Being a mom is one of the most difficult jobs in the world.
Being a teen mom raises a whole new set of challenges.
But being a teen mom and going on to have a fabulous Hollywood career? The feat seems nearly impossible, but these incredible women managed to do it.
You will be shocked to discover below some of the most famous faces in the world were once teen moms.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara became a worldwide sensation on the TV show Modern Family. Of course, it turns out she has some real life experience with being part of an extraordinary family.
Sofia married her high school boyfriend when she was 18, and gave birth to her son Manolo when she was just 19 years old.
Although the couple soon divorced, Sofia says her life as a teen mom was pretty good. She even credits pregnancy for helping give her body the curvy shape she is so famous for.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg became famous for playing wise characters in roles ranging from Sister Act to Star Trek: The Next Generation. And it turns out some of this wisdom was earned through very harrowing life experiences.
She gave birth to her daughter, Alexandrea Martin, when she was only 18 years old in 1973. She got married the same year to the father, Alvin Martin — a drug counselor who helped Goldberg through some tough times.
Six years after the birth, Whoopi and Alvin split up. As a young single mom, Whoopi managed to launch one of the most remarkable Hollywood careers of all time, becoming a rare “EGOT” (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner.
Her daughter Alex has followed in her footsteps as an actress and producer. And Whoopi is not only a former teen mom — she became a grandmother at 34 and a great-grandmother at 58!
Roseanne Barr
To put it mildly, Roseanne Barr has had a very unconventional life and career. And it shouldn’t be a surprise that her entry into motherhood was equally unconventional!
When she was 17 years old, Roseanne gave birth to a daughter, Brandi Ann Brown, in 1970. However, Roseanne realized she wasn’t ready to be a mother yet and gave the girl up for adoption.
Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Not only would Roseanne go on to become a world-famous comedian with a self-titled show, but she reunited with her daughter 17 years later. Family once more, Brandi even worked as a production assistant on her mom’s hit show Roseanne.
Anna Nicole Smith
The late Anna Nicole Smith had an unexpected path to fame. She started out as a model, tried her hand at acting, and even served as a spokeswoman for the diet that she claimed kept her fit for appearing in magazines like Playboy.
She balanced this eclectic career while also being a single mother. She got married to her first husband, a cook at the restaurant where she worked, when she was just 17 years old. She gave birth to her son Daniel the following year at age 18.
Sadly, Anna Nicole’s son Daniel passed away from an accidental overdose when he was 20 years old, three days after his sister was born. Anna Nicole was very close to her son, and named her daughter Dannielynn after him.
Less than five months later, Anna Nicole also tragically passed away from an accidental overdose. Her daughter Dannielynn Birkhead is now 12 years old and carries on her mother’s memory.
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd is more than a celebrity unto herself. She is part of a celebrity dynasty known for influencing the world of country music for many decades.
Naomi was arguably at her best when singing with daughter Wynonna Judd. And Naomi gave birth to Wynonna at the tender age of 18! The father was Charles Jordan, a man who abandoned Naomi and later died in the year 2000.
She married another man, Michael Ciminella, in 1964, but they divorced in 1972. However, it all worked out: Naomi and Wynonna eventually became a musical duo known as The Judds, and Naomi later saw Wynonna enjoy an amazing solo career.
Fantasia Barrino
The entire world became aware of Fantasia Barrino when she won American Idol back in 2004. Since then, she has enjoyed a solo musical career and even a stint on Broadway.
What is most impressive is that Barrino did all of this while raising a daughter. She gave birth to her daughter Zion Quari Barrino when she was only 17. The father is Brandel Shouse, and though they split up, the two still celebrate the life and achievements of their daughter.
The daughter went on to be a successful student and high school graduate. And Barrino continues taking on many challenges as a Grammy-winning singer and skillful actor!
Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers is best known for starring in TV series such as Three’s Company. However, she had a real life “three’s company” moment when she became a teen mom.
In 1965, she got married and gave birth to her son Bruce at the age of 19. He was named after his father, Bruce Somers. The couple split up a few years later, so Suzanne had to balance a growing career and life as a single mom.
After achieving fame with Three’s Company 1977, Suzanne went on to star in Step By Step and even more recent series such as Dancing With the Stars.
Bristol Palin
Bristol Palin entered the public eye when her mother Sarah Palin was John McCain’s running mate during his 2008 presidential bid. And it was during this run when 17-year-old Bristol announced she was pregnant and engaged to the father, Levi Johnston.
Bristol gave birth to her son Tripp when she was 18 in the national spotlight. And she used her newfound platform to advocate for abstinence.
Although she and her fiancé broke off their engagement a year after their son was born, Bristol balanced being a single teen mom in the spotlight well. She appeared on Dancing With the Stars and even starred in a documentary (Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp) where her son is the focus.
Now 10 years old, Tripp has followed in his mom’s footsteps, appearing on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors in 2018.