Joy-Anna Duggar Reveals Her Specific Courtship Rules With Boyfriend Austin Forsyth

Don’t expect Joy-Anna Duggar to engage in premarital relations. The “Counting On” star revealed during the midseason finale of the TLC series this week that she has rules in place for her courtship with boyfriend Austin Forsyth.

“Everybody that enters a courtship has different rules,” Joy told the cameras during the Season 3 closer. The 19-year-old reality star went on to reveal Austin, 23, “made a vow” a couple years ago, before they started courting, that he would not hold hands with his future partner.

“I think for me it’s a good protection,” Joy explained of Austin’s rule. “I know that if you get into more physical contact it is harder to hold yourself and your purity and things like that. I think for both of us we want to take the high road and honor the Lord most of all.”

Austin and Joy also appear to be participating in the Duggar-famous side hugs. In an effort not to get too physical before marriage, Duggar couples typically hug from the side, instead of the front, during courtship.

While Joy’s sister Jinger Duggar broke this rule of sorts several times with now-husband Jeremy Vuolo, Joy and Austin appears to be taking it seriously. During Monday’s episode, Austin requested a side hug from his new girlfriend after proposing courtship, and she agreed.

Joy and Austin, who are rumored to be already be engaged and preparing for a wedding, announced their official courtship to viewers in November. The two were friends 15 years before they started dating. Like Joy, Austin also has a reality TV past.

New episodes of “Counting On” premiere this summer on TLC.