Farrah Abraham
Farrah Abraham | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 31, 1991 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Reality television personality, singer, adult film actress, writer |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Known for | 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, My Teenage Dream Ended |
Farrah Abraham (born May 31, 1991) is an American figure known for her work in reality television, music, adult film, and writing. She first attracted widespread attention in 2009 by appearing on the reality show 16 and Pregnant, which portrayed the experiences of teenage girls dealing with pregnancy and early motherhood. Later that year, she became part of its spin-off series Teen Mom, featuring as a cast member throughout all four seasons until 2012. In August 2012, Abraham launched both her debut studio album and memoir, each titled My Teenage Dream Ended, with the book achieving placement on The New York Times bestseller list.
Early life
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Farrah Abraham was raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her father, Michael Abraham, has Syrian and Italian roots, while her mother, Debra Danielsen, descends from Danish and Sicilian heritage. She grew up alongside her half-sister Ashley Danielsen. After her parents divorced in 2010, her mother remarried David Merz in 2017.
16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom
At age 17 in 2008, Abraham appeared on MTV’s reality program 16 and Pregnant, which showcased the lives of pregnant teenagers across the United States. Her pregnancy created tension with her mother Debra Danielsen, who opposed abortion and influenced Abraham to quit cheerleading. During filming, Derek Underwood—the father of her child—tragically died in a car crash. Abraham gave birth to their daughter Sophia Laurent Abraham on February 23, 2009. Her episode was broadcast on June 17, 2009.
Later that year, she joined the spin-off Teen Mom, which followed young mothers including Maci Bookout, Catelynn Lowell, and Amber Portwood. The series premiered on December 8, 2009. Throughout its run, the show highlighted Abraham’s strained relationship with her mother; Debra Danielsen faced assault charges in January 2010. To cope with family difficulties and the loss of Derek Underwood, Abraham sought therapy. She confirmed Derek’s paternity through testing but was later involved in a legal dispute initiated by his mother over visitation rights.
In 2011, Abraham completed an associate degree in culinary arts and management at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and introduced a pasta sauce brand called "Mom & Me."
Her debut album My Teenage Dream Ended was released on August 1, 2012; initially met with critical negativity, it later gained recognition as an example of avant-garde outsider music. The memoir sharing the same title was published shortly after on August 14. Following four seasons, Teen Mom ended on August 29, 2012.
Abraham ventured into adult entertainment in 2013 with the release of the pornographic film Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom, distributed by Vivid Video as a purportedly "leaked" homemade recording—a promotional tactic she later acknowledged. She followed up with a second adult film in 2014 and reportedly earned $1 million from her initial release. That year also saw her starring in MTV’s special Being Farrah, a continuation of Teen Mom. Co-stars Amber Portwood and Catelynn Lowell voiced concerns about Abraham’s impact on their children and advocated for her removal from the franchise.
In January 2014, Abraham participated in season four of Couples Therapy, notably joining solo to work on improving her relationship with her mother rather than focusing on a romantic partnership. She returned to music in March 2014 with the single "Blowin'", though she characterized music as more of a pastime than a professional pursuit. In August that year, she secured a $544,000 residency deal at Palazio's Gentleman's Club located in Austin, Texas.
In October 2017, producer Morgan J. Freeman dismissed Abraham from Teen Mom due to her involvement in adult entertainment; she was succeeded by Bristol Palin and Cheyenne Floyd.
Celebrity Big Brother
In 2015, Abraham took part in the 16th season of the UK television series Celebrity Big Brother, representing the United States. After spending 23 days in the house, she was the fifth contestant to be evicted on September 18. The eviction vote was cast by fellow participant Austin Armacost. On September 22, Abraham appeared as a panelist on the companion show Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side, where a heated dispute caused the broadcast to conclude 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Following this altercation, both Abraham and Janice Dickinson received police cautions issued by Hertfordshire Police.
Personal life
In April 2021, Abraham filed a report with Palm Beach Police accusing Dominic Foppoli, then serving as mayor of Windsor, California, of sexual assault. She was one of nine women who publicly accused Foppoli of various sexual offenses. Shortly after these allegations surfaced, Foppoli stepped down from his position. In 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta chose not to pursue criminal prosecution against Foppoli, which led Abraham to initiate a civil lawsuit set to be heard in court in 2026.
Legal issues
Abraham was arrested in January 2022 on allegations of assaulting a security guard at a nightclub. By October 2023, she had been sentenced to an 18-month probation period with supervision requirements and mandated to complete 40 hours of community service related to this event.
Filmography
}Studio albums
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Television | |||
| 2009 | 16 and Pregnant | Herself | Appeared as "Farrah" (season 1, episode 2) |
| 2009–2012 | Teen Mom | Main cast member (seasons 1 through 4) | |
| 2013–2015 | The Doctors | Guest appearances | |
| 2013 | Bethenny | ||
| Dr. Phil | |||
| 2014 | Couples Therapy | Main cast member (season 4) | |
| Being Farrah | Television special feature | ||
| 2015–2018 | Teen Mom OG | Main cast member (seasons 5 through 7) | |
| 2015 | Celebrity Big Brother | Housemate representing the USA | |
| Botched | Guest role | ||
| 2017 | Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition | Main cast member | |
| MTV's Single AF | |||
| 2018 | Face the Truth | Guest appearance | |
| 2018–2019 | Ex on the Beach | Main cast member (season 2) | |
| 2022 | Teen Mom: Family Reunion | Guest; featured in "Welcome to Farrah-Dise" | |
| Film | |||
| 2013 | Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom | Herself | Adult film alongside James Deen |
| 2014 | Farrah 2: Backdoor and More | Adult film with James Deen | |
| 2017 | Adam K | Karen Sims | Feature film debut |
| Axeman 2: Overkill | Fannie Rae Baker | Supporting character role | |
| 2019 | I Got the Hook-Up 2 | Officer 2 | |
| Album Title | Details |
|---|---|
| My Teenage Dream Ended |
|
Singles
| Song Title | Release Year | Associated Album |
|---|
| Song Title ! scope="col"| Release Year ! scope="col"| Associated Album |
|---|
| "Finally Getting Up from Rock Bottom" | 2012 | My Teenage Dream Ended |
| "Blowin" | 2014 | Standalone single |
| "Jingle Bell Rock" (feat. Sophia Abraham) | rowspan=2 |2020 | Standalone single |
| "Holly Jolly Christmas" (feat. Sophia Abraham) | Standalone single |
Awards and nominations
| Award Title ! Year ! Category ! Work Nominated ! Outcome |
|---|
| 2013 | Outstanding Literary Work | My Teenage Dream Ended | Won |
| AVN Awards | 2014 | Best Anal Sex Scene | Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom | Nominated |
Published works
- My Teenage Dream Ended (2012)
- Passy Perfume (2012)
- Celebrity Sex Tape: In the Making (2014)
- Celebrity Sex Tape: The Secret's Out (2014)
- Celebrity Sex Tape: Love Through Limelight (2015)
External links
- American pornographic film actresses
- American autobiographers
- Writers from Omaha, Nebraska
- Writers from Austin, Texas
- Actresses from Omaha, Nebraska
- Actresses from Austin, Texas
- Living people
- Participants in American reality television series
- American people of Syrian descent
- American people of Italian descent
- American people of Danish descent
- American women autobiographers
- 1991 births
- 21st-century American actresses
- 21st-century American women writers
- 21st-century American women singers