Here son became a world-famous celebrity, but his mothers tragic past is worse than you can imagine

When people hear the name Pattie Mallette, most immediately think of her as Justin Bieber’s mother—the woman who raised one of the most famous pop stars of the 21st century. But behind that familiar title lies a story marked by tragedy, trauma, resilience, and faith. Pattie’s life has been anything but easy, and her journey reveals the strength of a woman who endured extraordinary challenges long before the world ever knew her son.

Born on April 2, 1975, in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Pattie grew up in a French-Canadian family. Her childhood took a devastating turn early on. At just two years old, she lost her five-year-old sister, Sally, in a car accident. The family’s grief weighed heavily on her formative years, creating a backdrop of pain and instability that shaped much of what was to come.

Her adolescence was even more turbulent. In her memoir, Nowhere But Up, she revealed the extent of the abuse she suffered during those years. “My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and neighborhood children reportedly mature beyond their years,” she wrote. The repeated assaults left deep scars on her sense of safety and identity.

“I was sexually violated so many times that as the years went by it began to feel normal,” she admitted. “It’s a strange marriage—knowing something is wrong yet at the same time finding it familiar and commonplace.”

Even as she suffered, Pattie discovered a refuge in the arts. She loved performing and as a child appeared on Canadian television programs like Romper Room and Big Top Talent. Acting and singing gave her moments of escape, but by her early teens, her life spiraled downward. At 14, she began experimenting with drugs and alcohol, shoplifting, and acting out. Her behavior escalated until she was expelled from school after setting a fire in a bathroom.

By 15, she was in a relationship with Jeremy Bieber, a connection that lasted four years but was as complicated as her own troubled youth. At 16, she ran away from home, surviving through theft, drug use, and even dealing. Looking back, she told interviewer George Stroumboulopoulos: “My life was really painful as a child… I had a love for the arts that I share with Justin, and we kind of bond over that.”

The pain eventually overwhelmed her. At 17, Pattie reached a breaking point. After struggling with suicidal thoughts, she attempted to take her life. She survived but spent time hospitalized in a facility that also practiced controversial Christian conversion therapy. After leaving, she reconnected briefly with her old circle—and with Jeremy. Within six months, she became pregnant.

On March 1, 1994, Justin Drew Bieber was born in London, Ontario. Pattie and Jeremy’s relationship soon ended, leaving her to raise their son as a single mother in low-income housing. Her parents provided some support, but it was faith that gave Pattie the strength to move forward. Determined to give her child a better life, she nurtured Justin’s talents, especially his love of music.

In 2007, she entered him into the Stratford Star talent competition, where his rendition of Ne-Yo’s So Sick earned him second place. She recorded the performance and uploaded it to YouTube. More videos followed, and the views multiplied, setting Justin on a path to stardom. Within a few years, he went from a small-town boy singing on street corners to one of the world’s biggest celebrities.

For Pattie, the transition was not easy. In 2012, she published her autobiography with Revell, a Christian imprint, detailing her struggles and the faith that sustained her. She also spoke openly about how difficult it was to step back as Justin grew older. “When your kids hit a certain age your parenting style changes and it is hard letting go,” she explained. “His life was my life and now I’ve had to let him go a little bit and let him be independent. It is hard to not be able to control everything that your adult child does.”

Their bond was tested during Justin’s public controversies in 2014, when his legal troubles made global headlines. The strain affected their relationship. Justin later admitted, “I never wanted my mom to be disappointed in me and I knew she was. We spent some time not talking, so it takes time to rebuild that trust… it’s hard, but getting better. She’s an amazing woman and I love her.”

In time, healing began. Pattie’s messages about Justin in recent years reveal a mix of pride and realism. “I’m so proud of the amazing young man you are, and the young man you are becoming,” she wrote in one tribute. “None of us are perfect and never will be… but your genuine growing relationship with Jesus is evident in the choices you are making daily and the good ‘fruit’ you bear. I admire your character and integrity. You are maturing beautifully and wise beyond your years.”

Today, Pattie Mallette is more than just the mother of a superstar. She is a survivor who transformed pain into testimony, a woman who navigated abuse, poverty, and single parenthood, and a believer whose faith carried her through the darkest of times. She remains a writer, speaker, and advocate, using her platform to inspire others facing hardship.

For those who only know her as “Justin Bieber’s mom,” her journey is a powerful reminder that resilience is often born from suffering. Pattie’s story is not just about raising a celebrity—it is about a woman who fought for her own healing and, in the process, helped launch one of the most remarkable pop careers of a generation.