Between 19 Kids & Counting and Counting On, it feels like we've been following along with Joy-Anna Duggar practically since birth. We've watched her grow, we've seen her meet and fall in love with Austin Forsyth, and we've seen her get married and start her family. And now that she's officially an adult with her own life and children, we have to admit that she's definitely becoming the Duggar to watch β no offense to her many brothers and sisters, of course!
Joy has a lot going for her these days. With a brand new baby in her family, her gorgeous house that she and Austin bought and fixed up in 2019, and her infectiously happy personality, it's hard not to want to keep up with Joy. We have a feeling she's about to do some seriously big things that we won't want to miss out on β whether or not she and Austin end up keeping Counting On a part of their lives in the future.
Here are all the reasons Joy is the Duggar to watch. The older she gets, the more we've seen her come into her own. Like some of her older sisters have done, it seems like she's about to branch out on her own and really become the person she was meant to be all along.
Rainbow Baby Daughter
In August 2020, Joy and Austin welcomed their brand new baby girl, Evelyn Mae Forsyth, into the world, and so far, this newly minted mom of two has been all about posting pictures of her baby girl. Though the newborn period can definitely a tough one, as far as we can tell, Joy is slaying the game, proving yet again what an awesome mom she is.
Sweet Relationship With Austin
Joy and Austin's courtship was short, but it ended up being a match made in heaven β probably because they had been friends as kids first. In the time that they've been married, they've proven time and time again that they are perfect for each other, and seeing them share life's adventures is just too sweet. Serious #RelationshipGoals over here!
Independence From Her Family
Though Joy is definitely still close with her family, she's also been coming into her own a lot more lately. There have been rumors recently that she's planning to step away from Counting On, and she doesn't seem quite as concerned with doing what her parents want as she once was βΒ as evidenced by her recent hospital birth with Evelyn, epidural and all.
Budding YouTube Channel
In early 2020, Joy started her own YouTube channel, Follow The Forsyths, and she's been giving fans a much more intimate peek into her life than TLC ever could offer. She's shared tours of her home, regular vlogs about her pregnancy with Evelyn, and Q&A sessions with Austin. It's pretty cool to get to know her in such a personal way.
Keeps It Real About Motherhood
Like a lot of other toddlers his age, Gideon often gets himself into trouble and makes a lot of messes, and Joy takes it all in stride βΒ and shares it with her followers on Instagram along the way. Joy-Anna Duggar always keeps it real about what being a mom is actually like, even when Gideon's spilling milk all over the kitchen counters, and we love her for it.
Personal Instagram Account
Joy's account was once shared with Austin, but not anymore! This woman has branched out on her own and now, she and Austin have separate accounts, and hers is definitely worth the follow. We like her Instagram much better this way β it's a much more personal look into what Joy is doing and how she's feeling, and her feed is so much fun to keep up with.
Reno Skills
Joy and Austin have built a home renovation and flipping business all on their own βΒ even working on new builds, too βΒ and she frequently shows off her impressive skills. This lady knows how to totally transform a home, including her own, and we will forever be impressed by what she can do. The house she and Austin bought is too cute!
Gideon Is Too Adorable
If anyone needs just one reason why Joy is the one to watch, let that reason be Gideon. This little guy is one of the cutest Duggar grandkids out there, and we've loved watching him grow up. He always seems to have a huge smile on his face, and he has such a sweet personality. He definitely keeps his family (and Joy's Instagram followers) laughing.
Being Adventurous
After watching Joy grow up on 19 Kids and Counting, and even on Counting On, we know that she's always had a passion for adventure and anything that has to do with being active in the outdoors. Even now, she's kept that passion alive, and she's always riding horses, going camping, and involving her kids in everything that nature has to offer.
Most Resilient Spirit
Joy completely blew us away in 2019 when she had to deal with the heartbreaking stillbirth of her baby, Annabell Elise, when she was 20 weeks pregnant. It's unfathomable what that must have been like for her to go through, but Joy managed to stay positive β and so strong through the entire experience, remaining optimistic about what the future held for her and her family.
Relationship With Her Younger Sisters
Even though it's been years since Joy lived with her parents, she still stays close with her younger sisters, and these Duggar siblings have the sweetest relationship. They seem to spend plenty of time together these days, whether they're having movie nights, or hanging out at Austin's family's camp. These sisters will be close for life!
Friendship With Carlin Bates
Joy's best friend is Carlin Bates, and these two have been friends practically since birth. It's so sweet to see their friendship and how they're there for each other in their biggest moments. Carlin was there for Joy when she lost her baby, and Joy has been there for Carlin when her baby was born and when she got married. These two will definitely be friends forever.
Positive Outlook, No Matter What
Every time we look at Joy, she seems to be smiling, and we don't think that's a coincidence! She seems to choose to be positive every single day, and it's clear the effect that has on everyone around her β including her kids. It's easy to let stress get us down, but if we all learned from her, the world would be a better place (and we'd probably all be a little less grumpy).
Doing Her Own Thing
Joy has always done her own thing β even if it was different from what everyone else was doing. As a kid, her sisters were way more into hanging out inside and doing more stereotypically "girly" things, but Joy was outside with the boys β getting dirty and playing barefoot in the grass β and since then, absolutely nothing has changed.
So Many Great Things Happening in Her Life
Between her YouTube channel, her adventures as a new mom of two, and potentially starting a chapter of her life where she's not a part of a reality show β for practically the first time since she was born β Joy has a lot of exciting things happening for her. We don't want to miss any of it,Β and there's something about her that always brightens up our day every time she shares an update.
Being Her Best Self
Joy recently shared with her followers that she's working harder on being healthy β both in her eating habits and in introducing exercise into her routine. She's shared her journey on Instagram, admitting to her followers that it doesn't come easy for her. Just another way she's keeping it real!
A Bit of a Rebel
Like a few of her sisters who have come before her, Joy's begun to break the Duggar family's rules when it comes to her wardrobe. Lately, Joy's been spotted a few times wearing pants βΒ the scandal! Though she's definitely more likely to be seen in skirts and dresses, when the situation calls for it, Joy's been a lot more willing to pull her pants out of her closet.
Family Photo Shoots
Since Evelyn was born in 2020, Joy's already had a couple of truly beautiful family photo shoots done, and they give us such inspiration for photos of our own. It definitely makes us feel like Joy's coming for the Instagram fame she rightfully deserves!
