Natalie Suleman rose to fame in 2009 after giving birth to octuplets conceived by IVF, despite already having six children.
Dubbed “Octomum”, she went on to become America’s most controversial mother, turning to stripping and pornography to provide for her huge family.
Now, in an interview with ABC News, Natalie – formerly known as Nadya – recalls catching her 10-year-old daughter playing dress-up in her stripper costumes as the exact moment she decided to change her ways.
“She put on these heels and she was strutting around in them and that was it,” the 41-year-old says, adding, “My heart sank – I felt like throwing up.”
“That was the moment when I said ‘I would rather be homeless living in the van with all my kids than allow any of my girls to feel that they are not worthy enough and that they have to go down that path,’” she says.
“I was more or less a carnival attraction. I was a freak show,” Natalie told ABC News.
Earlier this year, in an exclusive chat with Woman’s Day, Natalie candidly spoke out on the “dehumanising and exploitative” work she did during her time as a celebrity porn star and stripper.
“Everything I ever did was for money to put food on the table,” the brunette reveals.
“Everyone thinks I had all these donations and help, but I didn’t. I did everything on my own and paid for everything out of my own pocket.”
“The last two years of it were so dark. We were on the verge of homelessness, so rather than put my kids in front of the camera, I decided to put myself out there.”
WATCH: Natalie opens up about her porn career. Post continues after the video…
She now looks back on her former life choices – not with regret, but with shame for the decisions that led her to such controversial infamy.
“I look back in retrospect and I would never say I regret — not one of my children. They are why I live.
“Some of the things that I have done … of course that I’m ashamed of in the past … was just to put food on the table and just to take care of my family,” the mother admitted to ABC News.
“I want to apologize to anyone I hurt. You know, I wasn’t me,” she said through tears. “I’m sorry for anyone I hurt out there, and I’m sorry to my children that I hurt.”
Since giving up her porn career, Natalie has returned to her former profession of working as a psychiatric nurse.
Natalie pictured in 2009, days before welcoming her eight children.
