Yolanda Foster's Marriage to David Foster Took a Toll on Their Eight Children: "There Were Issues With the Families Blending"

Former Dutch supermodel had business intentions when joining Bravo reality show, health battle caused major strain on marriage and extended family

As a former successful supermodel, Yolanda Foster knows a thing or two about the power of promotion.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reality star anticipated the benefits of chronicling her life on camera nearly three years ago when she joined the show, particularly when her two daughters Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid were just high school modeling hopefuls off of Hollywood's radar.  

"At first, Yolanda's children were a big reason she decided to do the show," a source told E! News. "She wanted to boost their careers and she definitely succeeded. Bella and Gigi have become household names."

That fact is undeniable. At just 20 and 19 years old respectively, Gigi and Bella's faces now dominate the fashion scene worldwide, securing major ad campaigns for international brands like Maybelline and Guess, walking the runways of Victoria's Secret and Chanel and appearing on the covers of countless international Vogue magazines.

Even Anwar Hadid, Foster's youngest child, officially launched his own career in front of the camera after posing in the pages of Nylon.

Now that her children are thriving, some may wonder why Foster continues to face the public spotlight on the show despite an debilitating battle with Lyme disease and a very fresh divorce from her husband of four years, David Foster. The simple answer—her sickness is her motivation. 

"Now, one of the reasons she remains on the show is to help shine a light on her disease," the source added. 

However, it's that same physical fight that chiseled away at her relationship with her husband. 

"No one doubts that Yolanda is sick," the source shared. "It's very clear that she's legitimately not been well. But, David is someone who travels constantly and Yolanda became ill just one year into the marriage. It was a lot."

In addition to Yolanda's disease, the merging of her trio of children with David's five daughters from previous wives was a difficult task in its own right. 

"David has daughters of his own and there were issues with the families blending. Bringing two sets of children together wasn't always easy," the source told E! News. "At one point, Yolanda was close to David's daughters, but things have changed. 

For David—who was married three times before Yolanda—this may mark the end of an unlucky streak in love. 

"At this point, David thinks maybe he's just not cut out for marriage," the source said.