'I was terrified of the outside world.' What the 19 Duggar kids are doing now.

In 2006, the world was introduced to a family of devout Christians living in Tontitown, Arkansas.

Back then, Jim Bob and Michelle and the 16-child Duggar family was enough to turn a one-hour TV special into a reality series about the family, then titled 16 Kids and Counting.

We were fascinated as these Baptists managed to handle raising and caring for more than a dozen children before adding to their brood, resulting in the show being renamed three times.

It’s been seven years since TLC officially cancelled the once-popular 19 Kids and Counting and a year since Counting On – its spin-off show – was also axed. Here's what the Duggars are doing now.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar

My love and I! We really enjoyed this trip down to Texas!

A post shared by  The Duggar Family (@duggarfam) on Apr 14, 2018 at 7:49am PDT

The couple that started it all have stopped having natural-born children, but that doesn’t mean their brood has stopped growing. 

In addition to the 23 (and counting) grandchildren they now have, the couple became permanent guardians to their grandnephew, 14-year-old Tyler, after his mother was unable to care for him.

Jim Bob and Michelle are still caring for seven other kids at home and regularly posting photos and Bible verses on their Duggar Family Facebook page and updating the family website.

Josh Duggar

The eldest Duggar boy's reputation has taken a hit in recent years. In 2015, allegations surfaced that he molested at least five girls as a 14- and 15-year-old – including his own sisters.

Speaking to his parents, Josh had reportedly confessed to inappropriately touching his sisters and friends while they were sleeping.

 

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A post shared by Anna Duggar (@annaduggar) on Mar 17, 2019 at 10:03am PDT

Later in 2015, Josh, who had been married to his wife Anna since 2008, was exposed in the Ashley Madison hacking scandal as having cheated on his wife. 

However, the pair remained married and have six children: Mackynzie, 13, Michael, 11, Marcus, nine, Meredith, seven, Mason, five, and Maryella, who turns four in November.

On April 23, 2021, Anna announced that the couple were expecting their seventh child, a daughter.

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A post shared by A N N A D U G G A R (@annaduggar)

Five days later, on April 30, Josh was arrested for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material.

According to a news release from federal prosecutors, obtained by People, Josh "allegedly used the internet to download child sexual abuse material. [He] allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12, in May 2019."

His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, made a statement soon after Josh's arrest.

"We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious," their joint statement read.

"It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family."

On December 9, 2021, Duggar was found guilty, just three weeks after the birth of his seventh child, Madyson.

In May 2022, the 34-year-old was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison and ordered to pay fines and special assessments of $50,100 USD.

After his release from prison, Duggar will require the supervision of a parole officer for 20 years and is prohibited from any unsupervised contact with minors, including his own children with his wife Anna. 

Duggar must also participate in sex offender treatment and may not access or view pornography of any kind, including adult pornography. 

He also cannot own any electronic devices with internet access unless approved by his probation officer.

Duggar's father, Jim Bob, his wife, Anna, and his siblings, Joy-Anna and Jason Duggar, were present in court to support him.

Recent reports state that since his imprisonment, Anna and her seven children visit Josh in his Texas prison "regularly".

Jana Marie Duggar

Jana was dubbed Cinderella Duggar for her house-cleaning and child-caring role in the family, as she was the eldest and unwed at 29.

In 2018, it was rumoured photographer Caleb Williams was courting Jana, but there was no "courtship announcement". 

Despite this, he did share a photo on social media in October 2017 holding Josh and Anna’s son Mason – so he has certainly met the family. 

However, in 2019, sister Jessa confirmed she wasn’t in a relationship, responding to a comment which surmised Jana’s foray into social media hinted at a possible courtship announcement.

"That’s been merely coincidence for some," wrote Jessa. "Definitely not a prerequisite. She’s not in a relationship."

"But if anyone is interested, please send all applications to me," she continued.

"I will check them out thoroughly."

As for her career, Jana Marie remodels houses.

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A post shared by Jana Duggar (@janamduggar)

John David Duggar

In 2018, Jana Marie’s twin, John David, announced that he was officially "courting" 30-year-old nurse Abbie Burnett.

