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This Amazon-Bestselling Columbia Fleece Jacket Is 50% Off Now
Although we’re already experiencing and feeling cold winter days, there’s still time to snag a great deal on a durable jacket. Whether heading into the office or running errands for the fam, the truth is that you need a variety of coats and jackets to help you have a product day. Fleece jackets are perfect for busy days when you don’t want too many layers while adding a little style to your outfits. We found a sleek full-zip Columbia jacket that we’re sure you’ll love — and you can get it now at Amazon!
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This Columbia Benton Springs full zip jacket is a seamless option that will keep you nice and snuggly no matter what. It features a 100% polyester material and it’s a simple option that’s versatile enough for anything. Also, it has a full zip design, and it’s super lightweight.
Get the Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Full Zip Jacket for $30 (was $60) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at time of publication but may be subject to change.
To style this jacket, you could pair it with jeans, a sweater and cute ankle booties for a functional, toasty winter look. Or, you could rock it with sweatpants, a slouchy sweatshirt and slippers for a cozy ensemble that works for lazy days indoors or busy days of running errands. Further, it comes in 123 color options and has an XS P to 3XL size range!
While reviewing and gushing over this jacket, an Amazon reviewer said, “This was a gift, and I love my Columbia jacket! The material is thick enough to keep me warm while also not making me uncomfortable moving in. It is a great jacket to dress up or down. I enjoy Columbia products, and I feel like this jacket will get much use in the months and years ahead!”
One more reviewer noted, “I absolutely adore this jacket! I practically wore my grey one to death last winter. When a friend borrowed it, she never returned it, so I was able to snag a new black one for this winter. Both colors are fantastic, and the sizes run a bit small. The medium weight is perfect – it feels sturdy and well-made, and it’s incredibly soft, like wearing a cozy throw blanket.”
Furthermore, it’s officially wintertime, and it’s imperative you have a slew of jackets that can help you meet different weather and style needs. So, if you’re looking for a new warm one to add to your rotation, this Amazon-bestselling Columbia jacket could do the trick!
See it: Get the Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Full Zip Jacket for $30 (was $60) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at time of publication but may be subject to change.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out more from Columbia here, and don’t forget to scope out Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
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All Rules and Behind-the-Scenes Secrets You Didn’t Know About ‘The Traitors’
Peacock’s The Traitors has way more rules — and production secrets — than some fans may realize.
Inspired by Dutch series De Verraders, The Traitors brings together reality TV stars from different franchises — including Survivor, Big Brother, Real Housewives and more — as they compete in a mafia-style game for up to $250,000. The series premiered in 2023 but has already gone through multiple changes.
“My first idea was to do it on a ship in Australia,” creator Marc Pos recalled to Variety in January 2023. “And if somebody had to be out of the game, he or she had to jump into the water and swim to an island, but then I thought it would be too difficult to produce.”
For the American version, actor Alan Cumming was tapped to host and has guidelines of his own.
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“The host is not there very much, and has to be careful not to manipulate the game, influence viewers, or spark doubts within the minds of contestants who are in their bubble,” Pos continued. “But when they’re there, they have to be kind of a friendly yet intimidating figure.”
Despite The Traitors relying on a shroud of mystery, cast and crew have spoken out about the rules and behind-the-scenes secrets fans aren’t privy to. Keep scrolling for a guide to all the surprising revelations — and perhaps helpful answers to some burning The Traitors questions:
What the Cast Members Know About Each Other
Casting director Deena Katz confirmed that contestants don’t know who else is on the show until they arrive in Scotland, telling Time in January 2024, “You don’t want them to be able to research each other or talk to each other or form alliances before.”
Season 2 star Sandra Diaz-Twine, meanwhile, explained on the “Reality After Show” podcast at the time that every player was later provided with photos and information on their fellow contestants to help them narrow down who could be a Traitor.
Taking a Personality Test
During a podcast appearance in January 2024, Mercedes “MJ” Javid recalled taking a 600-question psych evaluation. Executive producer Mike Cotton elaborated to Variety that same month how the tests allow the crew to “see attributes that might make someone a good liar or particularly deceptive.”
