“I never wanted kids - at 45 I'm childless and thriving - I don't regret my decision and love being a rich auntie"

A woman who decided not to have children in her 20s says she doesn't regret it now she's in her 40s - and enjoys "being a rich auntie".

Dominique Baker, 45, says she's never wanted children and made the decision to be child-free at 29.

She never had children "on her radar" and says her husband was completely on board with it.

Dominique - who worked in the corporate world, before qualifying as an aesthetician - and her partner have been married for 19 years and don't feel they've missed out by not having children.

She said: "I started dating my husband when I was 15, and we married at 26.

"I sensed that he was on the same page as me on wanting to live a childfree life.

"When I was about 29, I mustered the courage and let him know how I felt... thankfully, he agreed!"

Instead of spending their days clearing up after tiny terrors, the pair enjoy their high-flying careers and the freedom they have to travel at the drop of a hat.

Dominique, a skincare and fashion influencer, from Ottawa, Canada, said:

"I never really felt like I had that maternal instinct.

“I feel like there’s been a shift in society in recent years.

“In my 20s people pressured me to have kids.

“People would openly ridicule me.

“When I was in high school and going to university, a lot of my friends still had that old school mentality of thinking their whole goal was to get married and have children.

"Being a rich auntie is truly my destiny, I have no regrets!”

Despite her successful career and happy life, Dominique has come up against a barrage of criticism for her decision not to start a family.

She claims her parents were initially saddened by her decision not to have kids.

Dominique said: “I remember my father saying ‘oh no, my legacy is going to end.'"

While other comments Dominique and her husband - who are a bi-racial couple - heard were even stranger.

“A lot of people would tell me I should have kids as they would be so beautiful as they have white dad and black mum," she said.

But not having children has allowed Dominique to lead a jet-set lifestyle.

“I would not have been able to travel the world like I do if I had kids," she said.

“I go to London at the drop of a hat.

“I’ve recently been to France, New York for fashion week, the Dominican Republic, Miami and Las Vegas for a beauty convention.

“In the past I’ve been to Australia, Peru, and Egypt.

“Later this year I’m going to Monaco.”

While 20 years ago, Dominique would be on the receiving end of unsolicited opinions about why she should have kids, she now says she gets more comments from people envious of her life choices.

“A close girl friend of mine tells me all the time that she wishes we could switch lives," she said.

“She has kids who she loves dearly, but she has had to sacrifice a lot of her independence."

Dominique says they key to her success has been being authentic and working hard.

“Influencers get a bad rap, but many of us are cultured and educated," she said.