.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
Octomom Nadya Suleman Becomes Grandmother After Her Son Welcomes First Child
Nadya Suleman and her family are reclaiming their legacy.
The 49-year-old—who was famously dubbed Octomom after she gave birth to the first surviving set of octuplets in 2009—shared why she and her 14 children decided to speak out in an upcoming Lifetime docuseries chronicling their lives.
"The main reasons for me in sharing my true story, my perspective is to help people,” Nadya told People in an interview published Jan. 24. “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."
She added, “Today, my family and I are taking our life back.”
Years after retreating from public life, Nadya wants to let go of the image that the world put on her following her unconventional journey with fame.
"I'm not this compartmentalized caricature," she continued. "I am not Octomom, I'm a mom."
In 2009, Nadya—already a mom of six—became the first person to give birth to a surviving set of octuplets after undergoing IVF treatment.
Natalie Suleman/Instagram
But now, she and her kids—including almost-16-year-olds Noah, Josiah, Nariyah, Maliyah, Jonah, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Makai—are setting the record straight about what their lives are really like.
“My kids are going to share for the first time,” Nadya—who is also the mother of adult children Ameerah, Calyssa, Elijah, Caleb, Joshua and Aidan—told People. “Also, my older kids are speaking in the public eye and they did not want to. And actually, I didn't even want [to speak out] to be honest."
"I've been saying, I want to keep them safe and protect my kids, and well, they're older now," she continued. "They're turning 16 and making the decision to really do this."
I Was Octomom: The Natalie Suleman Story which will be narrated by Nadya and starring Kristen Lee Gutoskie, premieres March 8 on Lifetime with the six-part docuseries, Confessions of Octomom debuting two days later on March 10.
Keep reading to look back on Nadya’s life with her children…
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.
Watch E! News weeknights Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m., only on E!.
English (US)