A couple of months ago, MTV made a lot of headlines when it was announced that two-time Dancing with the Stars contestant Bristol Palin would be joining the cast of Teen Mom OG's upcoming season. At the time, Palin had confirmed the news on her Instagram page by saying that she was looking to sharing her experiences with the hope that she could help others on "their journey." So, what exactly led to her decision to join the high-profile reality show? Bristol Palin explained saying:
I decided to join Teen Mom because of a lot of reasons. I read this book recently and it was all about turning your wounds into someone else's wisdom and your hurt into someone's healing, and your breakdown into someone else's breakthrough. It really changed my perspective on a lot of things, and made me realize that God gave me a platform that was to serve others, and if I can do that with this show, you know, letting people know they are not alone, and there are the same struggles across the nation. So that is why I decided to do it. It was to hopefully encourage others and to let them know that life isn't over after a divorce.
Bristol Palin shared her numerous reasons for joining the show with ET and based on what she said; it seems that her primary goal is to inspire others. The divorce Palin mentions took place between her and Dakota Meyer, with whom she shares two daughters. Her eldest child, son Tripp, is from her relationship with Levi Johnston. Teen Mom OG will subsequently chronicle Palin's life as a single mother to her three kids.
Before making her debut on the MTV series, Bristol Palin previously headlined her own Lifetime reality series. That series entitled, Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp, premiered six years ago in 2012. It chronicled her life as a single mom to her then-only child, Tripp.
A lot has changed for Sarah Palin's daughter since that first series. So, how are things going so far filming the series? Bristol Palin shared that she has had some moments since filming began where she wished the camera could be turned off. Otherwise, she commended the crew for respecting the boundaries with her kids.
Fans of Teen Mom OG recently got a sneak peek at the series' upcoming eighth season. The teaser featured brief footage of Bristol Palin talking to her mom, Sarah Palin. In the clip, she can be heard telling her mom that she was a teen mom and her life is not perfect. Bristol can also be seen saying that she wants to do what is best for her children.
Bristol Palin was brought in to replace outgoing cast member Farrah Abraham, and that is not the only shake-up on the way for the veteran reality series. Two other cast members have vacated the show. Ryan Edwards, the ex of returning Teen Mom OG star Maci Bookout and the father of her eldest child, has exited the show alongside his wife, Mackenzie Standifer Edwards. Given the isolated nature of the Teen Mom cast's storyline, none of her co-stars' lives should actively affect Bristol Palin's.
There should be a rather dramatic season in store for fans of the reality series. The positive news is that Bristol Palin had nothing but effusive praise for her now ex-husband and the father of her girls, so do not expect any drama there. The eighth season of Teen Mom OG is expected to premiere this fall on MTV, along with a slew of other new programming set to bow this autumn.
