It's official: We've got another Duggar wedding to look forward to in the near future! In November, Justin Duggar announced that he is engaged to Claire Spivey, and the news has Counting On fans buzzing. Yes, Justin is very young — he just turned 18 and was technically still 17 when he popped the question — but what about Claire? Until now, many fans weren't even aware that she was in the Duggars' orbit, so who is she?
The obvious answer to that question is that Claire is someone who Justin is clearly crazy about, but there's a lot more to know about her and her relationship with him. She recently opened up her own Instagram account and so has Justin, so slowly, we're getting more and more details about this couple — and our fingers are crossed that when Counting On returns for another season, we'll find out even more.
Here's everything we know about Claire so far. From what we've seen, it looks like she's a perfect match for Justin, even if their relationship has become a bit controversial for fans. Obviously, these two are very happy together, and that's all that really matters in the end.
Claire Is an Older Woman
Although Justin is freshly 18, Claire is a bit older — 19, to be exact, and she'll be turning 20 in February. She also lives in Texas whereas her future husband lives in Arkansas, which means that she and Justin have been in a long-distance relationship while they're courting. From what we've seen so far, it appears Justin may be planning to move to Texas permanently.
She Also Comes From a Big Family
Of course, given that Justin has 18 brothers and sisters, the term "big family" is relative, but by any other definition that doesn't involve the Duggars, Claire does come from a big family herself. She is the oldest of six children, so she's used to always being surrounded by people.
The Spiveys & the Duggars Are Old Friends
According to the Spivey family's Instagram, it seems they've been friends with the Duggars for a while, which is definitely a good thing because they're about to become family for life! It also probably helped everyone involved feel comfortable with the courtship, because it's not like Justin's been spending a lot of time in another state with strangers.
She Attends a Family Camp
On Counting On and 19 Kids & Counting, we've heard the Duggars talk about ALERT, a camp they go to, and as it turns out, Claire and the rest of the Spiveys also go to that camp. It appears she and Justin's family have really been crossing paths for years, which makes their courtship all the more inevitable.
Her Family Is Supportive of Her Relationship
When she and Justin officially announced their courtship in September, Claire's mom made a sweet Instagram post about the couple. She wrote:
"So proud of these two. What a joy it’s been to watch the Lord at work in their lives this last year! Sweet Justin has already been a special part of our family and we greatly love him!"
She Courted Justin for 14 Months
When Justin and Claire shared that they'd gotten engaged in November, they also admitted that they'd actually been courting for 14 months, even though their relationship had only just become public. It's good to know they had plenty of time to get to know each other first!
She's Close With Her Brother
In November, Claire wished her brother, Robby, a heartfelt happy birthday on her Instagram, along with the sweetest caption about what he means to her. She wrote:
"Robby is one of the most thoughtful, tender hearted, and hilarious young men I know. Even though we are not twins, our relationship through the years has been as if we are. He never fails to bring me to laughter in every conversation…and taking a normal photo is a rare occurrence."
Her Faith is Important To Her
Considering how important the Duggars' religious beliefs are to them, it's no surprise that Justin would end up with someone whose faith aligns with his, and Claire seems just as dedicated as he is. She's already posted this photo of a Bible verse on Instagram, trying to engage her followers in discussion.
The Duggars Love Her Already
As much as Claire's parents love Justin, it seems the love for Claire is mutual when it comes to Jim Bob and Michelle. When they shared the news of their courtship on the official Duggar Instagram this fall, they wrote, "We have loved getting to know Claire and her family better over the last year, and we think the world of them!"
She Reminds Fans of Jana
Duggar fans have already pointed out how similar Claire looks to Jana — and of course, some of them found it a bit weird that Justin would go for someone who looks like his older sister. Haters are gonna hate, though, and Claire is beautiful. So what if they both have brown hair?!
She Met Justin at a Family Conference
When Justin and Claire shared their exciting courtship news on Counting On, he explained how they met each other. “Me and Claire met at a family conference, not too long ago,” he said on the episode. “Several months after, I talked with dad and asked if I could start a relationship with her.”
She Had a Similar Upbringing to Justin
Besides Claire and Justin both coming from big families whose faith is very important to them (and that they attended the same camp growing up), it looks like Claire and her siblings were also homeschooled, just like the Duggars. The fact that they understand where each other is coming from will definitely help with their compatibility as a couple.
She & Justin Are Already Having Fun Together
If the photos from their courtship so far are any indication, it appears Claire and Justin are already having so much fun together. Skiing, going out on dates, even just hanging out with their families — these are the memories they will be able to build their marriage on.
Her Engagement Ring is Beautiful
Though some fans have been comparing Claire's ring to Jessa's, the two are definitely different, and there's no denying that Justin picked out a seriously gorgeous piece of jewelry for his future wife. That princess-cut diamond in the center is so pretty, and so is the band of diamonds around it.
We'll See More of Them on 'Counting On'
In a video update that Claire and Justin shared earlier this fall, they said that they will be sharing more of their relationship on upcoming episodes of Counting On, which will hopefully be coming soon. We can't wait to find out more about their courtship that's been happening behind the scenes all these months!
