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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Jinger Duggar, 29, a captivating member of the renowned Duggar family, has become an enigma, leaving fans and followers intrigued about her recent whereabouts. Breaking free from her family's conservative lifestyle, Jinger has embarked on an extraordinary adventure of self-discovery. Along with her husband Jeremy Vuolo, she has ventured into uncharted territory, voicing her own opinions and shedding light on the darker aspects of her upbringing.
'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets' is releasing on Amazon Prime Saturday, June 3, after ruling reality television for many years during their reign on TLC's '19 Kids And Counting', and its spin-off 'Counting On'. The Duggar family that is led by Jim and Michelle became popular for having 19 children and preaching the importance of strong families. However, allegations against their eldest son, Josh Duggar, and his subsequent arrest for possession of child pornography, shattered the carefully cultivated facade of the family.
Jinger Duggar opens Pandora's box
Jinger, in a bold move, openly criticized her parents and the Duggar family for their stringent beliefs and what she referred to as a "Cult-like rule." She revealed that her upbringing was dominated by a focus on "purity" dictated by their religious beliefs. The Duggar clan followed the conservative Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP) led by Bill Gothard. However, Gothard himself faced molestation accusations, leading to his resignation in 2014. Jinger drew parallels in her memoir between her brother, Josh, and Gothard, stating that her brother had been "living a lie," according to US Weekly.
Jinger's journey of self-discovery did not come without hardships. The revelation of Josh's molestation of five young girls, four of his sisters, and the family's babysitter led to the subsequent cancellation of the family's show and thrust them into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Jill Dillard and her sister, Jessa Seewald courageously stepped forward as victims to rectify the situation.
Later, TLC revived the family's show under the title 'Counting On,' focusing on the lives of the older Duggar sisters. However, the show's cancellation in 2021 was inevitable after the eldest son's arrest for child pornography. Josh, husband of Anna Duggar and father to seven children is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for his charges
Where is Jinger Duggar?
Jinger, resilient and determined, embarked on her own unique path. Breaking away from the family's Arkansas roots, she married former professional soccer player Vuolo in 2016. The couple chose to settle in Laredo, Texas, distancing themselves from the conservative norms of the Duggar family. Through her active presence on social media, Jinger offers glimpses into her evolving life and adventures.
Jinger and Vuolo welcomed their first child, Felicity Nicole Vuolo, in 2018. Subsequently, the 29-year-old experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage and revealed it in a book written with her husband called 'The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace with the Promises of God.' Their resilience and faith led them to the birth of their second daughter, Evangeline Jo, in November 2020.
Jinger has fearlessly voiced her thoughts, often challenging the conservative beliefs upheld by her family. Her support for women wearing pants, contrary to the family's preference for skirts and dresses. Earlier, this year, she revealed, "Fear was a huge part of my childhood. 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."
She then claimed, "[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,'" says Vuolo. "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 said. She added, "There are a lot of cult-like tendencies."
