It is 2026, and the world looks a lot different for Joy-Anna Forsyth than it did when she was just the tomboy sister on a TLC reality set. You probably remember her as the ninth child in that massive Arkansas family, usually seen in a denim skirt and climbing a tree while a camera crew trailed behind. But the "Counting On" era is a distant memory now.
Honestly, if you haven't been keeping up with her YouTube channel or Instagram lately, you've missed the biggest pivot of her life. She isn't just "one of the Duggars" anymore. She is a 28-year-old mother of three who recently walked away from the very thing that made her famous: constant vlogging.
It was a shocker for fans when Joy-Anna announced she was quitting her regular video schedule. People assumed she’d follow the influencer blueprint forever. But she didn't.
The California "Move" That Wasn't
One of the weirdest rumors that followed Joy-Anna and her husband, Austin Forsyth, was the idea that they were ditching Arkansas for the West Coast. Everyone saw Jinger move to L.A. and assumed Joy was next.
Basically, the confusion started because they sold their iconic "first home"—the one they spent five years renovating—for about $381,000 back in 2025. That was a huge profit considering the property history, but they didn't buy a plane ticket to California.
They stayed local. They wanted dirt.
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Joy-Anna has been open about her dream of having room for the kids—Gideon, Evelyn, and little Gunner—to just run. They moved into a rental for a bit while scouting for the perfect "forever" farm. It’s a very different vibe than the polished influencer life Jinger leads. Joy is still very much a girl of the Ozarks.
Motherhood and the Numbers
Let's talk about the kids for a second. Gideon Martyn is already 7. That feels impossible to anyone who remembers his birth being one of the most-watched episodes of Counting On. Then there’s Evelyn Mae, who is 5, and Gunner James, who turns 3 this year.
Three kids by 28 is "Duggar-lite" compared to her mom, Michelle, but Joy-Anna's approach to parenting has shifted. She still holds onto those fundamentalist roots, but she’s more protective. Austin actually took a lot of heat years ago for refusing to let film crews into the delivery room for Gideon. He wanted privacy. In 2026, that boundary has only gotten stronger.
The couple also went through the devastating loss of their daughter, Annabell Elise, in 2019. That kind of grief changes a person. It made Joy-Anna more raw and relatable than many of her siblings. She doesn't always paint a "perfect" picture. Sometimes the house is a mess. Sometimes she’s "a sweaty mess" after a day of moving boxes.
Why the RV Park Project Sparked Outrage
If you think Joy’s life is all quiet farm days and homeschooling, you’re missing the business drama. Austin is a contractor by trade, but he and Joy have been trying to expand their portfolio.
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They ran into some serious heat with a real estate venture in Elkins, Arkansas. They own about 12 acres of land and tried to get it rezoned for an RV park.
The neighbors? Not happy.
Local residents were worried about the noise, the lack of sewer hookups, and the proximity to a nearby school. It’s a classic example of the "Duggar Brand" clashing with local reality. While they eventually made a massive $12,000 profit over their asking price on their previous home sale, the RV park controversy showed that being a celebrity doesn't mean you get a free pass from the zoning board.
Life After the Cameras
What does a "retired" reality star do for money?
Austin still builds new homes—he moved away from just flipping houses to full-on new construction. Joy-Anna, despite "quitting" the heavy vlogging, still has over a million followers on Instagram. She still does the occasional sponsored post for things like teeth whitening or home goods.
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But the "hustle" is different now.
There’s a lot of talk among fans about whether she’ll have a fourth child soon. In the Duggar world, a three-year gap is almost an eternity. If she announces a pregnancy in late 2026, it would fit her current pattern of being more intentional and less... well, less like a production line.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that Joy-Anna is "escaping" her upbringing.
She hasn't. She’s still very conservative. She still attends a fundamentalist church. However, she has found a way to exist outside of her father’s shadow. She and Austin are financially independent. They make their own choices about where to live and how much of their children’s lives to put on the internet.
In a family where "control" was the primary currency, Joy-Anna’s move toward a quieter, more private life on a farm is a radical act of independence.
Actionable Insights for Following the Forsyths
If you're looking to keep up with Joy-Anna without the clickbait, here is the best way to do it:
- Check her YouTube "Follow the Forsyths" archives: Even though she isn't posting weekly, her old renovation videos are actually great tutorials for DIY home projects.
- Watch the Instagram Stories: This is where the real life happens. She’s more likely to post a 15-second clip of Gideon playing outside than a 20-minute produced video.
- Look for the "Jinger & Jeremy" Podcast: Joy-Anna and Austin occasionally guest star here. It’s where they give their most "unfiltered" interviews about their time on TLC.
- Support local Arkansas contractors: If you're in the Northwest Arkansas area, Austin’s construction work is highly rated, proving that he actually has the skills he claimed to have on TV.
The era of 19 children under one roof is over, but Joy-Anna Forsyth is proving that the ninth child might just have the most stable, grounded life of them all.