“It’s an interesting process. It’s a big group thing,” he explained. “We actually don’t know who the Traitors are until that pick, where Alan walks around and taps them on the shoulder. We watch how they interact when they arrive at the castle. Alan does these chats with them, sitting down and asking them if they’d like to be a Traitor and why. That has a really big bearing on it, as does Alan’s opinion.”
Cotton continued: “It’s almost like a job interview to be a Traitor, and we take all of that into account and decide just before the pick who that should be. We want to make sure we’ve got an interesting mix of characters that will bring their own unique skill set to it.”
Arie Luyendyk, who appeared on the first season, exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2023 about doing “a swim test,” adding, “[It was] to see if we were capable of completing the mission.”
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The Choice Between a Faithful or Traitor
It wasn’t until season 2 that players were able to present their case to Alan about whether they wanted to be a Traitor or Faithful. While viewers at home know who the Traitors are (and how many have been tapped), season 1 star Cirie Fields revealed that other contestants are kept in the dark about crucial details.
“We knew that there could potentially be three to five Traitors in the game,” Cirie told E! News in January 2023 . “That was explained to us from the very beginning.”
The Drink Limit
According to season 2 star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, the endless drinks seen on screen actually come with strict guidelines.
“You can only drink one drink a night anyway, it was quite restricted,” she told Entertainment Weekly in January 2024. “I remember everyone needed a drink from that round table, it was really intense.”
The Filming Schedule
Arie recalled not getting more than six hours of sleep a night. “It takes probably an hour for your brain to kind of shut off,” he told Us in February 2023. “You’re there for so long and it’s one of those things where we probably started at 8 or earlier and we probably were up till about 12 to 2 in the morning, depending on if you’re the Traitor or not, because the Traitors had to do their thing after the whole day was finished.”
In addition to filming long hours, the costars also give away their phones and any other forms of communication.
Taking Up Residence in the Castle
The hit competition series takes place at the stunning and regal Ardross Castle — but do they actually live there while filming? In short, no.
“How glamorous — you come to Scotland, and you stay in the Inverness Airport hotel,” Alan quipped to The Daily Beast in January 2023 about the actual accommodations offered to the contestants.
Alan, meanwhile, has a large changing room which he sometimes used as a place to take naps during production. But ultimately, even he isn’t able to stay at the castle overnight.
The setup in the castle also created guidelines for the players.
“You’re not supposed to talk about the game when the mics aren’t ready or the cameras aren’t on,” Dan Gheesling from season 2 told Business Insider in February 2024. “Because if we say something that’s important and it’s not on camera, they can’t use it on the show.”
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Finding a Place to Gather
After seeing the response to season 1, producers decided to offer players more room in the castle, including the kitchen and an outdoor terrace, in addition to the library, the billiards room, the bar and the roundtable room.
“We’ve got two new spaces this year,” a producer told Parade in December 2023. “We’re calling one the scullery [basically a kitchen], and then outside there’s a tiny little area that’s called the folley which is a little stone-covered area. It’s brilliant. You can get two or three people sneaking out there, and you get these brilliant conversations.”
Catching a Chill in the Castle
Several players — including season 1 star Cody Calafiore — have mentioned how cold the castle is. “If they did get the heat working, it would probably be a little bit better,” Cody joked to Reality Blurred in January 2023.
Restrictions on Self-Promotion
Just because everyone on The Traitors is a star on a reality show doesn’t mean they can promote their brands. Shereé Whitfield from season 2 told People in February 2024 that she was not allowed to wear clothes from her own brand — SHE by Shereé — while on camera.
“They said I could not!” she said about the contract guideline. “You can’t wear your brand.”
Providing Support
Throughout the seasons, Peacock has made sure that every contestant has their own welfare team member.
“They’re checking on you at all times,” MJ said on the “Just Sayin'” podcast in December 2023. “They’re so cheerful and professional. I felt taken care of at all times.” Meanwhile in a separate interview, Ekin-Su said she once cried “overwhelming tears” to a welfare team member.
Security Guards Keep Players in Line
“It’s a massive military operation each night to get the Faithful to bed in individual rooms and get the Traitors back out to have their meeting,” creator Cotton told Variety in January 2024 about attempting to preserve the “secrecy of the Traitors.”
