Nadya Suleman, known as “Octomon” rose to fame in 2009 after she gave birth to octuplets conceived by IVF, despite already having six children.
She went on to become one of America’s most controversial mothers, turning to stripping and pornography to provide for her huge family. Nadya has previously condemned her career choices, saying she was “disgusted” with her behaviour.
Nadya is now speaking out again, but this time about her decision to have 14 children.
Nadya in 2009, just days before she welcomed her eight children.
The 42-year-old mum’s octuplets Makai, Josiah, Isaiah, Jonah, Maliyah, Jeremiah, Nariyah and Noah are eight years old and the only surviving set in the world. However, she says that her decision to have so many children was “foolish, immature and selfish”.
Speaking with the Daily Mail, Nadya said: “I was on a mission. I just wanted to have a bunch of kids. But I couldn’t imagine my life at this point in time any different than it is,” she said.
“My calling was to be a mum. I am happiest at home with the kids. And I knew when I did this I would be sacrificing a social life. But that’s OK because I’m not social.”
While she couldn’t imagine her life without her children, Nadya explained she struggles greatly to keep up with the financial costs of raising 14 children on her own.
“We live paycheck to paycheck. It’s a struggle every day.”
And although life isn’t easy now, Nadya reveals she once lived through much darker days as a stripper. She admits she hit rock bottom turning to prescription drugs and alcohol.
“I had to medicate to just get through what I was doing,” she explained to the Daily Mail.
“I didn’t want to live. I felt less than human as that character I was pretending to be, to survive and provide for my family.”
WATCH: Nadya talks about her porn career. Article continues after the video…
During that dark time Nadya says she was approached by a stranger while stripping who inspired her to turn her life around.
“I was in a strip club in Florida in February 2013, and this very tall man, this stranger came in. He walked straight to me and looked straight into my eyes,” Nadya said.
“He took my hand and grabbed my arm and said in a very gentle but firm way: ‘You do not have to do this.’ He repeated it five times.”
The mother-of-14 broke down into floods of tears and in that moment she knew, she had to get herself healthy again if she wanted her children to have a mother.
Despite some financial stresses, Nadya says she is doing much better these days and hopes her story may encourage other women going through a tough time know there is always hope things may change.
