Jana Duggar Says She Broke Up with Now-Husband Years Ago Because She was ‘Picky’
While the Duggar family has been mostly staying out of the news in recent months, Jana Duggar is on Instagram, saying the quiet part out loud. Jana, who just welcomed her first child late last year, recently answered a question about her marriage to Stephen Wissmann. The answer is kind of brutal, and we aren’t sure if Jana actually realizes how bad it sounds.
Jana Duggar says she was ‘picky’ in her past relationship with Stephen Wissmann
Jana Duggar is currently caring for an infant, but she still found sometime this to upload old photos to Instagram. In a recent photo dump, she shared pictures of herself and Stephen Wissmann from the first time they dated. Though she didn’t share the specifics about their first attempt at romance, a fan asked Jana if she wished they had stayed together the first time they courted. She said she wished they had married earlier. She then went on to claim they split because she was “picky” back then.
Duggar family critics were quick to sound off on social media, with several noting that Jana’s admission feels pretty mean-spirited. One noted that she told the whole world she settled for her now-husband. The assessment feels spot on, though fans on Instagram don’t seem to agree. Jana actively avoided answering comments seeking specific information about the split.
Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann’s relationship timeline
Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann married in August 2024. The pair did not announce their relationship or engagement before the wedding, though Instagram followers noticed that Jana’s social media whirled back to life around May of that year. She appeared to be wearing a ring, leading to much speculation. Following the wedding, Jana moved to Nebraska, where Stephen works with his father. She continues to travel back to Arkansas nearly constantly. In August 2025, they announced they were expecting their first child. Archie Wissmann was born on December 30, 2025.
There was speculation about their potential romance back in 2021. Rumors about them dating swirled while Josh Duggar’s arrest for possessing and receiving child pornography was making front-page news. It is unclear exactly when they split up. Still, it seems the romance was done before 2022 rolled around. Jana has made other seemingly derogatory comments about her time with Wissmann and how they ended up together in the past.
There have been other failed courtships
While the Duggar family has long insisted that their “courtship” rules prevented breakups and heartache, it has failed to do so at least three times that family followers know of. One was public from the jump, and word of the other failed courtships has come to light in recent years. Family critics also strongly suspect there are at least a few more failed relationships the family will never reveal.
Josiah Duggar, who is now married to Lauren Swanson, had a failed courtship. He announced his relationship with Marjorie Jackson back in May 2015; they split in August 2015. While they said they decided they were better off as friends, critics suspect Josh Duggar’s sexual abuse scandal led to the split.
Speaking of Josh Duggar, he, too, had a failed courtship. Before the family was famous, Josh was betrothed to Kaeleigh Holt. The former pair were around 15 at the time. The courtship ended when Kaeleigh’s parents learned Josh had molested his siblings. Details of the romance came to light during his trial. He later married Anna Duggar. They remain married despite Josh’s conviction.
Jana is the most recent Duggar to reveal she had a failed relationship with her now-husband before they finally settled down. Still, followers think there is more. There is speculation that Joseph Duggar, who later married Kendra Caldwell, dated Carlin Stewart just months before linking up with his now-wife. Rumors that James Duggar has dated several women also persist. He remains single.
