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How Octomom Nadya Suleman & Her 14 Kids Are Taking Their Lives Back
Natalie Suleman is sharing her story.
The so-called Octomom is looking back at the media frenzy that surrounded her when she made history by becoming the first person to give birth to octuplets who lived in 2009—earning her the famed moniker—with a new biopic I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story, premiering March 8.
Before the trailer for her upcoming Lifetime biopic premiered on Good Morning America Feb. 12, the 49-year-old reintroduced herself to the morning show's viewers.
"Remember me? I'm Natalie Suleman," she said in a clip that aired ahead of the teaser. "At one point, I was one of the most hated people in America. I was Octomom."
The mother of 14—who will also appear in the six-part docuseries Confessions of Octomom premiering on the same network two days later—is also sharing insight into her family's decision to reenter the spotlight.
"I've been saying, I want to keep them safe and protect my kids, and well, they're older now," she told People of her octuplets—who turned 16 Jan. 16—in an interview published Feb. 12. "They're turning 16 and making the decision to really do this."
The OctoMom: Me & My 14 Kids star recalled that she "wanted only one more" child when she chose to go through IVF again but ended up "becoming a single mom of 14."
"The main reasons for me in sharing my true story, my perspective is to help people," Suleman explained, "to help women in particular who are struggling with one child or none, to maybe inspire them to pull out the strengths inside that they didn't know they had to progress forward, to keep progressing in their life."
Gilbert Carrasquillo/WireImage
A couple weeks earlier, one of Suleman's octuplets spoke out in support of her mom during a rare interview.
"My mom had to sacrifice," Nariyah Suleman told People in January, "sacrifice her life, her friends, herself and her dignity, just so that she can take care of us."
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
The 16-year-old added, "If any opportunity came that she'd finally be able to tell the truth, of course, I'd want to help my mom as much as I can because she helped us so many years."
She also shared her thoughts on how her mother—who was a tabloid fixture and paparazzi favorite in the late aughts—was put through the ringer as she hustled as a single mom.
"It's very unfair how she was just terrorized and hated for just being a mother," Nariyah explained. "There [are] some kids who would judge and ask inappropriate questions about our mom and show us pictures and stuff."
Keep reading for more on Octomom and her family.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Back to the Beginning
Throwing it back to when her octuplets where newborns and her six older children were able to sit still for approximately eight seconds.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Uniform Cuteness
Gap ad in the heyday of khakis or a flashback to Christmas 2012?
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
We've Got Each Other
Mom marked twins Caleb and Calyssa's 16th birthday in 2023 with this adorable throwback pic.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Santa's Helpers
Getting eight children to line up and smile for a pic sounds like a Christmas miracle to us.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Fur Baby Bonding
The Sulemans are a cat family, so Maliyah took the opportunity to do some dog-sitting.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Man of the House
Nadya snuck a rare recent pic of eldest son Elijah onto her feed in honor of his 21st birthday in 2022.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
It's a Zoo in Here!
Sometimes having a large family can really feel like running a zoo, as Nadya reminded us in wishing Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Josiah and Makai a happy 12th birthday.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Look What I Made
Showing off a cat and crafts on the couch.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Young Queen
Nadya's eldest daughter Amerah got her 21st birthday picture all to herself.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Compliments to the Chefs
Jonah, Nariyah, Noah and Jeremiah were in charge of the family's vegan feast on Native American Heritage Day in 2023.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Girls Night Out
Mom took Amerah and Calyssa out for ramen (vegan, of course) in August 2023.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
When the Cats Are Bigger Than the Kids...
The family loves their fur babies too.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Looking Snazzy
Eight was enough for this family photo in March 2022.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Cobra Kai Forever
Joshua, sporting the temporary face tat, and big brother Eli were about to take flight in this throwback pic their mom shared.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Twinning!
Maliyah and Nariyah were a coordinated sister act.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Brotherly Love
Noah and Jonah got ready to dig in.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Every Day is Mother's Day
Mother's Day is never lonely for Nadya, here celebrating with her octuplets and their big sister Amerah in 2022.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Tie-Dyed For
In lieu of 48 candles, the kids brought balloons for their mom's birthday.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
14 and Counting
The Suleman octuplets enjoyed baked goods on their 14th birthday.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
Surrounded by Love
While her kids smiled for the camera, Mom snuck in a wish on her 49th birthday in 2024.
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