"Counting On" star Joy-Anna Duggar is on the right track to follow in her mother and older sisters' path as a devoted wife and mother. This wasn't, however, always the case for the 20-year-old, who recently admitted she struggled with following the faith her mother and father practiced.
Her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who starred in the reality TV series "19 Kids and Counting," are from the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). The religious group imposes strict standards that mold female members into homemakers, wives and mothers who help their husbands grow the family.
In a recent episode of "Counting On," Joy-Anna revealed that there was a point in her young life where she had doubts about following this path. It took her brother Joseph Duggar to guide her way.
"Just through my teen years, I think I was having a hard time taking my parents' faith as my own," Joy-Anna confessed as she spoke to Joseph during his wedding rehearsal dinner. "You really befriended me as an older brother."
The "Counting On" star did not elaborate how she struggled to understand her parents' beliefs but Joy-Anna said that her brother did small acts that mattered to her. He constantly assured his sister of his brotherly love and support.
As a child, the family regarded Joy-Anna as a tomboy, who loved climbing trees, didn't fuss about her hair, and spent most of her time with her brothers, according to older sister Jinger. She had to learn to be a lady when it was time for her to accept suitors.
Today, Joy-Anna is a mom to Gideon, who was born in February, and wife to Austin Forsyth. She told UsWeekly that she and Austin look forward to seeing Gideon grow up into a man of faith as well.
"Our desire and thing we're most looking forward to is the day our son understands the gospel," Joy-Anna said.