A post shared by TLC (@tlc) on Jun 26, 2018 at 9:03am PDT

"We are so excited to announce the courtship of John David and Abbie!" Michelle and Jim Bob wrote in a statement via the family’s website.

"We fell in love very quickly," John David told TLC. "It’s been a wonderful journey thus far, and [we’re] taking the next step to move on to a courtship."

A few months later, the couple announced their marriage on November 3, 2018.

"We are so excited to be married! It was a beautiful moment and we so appreciate our friends and family for sharing this day with us. Most of all we are thankful to Christ for bringing us together. This is going to be an amazing journey!" they wrote on the Duggar family website.

Six months after the couple married, they announced they were expecting their first child together.

Their daughter, Grace Annette, is now three years old.

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A post shared by John and Abbie (@johnandabbie)

In May 2022, Abbie announced she was pregnant with their second child, a boy. 

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A post shared by John and Abbie (@johnandabbie)

They welcomed their son, Charlie, in September – making them a family of 4.

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A post shared by John and Abbie (@johnandabbie)

Jill Michelle Duggar

Fans of the show might remember that Jill met her now-husband Derick Dillard shortly before he went to Nepal to serve as a missionary.

#littlehappyfamilyof4 #soblessed #boymom????

A post shared by  Jill Dillard (@jillmdillard) on Jul 31, 2017 at 3:43pm PDT

After speaking over Skype, visiting him – with her father – and starting a formal "courtship" when he returned in November 2013, the pair announced their engagement in April 2014 and were married in June.

Jill, now 31, has since given birth to the couple’s two sons, Israel, seven, and five-year-old Samuel. In 2022, they welcomed their third child together – another son, named Freddy. 

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A post shared by Jill (Duggar) Dillard (@jillmdillard)

In June 2015 on The Kelly File, Dillard identified herself as one of the girls who her oldest brother Joshua Duggar had molested as a teen. 

Dillard reported the abuse consisted of inappropriate touching while she was asleep, saying she did not know it had occurred until her brother confessed to her parents, and her parents spoke to her about the abuse.

Dillard stated that the release of the police reports felt like a "revictimisation", and she expressed concern that the police reports detailing her abuse being made public might discourage other families experiencing abuse from seeking help.

Jessa Lauren Duggar

Just your average Onyx ☕️ and Thai food “date night”– you know, with ???????????????? tagging along… and the shocking discovery of a ???? when you pull down your sun visor. ???????????? LOVE YOU, BABE. @ben_seewald ????❤ Swipe left for more pics and videos. . . (P.S. I totally jumped to the back of the car and started shouting “Black widow!” And yes, he did relocate and dispose of the ????.

A post shared by  Jessa Seewald (@jessaseewald) on Aug 31, 2017 at 5:25pm PDT

After meeting her now-husband, Ben Seewald, through the church, 29-year-old Jessa married in November 2014. A year later, they welcomed son Spurgeon, now seven, followed by five-year-old Henry in February 2017, and three-year-old Ivy in May 2019.

On February 18, 2021, the couple announced they were expecting their fourth child, after experiencing a miscarriage in 2020.

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A post shared by Jessa Seewald (@jessaseewald)

In July 2021, the family welcomed baby Fern.

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A post shared by Jessa Seewald (@jessaseewald)

Jinger Nicole Duggar

Jinger married former professional soccer player Jeremy Vuolo in November 2016. They began courting when she was 22 and he was 28.

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A post shared by Jinger Vuolo (@jingervuolo)

Jinger gave birth to their first child Felicity Nicole Vuolo on July 19, 2018.

On May 28, 2020, the couple announced they were expecting their second daughter after a miscarriage in 2019. On November 22, 2020, Jinger gave birth to their second daughter, Evangeline.

Jinger has recently shared her honest thoughts on the church and her family's practice of religion – claiming that she didn't realise until 2017 how "cult-like" their religion was. 

"Fear was a huge part of my childhood," she explained to People earlier this week. "I thought I had to wear only skirts and dresses to please God. Music with drums, places I went or the wrong friendships could all bring harm."

On one occasion, she recalled having to partake in a family outing to play sports and feeling "terrified" she was defying God's will. "I thought I could be killed in a car accident on the way because I didn't know if God wanted me to stay home and read my Bible instead," she shared.

