Why Amy Duggar King Felt “Silenced” on 19 Kids and Counting

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Amy Duggar King plans to be a different kind of parent.

Amy Duggar, who appeared on the TLC show *19 Kids and Counting* and is the niece of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, has shared how much she’s changed since being on the show. She attributes a lot of her growth to her husband, Dillon King.

In an exclusive interview with TopMob News, Amy said watching old videos of her time on *And Counting* is a strange experience. ‘I barely recognize that girl,’ she explained. ‘She was a shadow of her true self – scared, unable to speak up, and living in constant fear.’

Now, the 39-year-old author—releasing her memoir, *Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder With the Truth*, on October 14th—is excited to share who she truly is.

She explained that she wanted to introduce herself and declare a fresh start. ‘I’m making a big change and choosing to live a peaceful life from now on,’ she said.

Amy credits her husband, Dillon—her partner of 10 years and the father of their 5-year-old son, Daxton—with helping her achieve everything she has.

She admitted it took her a long time to recognize that some of the things she learned growing up – as a child, teen, and young adult – were actually harmful. She simply accepted what she was taught and never thought to question it.

Amy explained that Dillon helped her realize she was engaging in unhealthy behavior. He pointed it out to her, and she’s grateful for his guidance, as he’s played a big part in her personal growth.

Dillon wasn’t the only one who supported Amy. Her cousin, Jill Duggar Dillard, was also a huge help when Amy started writing her memoir.

Writing the book was a struggle, but I was so grateful to have Jill’s support,” Amy said. “We had so many personal conversations – everything from the heart, just between the two of us. That’s what really built our trust – being able to be completely open and honest without worrying about what we said. We could just speak freely, knowing it would stay private.

As she explained, she and Jill share a deep and unbreakable trust, like a secure vault where everything is safe.

Amy shared that she and the other person have become very close over time, and their connection continues to deepen.

She added, “I really appreciate her.”

For more on the Duggar family, read on.

These two began dating in high school and eventually became parents to 19 children and grandparents to more than 36 grandchildren.

Michelle remembers accepting Christianity at age 15. Shortly after, Jim Bob was visiting homes in the neighborhood as part of his church’s outreach program. A friend mentioned a new Christian cheerleader lived at the Ruark family’s house, so Jim Bob went to their door.

Jim Bob and Michelle met at Sunday school, and Jim Bob hoped they would become each other’s spiritual guides, though Michelle didn’t remember their first encounter as vividly. A year later, Michelle applied for a job at the frozen yogurt shop owned by Jim Bob’s parents. She recalled in a 2017 blog post for Jim Bob’s birthday and their 33rd anniversary that he was shy but kind when she interviewed. She barely remembered their conversation, except that he eventually worked up the nerve to ask her to the junior-senior banquet!

I remember when Jim Bob and I first really connected. We’d gone to a dinner together at Shiloh Christian, but it wasn’t until after, when we were at my parents’ house just talking about the Bible for hours, that I knew something special was happening. As I look back, that’s when our hearts truly began to connect. We didn’t waste any time – we graduated high school in May of 1984 and were married just two months later in July. I was only 17, and Jim Bob was 19, but we knew we were meant to be together.

The couple dedicated themselves to God and each other for the long run.

Oh my gosh, Jim Bob is just… amazing! He used to be a state representative, you know? From 1999 to 2002 he represented the sixth district in Arkansas, and he was even the vice chair of the House of Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee – so important! He tried to get to the U.S. Senate in 2002, but sadly didn’t make it past the primary. And then in 2006, he ran for the State Senate, District 35, as a Republican, but it didn’t work out then either. Still, he’s a legend in my book!

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, both licensed real estate agents, are known for their involvement in conservative activism. This aspect of their lives made them both strong supporters and vocal critics of the reality TV show *19 Kids and Counting* (originally titled *17 Kids and Counting* when it began in 2008).

As of October 2024, they were grandparents of 33 with three on the way.

Josh Duggar, the oldest of the Duggar children, was born on March 3, 1988. Like his parents, he became involved in conservative activism, working with the Family Research Council.