Kate Chastain, who appeared on three seasons of The Traitors in various capacities, told Vanity Fair in January 2023 about how security guards were alway around to prevent players from leaving their hotel rooms.
“Once it was clear that I was not getting the big bucks at the end, I was ready to go home because they ran a very tight ship. There were security guards making sure you never left your room. And we had long days, from breakfast to challenge to banishment,” she details. “By the time you got to your bed, you just wanted to go to sleep and sleep for eight hours because I knew it would be the big day the next day. The food in the highlands of Scotland is nothing to write home about, but it was good enough. I really missed martinis. I really missed a little bit of freedom after a while.”
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Length of a Banishment Roundtable
“It got really intense, you know, a lot of crying, a lot of pointing fingers, a lot of below-the-belt stuff that they didn’t show on TV,” Arie told Us in 2023. “I feel like they kind of kept it pretty chill on TV, but I felt like it was in real life a lot more intense. … I think if it got a little too raw or a little too mean, they just omitted it, you know? They kept it more about the game.”
Allowing Couples Into the Competition
Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan were the first couple to compete on the show when they joined season 2. (They’ve since split.) But just because they were dating doesn’t mean they were treated like a package deal by production, which meant they had to sleep in separate rooms and were not allowed to communicate with each other.
“Marcus asked me for a nail file, and I put it in a paper bag — and they go through everything, you’re not supposed to send anything back and forth — but he wanted a nail file and I was like, ‘I’m just going to send him a nail file,” she recalled to People. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, there’s a banana. He said he wanted a banana.’ So I [write] ‘I love you’ on the banana and send it to him with the nail file.”
The Most Embarrassing Wardrobe Malfunctions of All Time
From split pants and broken straps to showing more skin than initially anticipated, stars have had their fair share of cringe-worthy wardrobe malfunctions. And most of the time, it’s all going down in the public eye.
Whether something is snapping on live television or the wind caused a mishap en route to an event, everyone from Lindsay Lohan to Nicki Minaj has found themselves faced with a clothing crisis — but most are able to handle the debacle with ease.
Take Miley Cyrus for example. The singer kicked off 2022 with her NBC New Year’s special. And while her show was going off without a hitch, things took a turn just before midnight.
While in the middle of her “Party in the USA” performance, the strap on her top snapped right off. Rather than stop singing and scuttle off stage, she tossed her shirt aside, covered up her breasts with her arm and strut backstage to change into a blazer.
She even joked about the incident after the fact, taking to Instagram to share a picture of her outfit in its glory. “Get a good look at the top that didn’t stay on very long …” she jokingly captioned her post.
More recently, Justin Timberlake found himself in a fashion faux pas while performing in Nashville, Tennessee, during his Forget Tomorrow World Tour in December 2024. As he strapped into a harness in preparation for his stage to tilt over the audience, fans noticed the safety measure outlined his bulge and the malfunction went viral.
Timberlake later corrected the incident by wearing a noticeably longer shirt during that section of his show.
Keep scrolling to see the most embarrassing celebrity wardrobe malfunctions of all time.
This Amazon-Bestselling Satin Bonnet Is 13% Off Now
Let’s face it: Every woman needs a bonnet in her haircare repertoire. Whether you are a hard sleeper or just like protecting your hair at all costs, a satin bonnet can help make sure your hair stays together no matter what. We found a simple, nifty satin bonnet that will become your new favorite nighttime staple — and you can get it for $13 now at Amazon!
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This Yanibest double-layer satin bonnet is perfect for the girl who’s a rough sleeper but needs to maintain her tresses while she tosses and turns. It features a high-quality long filament satin fabric that’s luxurious and super soft, and it has double-layer protection to keep your sheets clean night after night. Also, it has an adjustable elastic band because we all know we don’t have the same head size, and it comes with a cute satin scrunchie — obsessed.
Get the YANIBEST Double Layer Satin Bonnet for $13 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at time of publication but may be subject to change.
What we love most about this bonnet is how effective it is and how easy it is to wear. Further, we’re head over heels for all of this set’s 15 color options!
