The Duggar sisters appeared on reality television with their family from 2008 to 2020
The nine Duggar sisters — and their super-sized family — spent over a decade appearing on television shows.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are the parents of 19 children, whose names all start with the letter J: Josh, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie.
The Duggars first rose to fame in 2008, when they landed their reality television show, 19 Kids and Counting. The TLC series became an instant hit, providing viewers a glimpse into their ever-growing family and ultra-conservative Christian household.
In 2015, after nine seasons, the family faced scrutiny when news broke that Josh Duggar, the oldest sibling, allegedly molested five underage girls as a teenager. It emerged that four of the alleged victims were his sisters, and both parents were allegedly aware. Consequently, TLC canceled 19 Kids and Counting in July 2015.
The Duggar sisters, especially Jill Duggar Dillard and Jessa Duggar Seewald, returned to reality TV in December 2015 with Counting On, which aired for 11 seasons until TLC canceled it in June 2021 due to Josh’s arrest on child pornography charges.
Beyond Josh’s legal troubles, the Duggar family has also been criticized for their affiliation with Bill Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles. The controversial religion was the subject of the 2023 Prime Video docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which exposed the dark side of the religion and its negative impact on the Duggar family.
Despite the ups and downs, many Duggar sisters forged their own paths, starting families, writing books, making music, and more. Here is what each Duggar sister has been up to since leaving reality television in 2021.
Jana Marie Duggar, 34
The oldest Duggar daughter, Jana, along with her twin brother John-David, was born on Jan. 12, 1990, in Tontitown, Arkansas. Spotlighted as a teen on 19 Kids and Counting, she continued with the spinoff Counting On but has led a relatively private life since the show concluded in 2021.
Jana, who still resides in Tontitown, works as a home remodeler and loves plants, road trips, and travel, according to the Duggar family website.
In September 2021, Jana was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor. Explaining on social media, she shared, “I was babysitting a few months ago when one of the children wandered outside alone. A passerby who saw the child called the police.” The incident led to a citation, follow-up by child welfare, and Jana paying $880 after pleading guilty in January 2022.
After a social media hiatus of over three years, Jana returned in May 2024 and posted a YouTube video in June, showcasing her life on the farm with Johannah and Josie helping maintain their herd of sheep and building a new fence.
Jill Michelle Duggar Dillard, 33
Born on May 17, 1991, Jill Duggar Dillard is the fourth child and second oldest daughter of the Duggar family.
In 2013, she began courting Derick Dillard with strict relationship rules like chaperoned dates and saving hand-holding for engagement. They wed in June 2014, sharing their first kiss in front of 1,000 guests during a 19 Kids and Counting episode.
Since getting married, Jill has distanced herself from her family and became one of the most outspoken members against their strict religious upbringing and reality TV experiences. She has a nose ring, wears pants, drinks alcohol, and has even modeled swimwear.
Living near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border with Derick and their three sons, Jill appeared in the 2023 docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, criticizing their upbringing under the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). Her 2023 memoir, Counting the Cost, revealed details about her family’s reality TV dealings and claims of being tricked into signing contracts, receiving only $175,000 for ten years of filming.
Despite the friction, Jill remains hopeful for family reconciliation, as she expressed on Christy Carlson Romano’s Vulnerable podcast in October 2023.
Jessa Lauren Duggar Seewald, 31
The third Duggar daughter, Jessa, born November 4, 1992, wed Ben Seewald in November 2014, with their wedding filmed for 19 Kids and Counting.
The couple, living in Springdale, Arkansas, welcomed Spurgeon Elliot in 2015, Henry Wilberforce in 2017, Ivy Jane in 2019, Fern in 2021, and George Augustine in December 2023.
In 2023, Jessa revealed enduring a miscarriage between Fern and George, deeply affecting her. She, Ben, and their children settled into a remodeled home in Springdale in early 2022.
Jinger Nicole Vuolo, 30
Jim Bob and Michelle welcomed Jinger Duggar Vuolo on Dec. 21, 1993.
Big sister Jessa first introduced Jinger to her future husband Jeremy Vuolo — and their relationship took off fast from there. The fourth Duggar daughter and the former professional soccer player began courting in June 2016 and were engaged just a month later. By November 2016, the duo were married — with their matchmaker Jessa serving as matron of honor at the nuptials.
