Finding a partner who actually shares your "vibe" is hard enough when you aren't a Hollywood A-lister. For Josh Duhamel, that search meant looking far away from the glitz of Los Angeles and heading back to his Midwestern roots. If you've been keeping up with the Transformers star, you know his life looks a whole lot different than it did during the Fergie era.
The current Josh Duhamel wife is Audra Mari, a former Miss World America and a fellow North Dakotan. They’ve been married since 2022, but their story isn’t just some whirlwind celebrity fling. It’s actually a pretty grounded tale about two people who grew up four hours apart but had to go to Hollywood to find each other.
Who Exactly Is Audra Mari?
Most people recognize Audra from the pageant world, and for good reason. She didn't just participate; she dominated. Born January 8, 1994, in Fargo, Audra has a pretty diverse background—her grandfather moved to the U.S. from the Philippines to build a better life for his family.
She wasn't always the confident "beauty queen" you see on TV, though. Honestly, she’s been super open about being bullied in high school. She once told Seventeen that girls used to throw bags of "horse food" at her because of her height and features. It’s kinda wild to think a future Miss World America (she took the title in 2016) went through that.
Before she met Josh, Audra was making a name for herself:
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- Represented North Dakota at Miss Teen USA 2011 (1st Runner-Up).
- Placed 1st Runner-Up at Miss USA 2014.
- Moved to Miami at 20 to model for brands like H&M.
- Hosted travel shows for InForum and the Welcome Channel.
How the North Dakota Connection Sparked
You might think they met at some fancy Oscar party. Nope. They actually met through mutual friends around 2019, right as Josh was finalizing his divorce from Fergie.
Josh has admitted he was hesitant at first. There’s a 21-year age gap between them—he’s currently 53 and she’s 32. He told the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast that things were "strictly platonic" for a long time. He kept telling himself, "Nah, she's too young, I'm not even going to go there."
But then he invited her to a barbecue. He realized she was actually more mature than he was. Plus, they both loved "lake life" and the simplicity of North Dakota. It’s that shared DNA of being "hardcore North Dakotans" that really sealed the deal.
The Proposal and That Fargo Wedding
Josh didn't go the standard "ring in a champagne glass" route. In January 2022, he staged a "message in a bottle" proposal on a beach. He literally found a bottle, stuck a note inside asking "Audra Diane Mari Will You Marry Me?", and made sure she found it.
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They got married on September 10, 2022. They didn't do it in Malibu or France. They went home to Fargo.
The ceremony was at a local Lutheran church, and the reception was on the rooftop of the Jasper Hotel. But the best part? After the formal stuff, they hopped into a vintage red Cadillac and rolled up to a local dive bar called Duffy’s Tavern. Imagine being a regular there and seeing a Hollywood star and a Miss World winner walk in wearing full wedding gear to grab a drink. That’s just how they roll.
Growing the Family
One of the biggest questions fans had was whether they’d have kids. Josh already has a son, Axl (born 2013), with Fergie. Well, in January 2024, the couple welcomed their first child together, a boy named Shepherd Lawrence Duhamel.
The transition to a blended family seems surprisingly smooth. In the world of messy celebrity breakups, Josh and Fergie are actually the "gold standard" for co-parenting. Fergie even commented on their pregnancy announcement, saying she was "truly happy" for them. There’s zero drama there, which is probably why the Josh Duhamel wife transition felt so natural to the public.
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Life Away From the Spotlight
If you’re looking for them at every red carpet event, you might be disappointed. Josh has been vocal about how much he hates the "Hollywood stuff." He actually moved the family to a cabin in Minnesota to get away from the L.A. grind.
Audra seems to be on the exact same page. While she still does modeling and hosting, she’s clearly embraced the quieter life. They spend a lot of time on the water and staying close to their families in the Midwest.
What You Should Know About Their Future
Despite the age gap that skeptics love to point out, the couple seems rock solid in 2026. They’ve built a life that’s more about fishing and family than paparazzi and premieres.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Follow the Roots: If you want to see what Audra is up to, her Instagram often features her travel hosting and glimpses of life in the Midwest rather than just "influencer" content.
- Co-parenting Lessons: Their relationship is a great example of how to integrate a new spouse into a family with kids from a previous marriage without the friction.
- Career Shifts: Keep an eye out for Josh's newer projects like Ransom Canyon—he’s clearly picking roles that reflect this more "rugged, salt-of-the-earth" phase of his life.
The story of Josh and Audra is basically a reminder that sometimes you have to leave home to realize that what you actually wanted was someone who understands exactly where you came from.