While reviewing and raving over this bonnet, one Amazon reviewer said, “I have very long thick hair and got this to help reduce tangles at night. It fits well and has adjustable elastic inside so I can get a good fit. I like that it is reversible and came with a free satin scrunchie too. It has beautiful packaging and it seems well made. I might get a second as a backup because the price is good and I’m very pleased with this.”
Another reviewer noted, “Before I got this sleep bonnet, I was doing research on better hair care, and I saw a recommendation for a hair bonnet, so I decided to give one a try. I am so glad that I got this one! It is beautiful, and I could feel the difference in my hair after a few days. Thank you!”
So, if you’re looking for an easy way to manage your hair while you sleep, this Amazon-bestselling satin bonnet could help!
Get the YANIBEST Double Layer Satin Bonnet for $13 (was $15) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at time of publication but may be subject to change.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out more from Yanibest here, and don’t forget to scope out Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
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Highly Anticipated Book Releases of 2025: Taylor Jenkins Reid and More
For those who started the 2025 by setting their Goodreads goal for the year, Us Weekly has a treat for you.
There are tons of books set to be released this year — in both the fiction and memoir genres — but a few stand out among the rest. Emily Henry is constantly cranking out new books, and this year is no different. Her newest, titled Great Big Beautiful Life, is set to be published in April, just in time for those summer romances.
“What I can tell you about the book is it feels like a spiritual heir to Beach Read, but it’s different,” Henry teased to Us Weekly exclusively last year. “It feels like my first real departure, but it is still both a love story and a romance.”
The author noted that it was a “really emotional” experience writing Great Big Beautiful Life. “It really gripped me in a way that I hadn’t been gripped in a while,” she added.
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While Us is waiting for Henry’s release date with bated breath, there are many books we’re looking forward to reading in 2025. Keep scrolling for 12 of 2025’s highly anticipated releases:
‘Onyx Storm’ by Rebecca Yarros
The third book in The Empyrean presumably starts where the last one left off, with dragon riders Violet and Xaden (who, spoiler alert, turned into a venin) figuring out their next steps after saving Basgiath War College.
Onyx Storm will be released on January 21.
‘Deep End’ by Ali Hazelwood
Another Hazelwood romance? Yes, please. The Love Hypothesis author is set to introduce Scarlett Vandermeer, a platform diver in her junior year of college, who is thrown into a sudden romantic arrangement with swim captain Lukas Blomqvist.
Deep End will be released on February 4.
‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ by Chelsea Handler
The comedian is back at it again with another book, set to be released on her 50th birthday. Handler has a new batch of vulnerable (and hilarious) essays for fans that span the years from childhood to adulthood.
I’ll Have What She’s Having will be released on February 25.
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ by Suzanne Collins
Collins is back with another prequel to The Hunger Games series. This time around, fans of the books will be getting to hear Haymitch Abernathy’s story.
Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on March 18.
‘Elphie: A Wicked Childhood’ by Gregory Maguire
Just as the Wicked hype will be dying down, Maguire is bringing Elphaba’s story before Shiz University to life.
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood will be released on March 25.
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‘Say You’ll Remember Me’ by Abby Jimenez
For the perfect love story, look no further than Jimenez’s latest novel. Say You’ll Remember Me tells the story of Xavier Rush (who just might be the perfect guy) and his perfect date with Samantha.
Say You’ll Remember Me will be released on April 1.
‘Great Big Beautiful Life’ by Emily Henry
Two writers, one story. Both Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson are looking to write the biography of the mysterious Margaret Ives — and no one has seen her in years. Margaret invites both authors for a trial period before picking the one who will tell her story.
Great Big Beautiful Life will be released on April 22.
‘Matriarch’ by Tina Knowles
Beyoncé’s mom has all the tea, and here’s to hoping she’ll spill it. Knowles is set to tell her story, starting off from growing up in 1950s Galveston, Texas, to what it was like raising a superstar.
Matriarch will be released on April 22.
‘One Golden Summer’ by Carley Fortune
There’s nothing better than reading a Fortune book by a body of water (we assume that’s how Meghan Markle read her last book, which she has since optioned to adapt), so just get ready. Alice is a photographer who snapped a photo of Charlie Florek when they were just teens — but now he’s all grown up.
