COUNTING On’s Jana Duggar is desperate to get married as she’s forbidden from moving out of her family compound until she finds a husband, a source has exclusively told The Sun.
Jim Bob and Michelle’s eldest child, 30, has famously not yet wed – a rarity in fundamental Baptist circles – and she “hates” being the last sister at home at their gated Arkansas mansion.
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A close source told The Sun: “Jana is very independent and more alpha compared to her sisters, but she can’t get a place of her own until she meets someone her family approves of.
“The Duggars are so religious, they wouldn’t agree with her moving out and living alone, or living with a friend or boyfriend, it’s frowned upon, it’s ridiculous but it’s how it’s always been.
“She wants to fly the nest, but it’s hard as she has to find the right guy, which is a goal for all of the girls, and she hates being the last single sister.
“Jana likes doing things on her own and enjoys DIY, she’s not the type who needs looking after in any way, but she’s really ready to move out and live her own life.”
They added: “Her dates are usually chaperoned, even though she’s 30 years old she can’t be alone with a man, it’s the way it’s always been in the family, so it makes it harder for her.
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“She also can’t just join a dating app like other women her age, it’s just not the done thing for the Duggars and they often meet their spouses through family connections.”
Jana previously shared that she feels “a little more pressure” to find a husband because all of her adult sisters — Joy-Anna, 23, Jinger, 27, Jessa, 28, and Jill, 29 — are married.
Fans have dubbed her “cinderella Duggar” while she has also addressed her sexuality after viewers suggested she may be dating her close friend, Laura DeMasie, who moved to Oregon in 2019.
In response to a fan comment speculating on whether she and Laura are in a romantic relationship, Jana replied: “No. And I would like to stop that rumor. I have no interest in girls that way whatsoever.”
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The insider confirmed she has enjoyed a close relationship with fellow reality star Lawson Bates, after the pair hung out with their siblings and he left a flirty comment on her Instagram.
She previously poked fun at not having a man in her life, by posting a photo showing her in a flowy dress and jean jacket, smiling, and holding up a sign that read: “Please form single line.”
Lawson, who is also one of 19 siblings and starred on Bringing Up Bates, shared a comment underneath which read: “Post objective/ Instructions unclear: [Please] explain further,” with a crying laughing emoji and a heart.
His sister Carlin also posted a video of Jana, Lawson and younger Duggar sibling Johanna playing UNO at her home in Tennessee late last year.
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Followers loved the idea of them as a couple and described the pair as the “perfect match”.
But when fans asked if they were dating, Jana quickly responded: “No we’re not a thing.”
The Counting On star has also been linked to family friend Caleb Williams.
Caleb was accused of sexually abusing a minor between the ages of 13 and 17 on or between May 2015 through May 2018.
As The Sun exclusively reported, he was sentenced to 62 days in jail and 18 months probation on January 22 last year.
The Sun has reached out to Jana’s rep for comment.
