Inside the tough and challenging life of Pattie Mallette, this narrative recounts the extraordinary journey of a woman who overcame unimaginable obstacles to become both a talented scriptwriter and producer and the devoted mother of pop superstar Justin Bieber.

Many people remain unaware of the hardships she endured and the personal battles she fought throughout her life. Although Justin Bieber is now one of the music industry’s most prominent figures, his seemingly perfect image conceals hidden struggles that even the most famous individuals face. Their relationship has experienced both highs and lows, reflecting the impact of Pattie’s challenging upbringing on their bond. During the same period, other headlines such as “The secret of our hand to show rich or poor,” “Grandma’s final photo of granddaughter minutes before she’s killed,” “Elon Musk’s dad says Elon hasn’t been a good father to his kids,” and “A Mom’s Bikini Is Causing Outrage At The Beach. Try Not To Gasp When You See It” also captured public attention. Born on April 2, 1975, in Stratford, Ontario, Pattie hails from a French-Canadian heritage, and her early years were marred by a devastating loss when her five-year-old sister, Sally, was killed in a car accident while she was only two, leaving a permanent mark on her family and shaping her formative experiences. At 17, Pattie became a single mother to Justin, raising him on her own in low-income housing in Canada with some support from her parents, who also served as his grandparents. From as early as age three, she endured abuse and violence, recalling that her abusers included a male babysitter, a friend’s grandfather, and neighborhood kids who acted far older than their years. By age 14, she began experimenting with substances and resorted to shoplifting, eventually being expelled from school for setting a fire in the bathroom. The cycle of abuse continued relentlessly, and in her memoir she reveals that she was date raped at the age of 15, an experience so horrifying that over time it began to feel disturbingly normal as if the knowledge of wrong had become all too familiar. Despite these grim experiences, Pattie discovered a passion for the arts early on, appearing on local television shows like Romper Room and Big Top Talent by the age of nine. At 15, she embarked on a four-year relationship with Jeremy Bieber, but by 16 she left home and faced severe hardships, resorting to theft and drug dealing to survive. In an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos, she confessed that her childhood was filled with pain, yet her passion for the arts, which she shares with Justin, has always served as a source of solace and connection. Overwhelmed by despair and suicidal thoughts, the 17-year-old Pattie attempted to end her own life and was subsequently admitted to a mental health facility that practiced Christian conversion therapy.

After her discharge, she reconnected with old friends and distanced herself from those who embraced her new faith, eventually rekindling her relationship with Jeremy Bieber. Six months into their renewed relationship, Pattie discovered she was pregnant, and on March 1, 1994, Justin was born in London, Ontario. Although she and Jeremy initially continued their relationship after Justin’s arrival, they ultimately separated a few months later. Throughout these trials, Pattie remained a dedicated and loving mother, nurturing Justin’s passion for music by helping him enter the 2007 Stratford Star talent competition, where he finished second with his rendition of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” a performance she shared on YouTube that quickly garnered widespread attention. In September 2012, she released her memoir Nowhere But Up, published by Christian publisher Revell, in which she candidly detailed her tumultuous childhood and explained how faith and love empowered her to become the best single mother she could be. As Justin grew older, their relationship evolved, and in 2013 Pattie told People that gaining independence was difficult because her life always centered on him.