One Golden Summer will be released on May 6.
‘Atmosphere’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reid’s novels (which include Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) transport readers to different worlds and this one is sure to be no different. Taking place during the 1980s Space Shuttle program, this story follows Joan Goodwin and her battle to go to space.
Atmosphere will be released on June 3.
‘Nice Girls Don’t Win’ by Parvati Shallow
Reality TV fanatics, get ready because Shallow will be sharing her Suvivor story from the start and reveal how she became a powerful woman.
Nice Girls Don’t Win will be released on July 8.
‘Cher: The Memoir — Part 2’
If the second part of Cher’s memoir is anything like the first, Us is ready. The songstress will likely kick this book off right where the last one ended and more insane stories are sure to be told.
Cher: The Memoir — Part 2 will be released on November 19.
Former Australian Child Star Rory Sykes Dead at 32 in L.A. Wildfire
Former Australian child actor Rory Sykes died in the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. He was 32.
“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heartbroken,” Rory’s mother, author Shelley Sykes, wrote via X on Thursday, January 9. “[He was a] British-born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine and his grandma’s birthday 29 July 92.”
Rory, who was best known for his childhood role on England’s Kiddy Kapers series, lived in Los Angeles and worked as a humanitarian, author and motivation speaker. According to Shelley, 62, he “had his own cottage” on their family’s 17-acre Mount Malibu estate.
Shelley further noted in her X tribute that Rory’s house “burnt down” on Wednesday, January 8, in the wildfires.
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“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water,” Shelley claimed. “Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day! He will be incredibly missed by [his] mama, his pet peacocks Edgee & Mickie and all his online fans around the world!”
A string of wind-induced wildfires broke out on Tuesday, January 7, devastating buildings across the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles. In addition, many locals left the city limits following mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.
“He said ‘Mum, leave me’ and no mum could leave their kid. I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him,” Shelley told local Australian outlet 10 News, noting she drove to a local fire station for assistance. “When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground.”
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Many celebrities lost their homes to the blaze, like Rory’s self-contained house on his family estate. Per the author’s social media obituary, Rory’s cottage was “decked out with all the latest Apple gadgets” that were also lost in the fire.
“[Rory] was the founder with me of @happycharity a true humanitarian. He saw himself as the number one fan of @Apple & @tim_cook and most importantly an avid @RuneScape gamer,” Shelley continued in her X statement, adding that her son was “born blind with cerebral palsy and had difficulty walking.”
She continued, “He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight & to be able to learn to walk. Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”
Rory had also overcome his disabilities to have a career as an author and motivational speaker.
“@rorysykes was a sought-after inspirational speaker for @TonyRobbins when he was only 8 years old,” Shelley added. “@CallumsCure book first published by @simonschuster in Australia was about his courage.”
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Zendaya and Tom Holland 'Are on the Same Page' About Having Kids: Source
Zendaya and Tom Holland were sure to discuss having children before their recent engagement.
“Tom really wants to have a family, and [he] and Zendaya are on the same page about having kids and wanting to start a family together,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly. The insight comes after Us confirmed on Monday, January 6, that the couple had gotten engaged.
Noting that “Tom is absolutely in love with her,” the insider said that Holland, 28, is “very focused on building a family and his career.” The source continued: “Tom is [a] very old-school English guy in the way that he wants to have a family and have kids relatively young.”
Both actors come from big broods, as Tom is the eldest of his parents Dominic and Nikki Holland’s four sons — including twins Harry and Sam, 25, and Paddy, 20. Zendaya, 28, is the only child of her divorced parents, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman and Claire Stoermer, but has five older siblings from her father’s previous relationship.
Zendaya and Tom Holland's Relationship Timeline
Tom opened up about his future fatherhood plans in an interview with Men’s Health earlier this month, revealing he plans to put a pause on acting once he becomes a dad. “When I have kids, you will not see me in movies anymore,” he shared. “Golf and dad. And I will just disappear off the face of the earth.”
News of the couple’s engagement broke one day after Zendaya flashed a diamond ring at the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday, January 5. “Zendaya tried to keep it a secret but was very excited to show off her ring,” the same source exclusively told Us on Monday. “She didn’t think people would notice but didn’t care either way.”