For context, the religion that the Duggar family subscribe to is IBLP (Institute in Basic Life Principles), which was run by Gothard until 2014 when he was accused of molestation and harassment by over 30 women within the church. The teachings of IBLP encourage women to serve their husbands and shun dating and dancing for its 'sinful' nature. 

"[Gothard's] teachings, in a nutshell, are based on fear and superstition and leave you in a place where you feel like, 'I don't know what God expects of me'," Jinger said. "The fear kept me crippled with anxiety. I was terrified of the outside world."

"His teachings were so harmful, and I'm seeing more of the effects of that in the lives of my friends and people who grew up in that community with me," she explained. "There are a lot of cult-like tendencies."

Jinger did eventually decide to leave IBLP, but she still identifies as a Christian. 

She told People that although the journey to get where she is has been emotionally exhausting, it has also been the "best thing I've ever done".

"I just feel every day I'm just so grateful to not be so bogged down by fear and superstition and thinking that God's out to get me," she said. "It has been so freeing."

Joseph Garrett Duggar

Joe and Kendra had such a beautiful wedding day with each detail being looked after. We are so happy to share more photos of the incredible day! •link in the bio•

A post shared by  The Duggar Family (@duggarfam) on Mar 26, 2018 at 7:50pm PDT

Joe, now 28, married Kendra Caldwell, 24, in September 2017 and just 39 weeks later, Kendra gave birth to baby Garrett. In November 2018, their second child, Addison was born.

In February 2021, the couple welcomed their third child, Brooklyn. 

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A post shared by Joseph and Kendra Duggar (@littleduggarfamily)

Josiah Matthew Duggar

With one "failed courtship" on his record, Josiah pleased his parents when the 26-year-old entered an official courtship with Lauren Swanson, 23.

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A post shared by Josiah and Lauren Duggar (@siandlaurenduggar)

"It was really exciting to hear Lauren say, 'Yes, I will start a courtship with you.' It was really good to hear that, and she was genuinely surprised," Josiah told TLC.

On June 30, 2018, the couple got married.

Just over a year later, the couple welcomed their first child, Bella Milagro Duggar.

Joy-Anna Duggar

A post shared by The Duggar Family (@duggarfam) on Aug 30, 2017 at 9:03am PDT

Joy-Anna, 25, married Austin Forsyth in May 2017, and gave birth to the couple’s first child, Gideon Forsyth, on February 23, 2018.

Curiously, Joy-Anna has been the biggest detractor of her parents' faith, with a leaked video from her wedding rehearsal dinner revealing she 'struggled' with accepting her family’s rigid belief system.

"I can’t speak and cry. It’s terrible," she said in a clip obtained by Us Weekly. "First of all, I want to say that Joe, I’m so thankful for you. You really did change my life. Just through my teen years, I think I was having a hard time taking my parents' faith as my own and you really befriended me as an older brother."

On August 21, 2020, their daughter, Evelyn Mae, was born.

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The rest of the Duggar children

We thought you might like to know how old the youngest of the Duggar children are now. Twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah are now 24, Jason is 22, James is 21, Justin is 20, Jackson is aged 18, Johannah is 17, Jennifer is 15, Jordyn-Grace is 14 and Josie, the youngest, is now 13.

In 2020, Jedidiah ran for State Representative in his hometown of Springdale, Arkansas. And on April 3, 2021, he tied the knot with Katey Nakatsu, who is also 23.

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A post shared by Jed Duggar (@jed_duggar)

In September 2021, the couple announced they were expecting; and in May, Katey gave birth to their son, Truett.

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A post shared by Jedidiah 🤍 Katey Duggar (@jed_duggar)

Jeremiah lives five minutes away from his brother and works as a pilot.

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A post shared by Jeremiah Duggar (@jerduggar)

In October 2021, he announced he was courting Hannah Weismann; and in March, the couple got married.

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A post shared by Jer Duggar (@jerduggar)

Jason renovates and sells houses.

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A post shared by Jason Duggar (@jaseduggar)

And on February 26, 2021, Justin wed his fiancée of three months, Claire Spivey. 

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A post shared by Justin Duggar (@justinsamduggar)

Feature Image: Getty.