Josh Duggar resigned after old police records from 2015 became public, detailing accusations that he had sexually abused multiple girls, including his sisters Jessa and Jill Duggar, when he was a teenager. In a June interview with Fox News, Jessa defended her brother, claiming the accusations were exaggerated and untrue, and stated she was one of the victims herself, which is why she felt comfortable speaking out.

His wife, Anna Duggar, whom he married on September 26, 2008, in a ceremony shown on the show *19 Kids and Counting*, remained supportive even after he confessed to infidelity.

In 2016, when he began treatment, his parents described it as an important start to his recovery process.

Anna and her husband have seven children: Mackynzie (born October 8, 2009), Michael (June 15, 2011), Marcus (June 2, 2013), Meredith (July 16, 2015), Mason Garett (September 12, 2017), Maryella Hope (November 27, 2019), and Madyson Lily (October 23, 2021). Meredith was born on the same day TLC canceled *19 Kids*.

In April 2021, Josh was indicted on federal charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, and he initially pleaded not guilty to both. In 2022, he was convicted on both counts, though the judge later dismissed the possession charge. He was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison.

Soon after Josh arrived, Michelle became pregnant again, but sadly, she lost the baby. While they were still sad about this loss and seeking direction, they were overjoyed to discover they were expecting twins.

It felt like a wonderful gift from God,” she shared. “It was a real encouragement to us during a challenging time, and we’re still figuring things out. It’s quite rare, because I choose to breastfeed, and my children are born very close together – only eight months apart. It’s just another unique aspect of what we’re going through, and we believe God is guiding us.

John David Duggar and his twin sister Jana Duggar were born on Jan. 12, 1990.

John David and Abbie-Grace Burnett married on November 3, 2018, after a quick romance and engagement. They had known each other for several years, but first met in person at a church event in Oklahoma, where Abbie grew up.

They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar on Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar in September 2022.

In January 2020, on their 30th birthday, Jana shared a touching message with her brother, John. They’d often been asked if they had a special ‘twin connection’ – that feeling of sharing each other’s thoughts or emotions. Jana had always said no, but she explained that when their niece, Gracie, was born, she felt just as much joy as John did. She jokingly admitted that maybe the ‘twin thing’ was real after all!

Jana told them, “It’s lovely seeing you and Abbie as parents – you both seem so natural at it! You’ve always been a great brother, and I know you’ll be an amazing dad too.”

Jana watched eleven of her eighteen siblings get married before she met her husband, Stephen Wissmann. Stephen’s sister, Hannah, is married to Jana’s brother, Jeremiah. Though she sometimes felt frustrated by the wait, Jana believes everything happened according to God’s plan.

Jana explained to *People* magazine that she didn’t always see how things fit together, but she trusts that God has a plan for everyone. That’s why she’s choosing to get married later in life. She believes everyone’s journey is unique, and if everyone followed the same path, life would be dull.

Just over a year later, the couple shared that they’re expecting their first baby.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by heartwarming love stories, and Jill Dillard’s is definitely one of them! Born on May 17, 1991, she met her husband, Derick, in a truly charming way. It reminded me of her parents’ romance! He actually stopped by the Duggar family home with his church caroling group one Christmas in 2011 – he grew up just about 45 minutes away, so it was a lovely, serendipitous meeting.

Jim Bob introduced Jill and Derick, and they quickly connected through emails and video calls. That November, Jill and her father visited Derick in Nepal, and their relationship blossomed. In February 2014, Derick formally asked Jim Bob for Jill’s hand in marriage, and they were married on June 21, 2014. They now have three sons: Israel, born April 6, 2015, Samuel, born July 8, 2017, and Frederick, born July 7, 2022.

In April 2024, Jill announced that she had experienced a miscarriage while expecting her and Derick’s first daughter.

In the Amazon Prime Video documentary *Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets*, which debuted in June 2023, Jill and Derick Dillard discussed the controversies and religious beliefs connected to her family.

Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifth child, Jessa Duggar, was born Nov. 4, 1992.

Jessa and Ben met at church, and he began pursuing her in 2013. This formal approach to courtship was new to many viewers, as the family didn’t discuss romantic relationships before engagement. As Jim Bob explained to *People* magazine, courting involves getting to know each other with both families involved and setting goals to see if marriage is right. He contrasted this with dating, where couples often spend time alone, which can sometimes lead to physical intimacy.

