who has taken on the responsibility of raising the girls.

Although she is a little person Ivy doesn’t see herself as little. She is sassy, popular, extremely involved in school; she’s a boss and a natural leader. She knows what she wants and usually gets it. This is in stark contrast to her shy little sister, who just so happens to be physically bigger than her. The sisters often have a hard time finding common ground, mostly due to their very different personalities and perspectives. Ivy can be a “know-it-all” and often micro-manages and tries to control her little sister, acting as a second mother to Avani which creates conflict in the house. Avani resents her big sister telling her what to do all the time, and would prefer their mother to be the authority figure.

The dynamic with these three women is #complicated. Where Ivy has had to grow up fast, she’s a mature adult-like confidant and friend to Timna, often talking through important family decisions with her mother, and giving sound advice and direction. For example, the biggest family debate has been whether to stay in Florida or move to Los Angeles. The decision was made not to move Ivy to a new high school for her senior year. Ivy has stepped in to be the missing parental figure in the house, however, neither Timna nor Avani has asked her to be. Avani in turn is still young and wants to be nurtured and coddled by her mother. Timna has two be two different people to two very different people. A task easier said than done.

This summer Ivy and Avani are taking their first solo trip to Europe without mom. They are visiting friends and family members throughout Germany and Switzerland for their big birthdays that are taking place in July. Timna is naturally nervous to let her teenage girls travel alone, and is especially nervous that the girls will have some sort of major fight or meltdown.

This coming year will see the Angst family move into a new home in Tampa and ramp up for Ivy’s last year in High School. Timna is selling her home in Apollo Beach, Florida and finding a place closer to Ivy’s school in Tampa.

Ivy is very ambitious and extremely motivated to get into a good college and have the quintessential high school experience. She wants to ace all her tests. Be involved in student government. Maybe have a boyfriend. Go to prom. Ivy expects her mom and her sister to support her in everything that she does along the way, monopolizing their time and attention. Avani has to battle for attention as she is usually second to Ivy which creates conflict and hostility.

Timna is raising these girls on her own, struggling to find balance between being a mom X2 and finding a moment to have a personal life of her own. She would love to date and find love, but finding the time is difficult. These extremely opposites girls who are growing more and more different every day. Add in the fact that they are hormonal teenagers who are still growing into their identities, with a single mom having to make all the decisions on her own, adds tension to an already high-pressure situation.