Jeremy and Jinger are now the parents of two daughters: Felicity, born in July 2018, and Evangeline Jo, who was born in November 2020 after Jinger had a miscarriage the year prior.
Jinger, who lives in Los Angeles with her family, was one of the first Duggars to speak out publicly against their conservative, religious upbringing. In early 2023, she released her memoir, Becoming Free Indeed — and in it, she detailed what she called the “cult-like tendencies” of the IBLP.
“The teaching I grew up under was harmful, it was damaging, and there are lasting effects,” she shared. “But I know other people are struggling and people who are still stuck. I want to share my story, and maybe it will help even just one person to be freed.”
After growing up in fear that breaking any of the religion’s strict rules (such as wearing pants or listening to music with drums) would bring her and her family harm, Jinger walked away from the IBLP entirely. She still views herself as a Christian, but she has left behind the rigid teachings of her childhood.
“My faith is still intact, but it has changed. Instead of leaving the faith entirely, I’ve been disentangling it,” she said in a video announcing her book.
Joy-Anna Forsyth, 26
Jim Bob and Michelle welcomed Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth, the ninth of the 19 Duggar children, on Oct. 28, 1997.
She and her husband Austin Forsyth were friends for 15 years before the two married in May 2017. Not long after their nuptials, Joy-Anna and Austin welcomed their first child in February 2018: A son named Gideon Martyn. The couple opened up about the challenges of first-time parenthood on an episode of Counting On.
“Being a mom is in a lot of ways easier than I thought and then in a lot of ways, harder than I thought,” Joy-Anna said in the episode. “It’s given me a whole new appreciation for moms out there that have kids.”
Joy-Anna and Austin announced they were expecting their second baby in May 2019, but learned at their 20-week ultrasound that the fetus was stillborn.
Since their miscarriage, Joy-Anna and Austin have had two more children. Their daughter, Evelyn Mae, was born in August 2020 and their son Gunner followed in May 2023. They live in Arkansas where Austin works as a home builder and Joy-Anna chronicles their family life on their YouTube channel, Follow the Forsyths.
Johannah Faith Duggar, 18
After six straight boys, Johannah Duggar — the sixth Duggar daughter and 16th child overall — was born on Oct. 11, 2005.
Her birth was featured on one of the family’s first reality television specials, Raising 16 Children, which aired in March 2006.
Though she spent her childhood appearing on 19 Kids and Counting, Johannah leads a relatively private life as a young adult. Her hobbies include playing volleyball and drawing, according to the family website, and she recorded an album in 2018 called Happy Heart with her three younger sisters, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie.
Jennifer Danielle Duggar, 16
Jim Bob and Michelle welcomed Jennifer Duggar on Aug. 2, 2007.
In June 2022, Jennifer — along with her sisters Jana and Jessa — visited Jinger in California. Jinger shared a handful of photos from the trip on her Instagram, including ones with her “little sis Jennifer.” Michelle also posted a birthday tribute to her 17th child on the family’s Instagram account in August 2021.
According to the Duggar family website, Jennifer is an animal lover and the “most crafty” member of their large family.
Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, 15
Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, the 18th of the 19 Duggar children, was born on Dec. 18, 2008.
When she was born, the first season of 19 Kids and Counting (then called 17 Kids and Counting) was underway and her birth was featured on a special episode.
As one of the youngest Duggars, Jordyn-Grace has served as a flower girl in several of her older siblings’ weddings. She’s described as a “sweet-hearted, confident girl” who loves calligraphy, art and fashion, on the family website.
Josie Brooklyn Duggar, 14
The baby of the Duggar family, Josie Brooklyn Duggar, was born prematurely on Dec. 10, 2009, at just 25 weeks. She weighed only 1 lb. 6 oz. at birth — and viewers of 19 Kids and Counting watched as she spent the first several months of her life struggling to survive.
Her health issues continued throughout her childhood, with Josie even having a seizure while filming 19 Kids and Counting in 2014. Her oldest sister, Jana, helped care for her during the medical emergency.
The Duggars have reflected on Josie’s scary birth on both her birthday and World Prematurity Day.
“That was the most difficult time in our family’s life,” the Duggars shared on Instagram about Josie’s birth, “but by God’s grace Josie and our whole family made it through!”
Josie, who is now a teenager, lives at home with her family in Arkansas. According to the family website, she is a talented musician and a “ball of energy.”