According to the insider, Tom decided the holidays were “the best time to propose in a very low-key way,” as Zendaya “didn’t want anything over the top.” The source added: “Tom wanted to propose because he feels he is at the right time in his life and feels ready to settle down. They had many conversations over the years, but there was never any pressure. Zendaya is giddy and excited. She knew it might have been coming but never put pressure on it.”
Tom’s father, Dominic Holland, 57, confirmed the engagement news in a Friday, January 10, blog post via his Patreon account, revealing that Tom purchased Zendaya’s ring himself, had “everything planned out” and “had spoken with her father and gained permission to propose to his daughter.”
The Spider-Man costars first sparked romance rumors in 2017, though Zendaya went on to date her Euphoria costar Jacob Elordi from 2019 to 2020. She and Tom rekindled things not long after and their relationship status was confirmed after being spotted kissing in a car in July 2021.
Tom Holland and Zendaya’s Quotes About Their Relationship Over the Years
“These two are the real deal,” a separate source exclusively told Us in July 2024. “They started as besties, and that’s [why] their relationship is rock solid … Their families are all in. [They] think they’re perfect together.”
Zendaya put her engagement ring on display while attending a screening of her film Challengers on Monday, using the dazzler to accessorize her black leather blazer and matching tulle skirt. She completed the look with a ponytail hairstyle and bangs as well as a pair of diamond stud earrings.
With reporting by Amanda Williams
What Jinger Duggar Has Said About Her 'Cult-Like' Upbringing
Jinger Duggar has been honest about the challenges of growing up in the TLC spotlight — and of breaking free from the conservative teachings of her childhood.
Jinger is one of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children who were raised as followers of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, a fundamentalist organization founded by the controversial leader Bill Gothard. Fans watched along as Jinger and her siblings navigated their daily lives on 19 Kids and Counting, which ran from 2008 to 2015, and the spinoff Counting On, which aired from 2015 to 2021.
After stepping away from the world of reality TV, Jinger began to form her own ideas about faith with the help of her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, whom she married in 2016. “I’m grateful for my childhood. It was not perfect … but at the end of the day, I’m grateful for my parents,” Jinger said on the “Unplanned” podcast in June 2024. “I love them, we have differences, everything’s not perfect between us, but I think that at the end of the day, I love them and I know that they know that.”
Jinger previously opened up about her upbringing in her books The Hope We Hold and Becoming Free Indeed, detailing the quirks of her religious background and the different perspectives she has now. Her latest memoir, People Pleaser, which debuts in January 2025, will delve deeper into the “not-so-healthy path” she was on.
Jinger Duggar's 'Becoming Free Indeed' Book Revelations
“I realized I was a people-pleaser from the time I was a teen. … There [is] people-pleasing that shows up in everybody’s life, every single day and I think that’s why now is the time to write this book,” she said on the “Jinger & Jeremy” podcast in September 2024. “It’s such a problem and it will always be a problem.”
Scroll down for Jinger’s candid commentary on her unconventional upbringing:
Love Notes From Prison
Being part of a recognizable family came with a few surprises. “Guys would write from prison for my sisters. It was crazy,” Jinger said on the “Dinner Party With Jeremy Fall” podcast in July 2021. “We constantly had letters coming in the mail and it was like, ‘Oh, who is it for this time? Oh, it’s for Jana, oh, it’s for Jessa.‘ … It was mind blowing just to think that somebody thought they would walk right into your life and marry you, like, they were already basically proposing in their letters.”
Jinger added that some of the inmates might have believed the proposals were “legit,” saying, “I can understand how somebody would think, ‘Oh, I know you so well because I watched you from a child grow up,’ so they think that there’s a relationship there when there’s not. It’s like, a one-sided thing.”
‘Cult-Like’ Faith
Jinger exclusively told Us in January 2023 that she “definitely” recognized that her religious upbringing “was cult-like in many ways,” adding, “It was built on fear, manipulation, control and superstition, so all those things combined in how hard it is for kids to leave or adults to leave — anyone, really. … Once you hear the teachings, you’re not supposed to depart from those.”
