Controversial TikTok Mom of 12 Now a Grandma at Age 37

Victoria Merritt Veronica Merritt Maddilyn Rosalie ThisMadMama TikTok Grandma at Age 37

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Jun 28, 10:12 am

Photo: (Photo : GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images)

When 2-day-old Maddilyn Rosalie was brought home by her grandma, the controversial TikTok star Veronica Merritt, and her mom Victoria Merritt from the hospital, she was welcomed by 11 uncles and aunts.

Baby Maddilyn will grow up in unique circumstances as her youngest uncle, Modi, is just two months older than her. Her mom's other siblings are between the ages of 2 and 17, so they will also feel like brothers and sisters to Maddilyn.

New mom Victoria beamed as she talked about her baby, telling the Insider that they keep saying how cute she is. She said her siblings wanted to take turns holding the infant, who weighed just under six pounds at birth.

Veronica thrilled with her new role as grandmother

Veronica said she was thrilled to be a grandmother at the young age of 37. She said she was more than happy to help take care of her grandchild, who has brought the total number of people in their household to 14.

Veronica, who has amassed more than 204,000 followers on TikTok as ThisMadMama, said her grandkid reminds her of a baby bird in a nest because she is so sweet and fragile. Maddilyn was born on June 18 after Victoria was in labor for 12 hours. Veronica said she was not allowed to attend the birth of her granddaughter because of COVID-19 restrictions, but the infant's father, Victoria's boyfriend, Leon, was there throughout the labor and delivery.

Veronica shared the happy baby news on TikTok, posting a video of her introducing her granddaughter on social media. She said in an interview that her oldest daughter Victoria was absolutely glowing after the birth, describing her as a good mommy.

Merritt clan just keeps on growing

Joining Veronica, Victoria, and Maddilyn in the 14-strong Merritt clan are Andrew, 17; Adam, 16; Mara, 14; Dash, 13; Darla, 11; Marvelous, 9; Martalya, 7; Amelia, 5; Delilah, 4; Donovan, 2; and 9-week-old Modi.

Veronica had her first kid when she was just 14 years old, and she said she has been pregnant for a cumulative nine years, which is almost a quarter of her life. She previously said in an interview that her desire for a large family was a compulsion, but despite initially planning to have 16 kids, she said she had decided that Modi would be her last child. Veronica added that she had given herself permission to stop.

The mom of 12 and now the grandma of one has frequently been attacked for her choices, according to the New York Post. She recalled in an interview how one critic on TikTok said her kids came from 11 different fathers. Veronica said people could think what they like, but her children have only two fathers. Her first marriage ended in 2005, and she is now separated from her second husband, Marty, with whom she shares all but two of her kids.