Michelle Annette Ruark Duggar is best known as the mother of Josh Duggar, who s an American convicted sex offender and former reality television personality from the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting. The eldest of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar’s nineteen children, Josh Duggar was the executive director of FRC Action, a lobbying political action committee (PAC) sponsored by the Family Research Council, from June 2013 to May 2015.
He left this position when news broke that he had molested multiple underage girls, including a victim under five years old, when he was aged 14–15. Who Is Michelle Annette Ruark Duggar, Josh Duggar’s Mother?
Michelle Annette Ruark Duggar, Josh Duggar’s Mother
Michelle Annette Ruark Duggar was born October 11, 1966 is an American television personality, real estate agent, and homemaker. She is featured on the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting and its spin-off Counting On.
Michelle was born in Florence, South Carolina, to Gilbert Keith Ruark (1937–2009) and Debi Ruark (née Wood). She has two older sisters, Denise Ruark Ebersol (born 1963) and Evelyn Ruark Goforth (born 1965). The family moved to Arkansas when Michelle was 13 years old.
Michelle met Jim Bob Duggar while they were both students at Liberty University. They married on July 21, 1984. Together they have nineteen children and nine grandchildren. In 2002, the Duggars were featured in an episode of Discovery Health’s medical series A Baby Story. The episode documented the birth of their 16th child, Jackson.
The Duggars’ first book, The Duggars: 20 and Counting!, was released on March 4, 2008. In it they chronicle their life as a family and how their religious beliefs guide their parenting decisions. The family was thrust into the national spotlight in 2015 when it was revealed that Josh Duggar had molested five girls, four of them his sisters, when he was a teenager. Michelle and Jim Bob released a statement saying that they were “heartbroken” and that Josh had “messed up.” In the wake of the scandal, TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting from the air.
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The Duggars have been outspoken critics of same-sex marriage, and Michelle has said that gay couples “are a threat to our society.” In 2015, she signed an open letter to then-Arkansas governor Mike Beebe urging him to veto a bill that would have protected LGBT people from discrimination. The bill ultimately became law without Beebe’s signature.
In November 2015, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar endorsed Ted Cruz for President. Jim Bob said that he was “excited” about Cruz because he is “a man of principle” who will “stand up for what’s right.”
Michelle gave birth to her first grandchild, Mackynzie Renée, on October 8, 2009. She became a grandmother for the second time on July 19, 2011, when her daughter Jill brought home her son Israel David Dillard. On May 15, 2015, Josh and Anna Duggar welcomed their fourth child, Meredith Grace, making Michelle a grandmother for the third time. The couple’s fifth child, Mason Garrett, was born on September 12, 2017.
On April 6, 2021 it was announced that Jim Bob and Michelle are expecting their 20th child together due to arrive in late 2021. This makes Michelle 50 years old at the time of this child’s birth.
Michelle has said that she is open to having more children, even though Jim Bob has said that 20 is enough. She has also said that she would like to adopt more children, either domestically or from other countries.
When asked how she manages to take care of so many children, Michelle has said, “It’s really not any different than taking care of two. You just have more laundry.” She has also said that her faith is what keeps her going, and that she relies on God for strength.