In an interview with People that same month, Jinger said that she was often “crippled with anxiety” growing up due to the “fear and superstition” encouraged by Gothard’s “harmful” teachings. “I was terrified of the outside world,” she admitted. “The teaching I grew up under was harmful, it was damaging, and there are lasting effects.”
Bond With Her Sisters
In her 2023 book, Becoming Free Indeed, Jinger revealed that out of all nine of her sisters, she feels most connected to Jessa. “She is my closest sibling in age, only 13 months older than me. She is fifth and I am sixth of 19 Duggar kids,” Jinger wrote. “Growing up, Jessa and I were together all the time. Though all the Duggar girls shared the same room, I often felt like I was roommates with only Jessa. Our beds were next to each other for my entire childhood.”
Jinger Duggar Opens Up About 'Not Perfect' Dynamic With Her Parents
Being on TV
Jinger and her siblings were first featured on TV in 2004 before 19 Kids and Counting premiered in 2008. “I look at those years and I’m really grateful for the opportunities that I was able to have,” she exclusively told Us in January 2023 while reflecting on growing up in the spotlight. “Like, we traveled the world, things that we wouldn’t have been able to do as a large family. At the same time, I can say I saw, also, those challenges [that came with it].”
At the time, Jinger explained that she and Vuolo “talked about” whether they wanted to raise their own children in the public eye. (The couple welcomed daughters Felicity and Evangeline in 2018 and 2020, revealing in 2024 that baby No. 3 is on the way.)
“I spent most of my life on TV. … That was my childhood,” she told Us. “Like, that was all I knew. I played with the boom mics and all of that, but [my kids are] just so not used to it. So it’s kind of interesting to see.”
The Family Rules
Fans have long been fascinated with the Duggar family’s strict expectations for their children under the IBLP teachings. “I thought I had to wear only skirts and dresses to please God. Music with drums, places I went or the wrong friendships could all bring harm,” Jinger told People in January 2023.
During an appearance on the “Unplanned” podcast the following year, Jinger admitted that many of the “man-made” rules “don’t make sense,” like not being allowed to wear T-shirts. “If you have a normal shirt, you’re allowed to roll up your sleeves,” she explained. “But you can’t buy a T-shirt that has the sleeves already off.”
There were also guidelines put in place for courtship, with dates requiring a chaperone. “You know, you can’t kiss before you’re married, you can’t hold hands … [but] I don’t see that in the word of God,” Jinger told Us in January 2023, revealing how she plans to approach the topic with her own children. “I don’t think that courtship is a word that we’re gonna use with them at all because I don’t think that that’s the only way to find a spouse — or the best way — at all.”
Living With 18 Siblings
Jinger admitted on “Unplanned” in June 2024 that she was “afraid” of the pressures to have “as many [kids] as possible” before she became a parent. She recalled having to take care of two of her own siblings when she was younger.
“I think that parents should take care of their kids. If you have them, you should take care of them. Kids can help out, learn responsibility in other ways, but maybe not in the motherly aspects of what moms or dads should be doing,” she said. “You have all these imbalances of kids raising kids. I think that I saw that a lot in the system and I think that that is unhealthy.”
Jinger Duggar Claims Her Family Sometimes 'Didn't Like' Reality Show Edit
Jinger also remembered the IBLP teachings impacting her family’s life in unexpected ways. “We would never do organized sports because we were afraid of influences around us,” she said. “And so we would do a family sport in the community … and we would all play that together. … Looking back, I’m like, ‘Oh, I wish I would’ve had maybe more opportunities to explore what I was really interested in in that way.’”
Not Enough Food
During an August 2024 episode of the “Jinger & Jeremy” podcast, Jinger spoke candidly about growing up with 18 siblings. “I remember a few times when we were very young some of my siblings would take their food, take their plate of food — get ready for this, it’s disgusting — in the bathroom,” she recalled. “They would carry it and put it on the bathroom counter, my mom would be like, ‘Don’t do that.’ They’re like, ‘They’re going to eat it.’”
Jinger added, “That’s literally what they thought, ‘I’m not going to be able to eat my food because somebody’s going to take it and we might not have enough food for seconds today.’”