By Sarah Ribeiro
In the final season of ‘Teen Mom,’ which premiered on Tuesday, June 12, we are going to see Farrah Abraham as more than just a teen mom. In the premiere, she makes the decision to move from Iowa to Florida with her daughter Sophia, now three-years-old, to study culinary management and begin her life as an adult.
After reaching fame on the hit MTV series ‘16 and Pregnant,’ she showcased her struggles as a single mother in ‘Teen Mom.’ Furthering her success, she recently announced her partnership with LA modeling agency Models International as well as the release of her first book, ‘My Teenage Dream Ended,” which is due later this summer.
However, she says she won’t let her fame get in the way of her relationship with her daughter. “Nothing hinders me from being a great mother,” she says. “I will always use my accomplishments to help others and to find more worthwhile projects for myself.”
Related: ‘Teen Mom’ Star Farrah Abraham Thinks About Giving Up Modeling for Daughter
The “Momtrepreneur,” as she calls herself, has reached many achievements outside of her life as a reality television star. She has created her own brand of Italian Hot Pepper Sauce, appropriately named ‘Mom & Me.’ Her motivation, she says, always comes from within: “If you have drive to make a comfortable life for yourself and your family, make no excuses and take action.”
In light of her success, Abraham is focusing on her goals rather than romance. In a touching scene in the ‘Teen Mom’ premiere, she visits the grave of Derek Underwood, Sophia’s father, on what would be his twenty-first birthday. Holding back tears, she recalls her time with Derek and wishes he were there to help her raise Sophia. Despite this lament, she is happy on her own.
Abraham doesn’t want to force herself into finding love and tries to think it through before she says yes to a date. She explains, “Now, I only go on dates if I really like someone, rather than going on dates just because.”
Of course, she has certain criteria that she looks for in a man. It’s important for her to find someone who works well with her hectic life as an entrepreneur and a single mother. “If a guy cannot fit in my life naturally, then I don’t know how he can ever really be a part of it,” she says.
Even so, she emphasizes that her success won’t get in the way of dating. “I want someone who is basically the guy version of me,” she reveals. “He needs to work hard and have a good sense of humor. It’s important that he is intelligent, friendly and family-oriented too.”
Related: Five Top Tops On How To Find “The One”
Dating as a single mother is challenging but Abraham says that honesty makes it easier. “I’ve learned from other dates that it’s best to say you have a child up front, she says. “Guys look at me differently when they think I’m single and twenty-one.”
For single parents looking to date, her advice is “Stay true to who you are!” And for those people dating a single parent, she begs that they “be understanding of the time the parent needs to spend with their child.”
Although she knows what she wants when it comes to finding the right man, she reveals that we won’t see much of her dating on this season of ‘Teen Mom.’ Instead, she deals with living on her own, raising Sophia, being a student and finding success through her ventures in modeling and writing.
Given her time in the spotlight, Abraham feels like a role model for other single mothers. She encourages them to stay strong and motivated and to find their own happiness. She explains, “Look at me and other single moms who you respect. Try to be a hard-working, Momtrepreneur like them!”
While she’s ready for whatever comes next, Abraham is thankful for the hardships she faced during previous seasons of ‘Teen Mom’ and believes that they’ve helped her make it this far. “It has inspired me and shown me that no obstacle is too great, that nothing can get in the way of making my wishes and goals come true,” she shares. “Everything is at your fingertips — you just have to put your best effort forward to make it happen.”
You can catch Abraham on season four of ‘Teen Mom,’ which airs on Tuesdays at 10/9CT on MTV. You can also follow her on Twitter or Facebook. To pre-order her book ‘My Teenage Dream Ended,’ click here.