I was so thrilled when Ben asked for Jessa’s hand in marriage! He actually proposed in August 2014, and it was incredibly sweet – he held her hand for the very first time while doing it! They didn’t waste any time and were married on November 1st that same year. It was a tough time, though, as Jessa was pregnant with their first child when *19 Kids and Counting* ended. TLC then did a really important special with Jill and Jessa about sexual abuse, which was brave of them and helped educate so many people. Thankfully, Jill and Jessa were able to continue sharing their lives with us, and they eventually starred in their own show, *Jill and Jessa: Counting On*. Over time, the show expanded to include more of the Duggar siblings and became simply *Counting On*, which I’ve loved watching ever since.

Jessa and Ben have four children: Spurgeon, born in November 2015; Henry, born in February 2017; Ivy Jane, born in May 2019; and Fern, born in July 2021. They sadly experienced a miscarriage during the 2022 holidays, but welcomed their fifth child, George, in December 2023.

In August 2025, Jessa announced the birth of son Edward.

The sixth Duggar child, Jinger Vuolo, was born Dec. 21, 1993.

Jinger and Jeremy first connected while doing mission work in Laredo, Texas, and began dating in 2016. They got married on November 5, 2016 – the same day as Jinger’s nephew Spurgeon’s birthday – and quickly faced speculation about whether they were expecting a baby. Being part of a large family of nineteen siblings, coordinating dates was a challenge!

In June 2017, on the show *Counting On*, Jinger shared that she and her family hoped to be settled in Laredo, continuing their ministry and finding ways to serve God.

The couple’s daughter, Felicity, was born on July 19, 2018. They had previously announced in May of that year that they were expecting another child, but shared that Jinger had experienced a miscarriage in the fall of 2017. Their second daughter, Evangeline Jo, arrived in November 2020.

Son Finnegan Charles was born March 29, 2025.

Joseph Duggar, born on January 20, 1995, proposed to Kendra—whom he met at church—in May 2017. He chose a romantic moment—his sister Joy-Anna’s wedding—to ask her to marry him after only a few months of dating.

Joseph admitted he was nervous proposing, but he felt confident she’d say yes, recalling her telling him, ‘I’m just waiting on you!’ Kendra, clearly surprised and overjoyed, told People, ‘I’m so happy and so shocked – I don’t even know what to say!’

The couple has welcomed three children: Garrett, born in June 2018, Addison, born in November 2019, and Brooklyn, born in February 2021.

Eighth in line, Josiah Duggar was born on Aug. 28, 1996.

After dating Lauren publicly for a few months, the couple got engaged in March 2018. He shared that he proposed to her in the same location where her parents had gotten engaged, explaining that the property held a lot of family history and was therefore very meaningful to Lauren.

Lauren’s future mother-in-law, Michelle, shared in a video on the family blog how much they adore her, calling her a ‘precious girl.’ Jessa and Ben also sent their congratulations, along with chocolate candies shaped like hearts and kisses. Michelle jokingly said they knew Lauren and her fiancé probably wanted to save their first kiss for their wedding day, but offered the chocolates as a fun alternative if they visited.

Josiah previously dated Marjorie Jackson, but they ended their relationship in the summer of 2015. He told *People* magazine in March 2016 that they had enjoyed their time together and were both trying to discern what God wanted for them. Ultimately, Marjorie didn’t feel the timing was right, so they decided to take a break from the relationship.

He and Lauren got married on June 30, 2018, and described their wedding day as “absolutely perfect” to *People* magazine. They had their first daughter, Bella Milagro, on November 8, 2019. They chose the name “Bella Milagro”—meaning “miracle baby”—after Lauren experienced a miscarriage in October 2018. The couple expanded their family with another daughter, Daisy, in 2022, and a son named Ezra in May 2023.

Ninth sibling Joy-Anna Duggar was born Oct. 28, 1997.

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth had been friends for 15 years before they began dating. They quickly fell in love, with Austin proposing in February 2017 and the couple marrying just a few months later on May 26, 2017, at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas. Interestingly, this was the same wedding where Joseph Duggar proposed to Kendra Caldwell!

Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth have three children: Gideon Martin Forsyth, born February 23, 2018; Evelyn Mae Forsyth, born August 21, 2020; and Gunner James Forsyth, born May 17, 2023.

Jed and Jeremiah Duggar, the second set of twins born to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, arrived on December 30, 1998.

Jed and Katey Nakatsu married in April 2021 after dating for a year. They have two children: a son named Truett, born in May 2022, and a daughter named Nora Kate, born in June 2023.

Jed and Katey shared the exciting news in July 2024 that they were expecting twin girls. Elsie Kate and Emma Kate arrived on January 8, 2025.

Jeremiah is a certified flight instructor and is married to Hannah Wissmann, who is the sister of Stephen Wissmann (Jana’s husband). They have two daughters: Brynley, born in December 2022, and Brielle, born in February 2024.

They announced the arrival of their third daughter, Emery ‘Emy’ Jane Duggar, on May 18, 2025.

No. 12 Jason Duggar was born on April 21, 2000.

Back in January 2017, the Daily Mail said Jim Bob assisted Jase in purchasing a rundown house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas—roughly 30 minutes from the Duggar family’s property. Jase then went on to launch his own construction business.

He publicly announced his relationship with Maddie Grace on Instagram in May 2024, and they got married in October of the same year.

Charmed No. 13, James Duggar was born July 7, 2001.

He’s not currently dating anyone publicly, but he’s a very loving and involved uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Mom Michelle described James as the ‘fun uncle’ – someone all the younger boys admire and want to emulate. She shared this on his 19th birthday in 2019, noting his knack for figuring things out. Even when he was little, he loved taking apart appliances, understanding how they worked, and then reassembling them – often with his own improvements!

James put in a lot of effort this year and earned his commercial driver’s license! He’s now skilled at operating large trucks and heavy equipment, and we’re excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for him.

No. 14 Justin Duggar arrived on Nov. 15, 2002.

He started dating Claire Spivey in September 2020, and they announced their engagement the following November. They were married on February 26, 2021.

I’ve been following the Duggar family for years, and it’s amazing to see them grow! Jackson Duggar, Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifteenth child, was born on May 23, 2004, and this picture shows him with his older sister, Jill. It’s so sweet to see how close the siblings are!

On Jackson’s sixteenth birthday, his mom, Michelle, complimented his funny personality and said she knew he was eager to finally get his driver’s license.

I remember when Johannah Duggar was born on October 11, 2005! It was such a big deal, and it’s actually what led to the original family special, ’16 Kids and Moving In,’ being made. It feels like yesterday!

On her daughter’s fifteenth birthday in 2020, Michelle wrote about how much joy her daughter brings to everyone. She described her as friendly and sociable, always eager to meet new people. Michelle also shared how much her younger sisters look up to her, and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be her mother.

Jennifer Duggar arrived on Aug. 2, 2007, then the baby of the family.

Their TLC show that premiered Sept. 29, 2008, was christened 17 Kids and Counting.

Now, OMG, she’s a teenager.

Oh my gosh, Jennifer is just… amazing! When she turned thirteen, Michelle wrote about how dependable and loyal she is, and honestly, that’s an understatement! She’s the absolute favorite of all the nieces and nephews – they’re *always* clinging to her, begging her not to put them down! And animals? She’s a total sweetheart with them. She takes such good care of her pets *every single day*, it’s so sweet. Just recently, she even helped raise a whole litter of seven bunnies! Seven! It’s just… perfect. I’m totally obsessed with how kind and caring she is!

Here on the right, the penultimate Duggar child was born Dec. 18, 2008.

Jordyn-Grace was described by her mom in 2019 as a friendly and sociable girl who easily makes friends. Her laugh was often a highlight of their day.

Josie Duggar, number 19 in her family, is pictured here with her niece, Meredith. She was born on December 10, 2009, three months early and weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. She spent six months receiving care in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).

Michelle described her daughter, Josie, as incredibly energetic when writing a birthday message for her 11th birthday in 2020. She noted that Josie is constantly on the go, rarely resting from morning until bedtime!

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2025-10-14 13:19