Jewelry line supports Ugandan children

Country star Thomas Rhett’s wife has launched a jewelry line to give back to her adopted daughter’s native Uganda.

Lauren Akins became a first-time mother last year, when she and the singer adopted little Willa Gray from the East African nation, and she’s so grateful for the help she received from officials there, she has created the Lauren Akins X Ladybird line with designer pal Emily Dee to raise funds for Love One International’s charitable efforts in Uganda.

The 28-year-old philanthropist’s necklaces feature three charms and come in white, rose, yellow gold and sterling silver, and range in price from US$99-US$750.

“I wanted to design something well made,” Akins told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m really bad about taking my jewelry off, so it’s got to be something that can get wet. It’s got to be something that can withstand two toddlers all day.”

Akins has a big connection to the Love One International charity, which aids impoverished families in Uganda — she’s a board member.

“It’s so hard when you look at the world as a whole and kids in the world, you want to help them all,” Akins says. “You wish everybody was happy, you wish nobody had a rough life or had to grow up without something.”

Since adopting Willa Gray from Uganda, Rhett and Akins have also become biological parents — their daughter Ada James was born last August.