- Josh Duhamel, 53, is married to former Miss World America Audra Mari, 32, and the two share a 21-year age gap, he once said, that made him pull back from pursuing her
- The couple married in September 2022 in Fargo, North Dakota, welcomed son Shepherd in January 2024, and are now expecting their first daughter together
- Before Audra, Josh was married to pop star Fergie for a decade, and the two continue to co-parent their 12-year-old son Axl
You probably know Josh Duhamel from blowing things up alongside Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, or more recently, from Netflix’s Ransom Canyon. But off-screen, the man has been quietly living a life that honestly deserves its own movie. Because the story of how Josh Duhamel ended up married to a beauty queen 21 years his junior, building a family in the Minnesota woods, and still somehow staying on good terms with his famous ex-wife Fergie? That is not a story you see every day.
So who exactly is Josh Duhamel wife, and what is the full picture of this family that keeps growing?
Who Is Audra Mari?
Josh Duhamel wife is Audra Mari, a former beauty pageant contestant and model who currently works with Next Management. But calling her just a model would seriously undersell her. Audra Diane Mari was born on January 8, 1994, in Fargo, North Dakota. She is of mixed ethnicity, and her grandfather is originally from the Philippines, giving her that striking look that first caught people’s attention on the pageant circuit long before Josh ever slid into her DMs.
Mari found success in beauty pageant contests, becoming Miss North Dakota USA and placing as runner-up at Miss USA 2014. Then came the crown that put her on the national map. She was crowned Miss World America 2016 on July 8, 2016, and went on to represent the United States at Miss World 2016. Beyond the pageant world, Audra graced the Ocean Drive Swimsuit issue cover and featured in H&M commercials, building a modelling career that was very much its own thing, completely separate from her future husband’s Hollywood life.
She is also educated. She attended North Dakota State University, where she studied public relations and communications, which explains why she carries herself with the kind of polish that goes beyond just looking good on a red carpet.
The Age Gap He Almost Let Stop Him
Here is where the story gets genuinely interesting. Josh and Audra are 21 years apart in age, and that gap almost meant they never happened at all. Josh admitted in a recent interview that he initially was not interested in dating Audra when they first met because he thought she was too young for him.
“It was truly platonic for like years before that because I was like, ‘Nah, she’s too young, I’m not even going to go there,’ and then we started DM’ing back and forth,” Duhamel said in a May 2025 podcast episode.
The two are both from North Dakota, which was the original thread that connected them. Josh opened up about their meet-cute during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark, saying he slid into her DMs after she began making a name for herself in the North Dakota pageant community, then invited her to a BBQ where he was genuinely caught off guard by her. What changed his mind? Josh said, “She’s more mature than I am.” And honestly, that tracks.
The duo began dating in late 2018, and Duhamel and Mari were spotted kissing at the Toronto airport in October 2019, which is when the world started paying attention. From there, things moved with intention. The couple announced their engagement in January 2022, with the actor proposing on Mari’s 28th birthday.
The Wedding, the Kids, and the Baby Girl on the Way
The couple tied the knot on September 10, 2022, in Fargo, North Dakota, celebrating on the rooftop of the Jasper Hotel. If you think that sounds like a fairytale, just wait. Duhamel apparently threw his back out the night before the wedding, trying to “hang from the rafters inside the party bus.” One trip to the ER and a lot of meds later, he managed to make it down the aisle. That is commitment right there.
The family started growing fast. On January 11, 2024, the couple welcomed their first child together, a baby boy they named Shepherd Lawrence Duhamel. Josh was completely smitten. In a 2025 interview, Duhamel reflected, “I just love being a dad. I love every single milestone,” pointing out how Shepherd had already developed a love of cars, influenced by Audra’s father.
And now, the family is about to get even bigger. In March 2026, Audra confirmed they are expecting a second baby together, a girl, captioning her Instagram announcement, “Adding a little girl to our story. We can’t wait to meet you.” Josh, never one to miss a moment, jumped straight into the comments. “Can’t wait to meet that little cutie,” he wrote. “Love you, momma.”
What About Fergie and Son Axl?
No story about Josh Duhamel’s family is complete without talking about his first marriage. Duhamel was previously married to singer Fergie from 2009 to 2019, and the two share a son, Axl, now 12. What makes this whole situation genuinely refreshing is how well everyone gets along. When Audra’s pregnancy with Shepherd was announced, Fergie commented on the post: “I am truly happy for you guys. Axl can’t wait to be a big brother.”
Josh himself has been open about the co-parenting dynamic. “Thankfully, we still have a really good relationship,” Duhamel told Parade. “We have different ways of going about parenting Axl. But she lets me parent. She trusts that I’ve got his best interests, and I’m going to do a good job. And I do the same for her.”
That is the kind of maturity that actually makes a blended family work. And with a daughter on the way, Axl is about to go from big brother to the big brother of two, which, by all accounts, he is very ready for.
Josh Duhamel’s life right now looks nothing like what anyone expected from the guy who once played a military hero alongside giant alien robots. He is living off the grid in Minnesota, raising kids, staying tight with his ex, and building something real with a woman 21 years younger who, by his own admission, is more grown-up than he is. Not bad for a North Dakota kid who just wanted to invite someone to a barbecue.
