Jinger Vuolo is the sixth-born child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, the famous parents
responsible for the hit reality show 19 Kids and Counting, which collapsed in 2015 under
a mountain of controversy.
Of her eight sisters and 10 brothers, Jinger has managed to stand out as the relatively
rebellious one — a social media favorite who inspired campaigns from fans urging her
to escape her family's conservative brand of Christianity.
Here's a look at what sets Jinger apart from the rest of the Duggar family.
Hugging it out
While Jinger and husband Jeremy Vuolo's official website suggests they're committed to Christian
values, there are the signs that the pair may not be fully on board with the Duggar
family's ultra-conservative brand of spirituality.
For example, Ma and Pa Duggar maintain strict rules about physical contact while dating.
As the Inquisitr notes, family patriarch Jim Bob is famously "so afraid of normal hugs
causing impure thoughts and feelings that he only allows his kids to side hug each other."
But as Jinger took her "courtship" with Jeremy to the next level, The Hollywood Gossip reported
that they may have violated the rules by giving each other a front hug.
Fans were reportedly abuzz after a clip from the spin-off Counting On revealed the supposedly
scandalous squeeze.
In one episode, Jeremy said they typically express affection in a more conservative way:
"Jinger and I are both very affectionate.
It means a lot to have an arm around [each other] or something, and that's how we express
our affection.
We have a clean conscience as long as it's not leading us to impurity."
The pair even waited until their wedding day to kiss:
"Super special moment, there together, everybody witness it.
Maybe a little awkward if we miss.
But, hey, we're going to do it anyways."
You may be thinking: what's the big deal about a little front hug?
Well, it's just one of many strict Duggar dating rules.
The family also believe parents should chaperone all of their kids' dates, regardless of how
old the kids are, until after they get married.
Jinger and Jeremy appear to be only slightly less conservative:
"If we open a lot of doors physically, then the time spent together basically becomes
a time of saying, 'Okay, we can't cross this line, we can't cross this line.'
And it becomes difficult."
Hubby's checkered past
In 2008, years before Jinger and Jeremy met, the former Major League Soccer star and current
pastor was arrested for harassing a police officer during a drunken night in college,
according to In Touch.
The police report said Jeremy was "acting belligerent and shouting obscenities."
Jeremy has admitted he was a part of the "college party scene," but after the arrest, he supposedly
stopped living "foolishly" and became a minister.
As if that wasn't scandalous enough, the tabloid reports that Jeremy also has a tattoo, which
is another big no-no for the Duggars.
"While it's hard to make out what he has inked on his body, many viewers have speculated
that it's a bible verse–considering his dedication to his religion."
Wedding day woes
In 2015, the Duggar family's wholesome public image imploded when Michelle and Jim Bob revealed
that their oldest child, Josh, messed with four of his sisters and a babysitter when
he was a teen and they were minors.
While Jill and Jessa have spoken publicly about their family's ordeal, Jinger has remained
quiet on the topic.
Just a few short months after their engagement, Jinger and Jeremy tied the knot on November
5, 2016.
Producers of Counting On reportedly worked frantically to incorporate the wedding into
the spin-off show's second season, but there was just one problem: Josh.
According to the Daily Mail, Josh was banned from appearing on TLC after his
scandal prompted the network to cancel 19 Kids and Counting.
The camera crew apparently had to get very creative to obscure his presence at the nuptials,
showing only the back of his head or taking advantage of "strategic" angles on some shots,
blocking out Josh in the background.
Dress code breaker
Jinger has made waves for wearing pants and sometimes even shorts, which her parents do
not deem appropriate for women, according to The Hollywood Gossip.
However, there's an asterisk connected to Jinger's pants rebellion.
She's reportedly only allowed to wear slacks because her husband permits it.
The tabloid said Jeremy addressed women's wardrobes during one of his sermons in Texas.
"It is your liberty as to whether you dress modestly with a modest pair of pants, or with
a skirt, or with a T-shirt, or with a blouse.
[...] It is not your liberty, women, to wear clothing that is designed
to draw the attention of your brothers."
Globetrotter
While her parents would reportedly prefer for their kids to stay close to their homestead
in Arkansas, Jinger expressed the desire to live in a city back in 2012, and Jeremy, a
New Jersey native, proposed in the Big Apple.
Is big city living in their future?
Mama Michelle told Radar Online back in 2013, “New York City is way above what we would
ever consider a city where she should move!”
As of the making of this video, Jinger and Jeremy are residing in Laredo, Texas.
But this move still makes Jinger "the first member of her family to permanently relocate,"
according to People.
Rumors began swirling in September 2017 that the young couple may even be considering a
big jump across the pond to pursue a job opportunity in Scotland.
Considering the former homebody also chose to honeymoon in Australia, this dramatic untethering
from her huge core family wouldn't be that out of character.
"We just hung out with a batch of kangaroos yesterday, and they were the cutest things
in the world."
"They are very cute, aren't they?
Very cute, and delicious."
Thanks for watching!
Click the Nicki Swift icon to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Plus check out all this cool stuff we know you'll love, too!