Jill Duggar of '19 Kids and Counting' is engaged

TONTITOWN, Ark., April 9 (UPI) -- Jill Duggar has gotten engaged to boyfriend Derick Dillard.

The 22-year-old currently stars with her family on reality show 19 Kids and Counting. The Duggar family first came to fame when the series debuted as 17 Kids and Counting in 2008. Jill is fundamentalist Baptists Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's second-eldest daughter, and the girl has 18 siblings whose ages range from 4 to 26.

Eldest child Josh is married with three children, and Jill's younger sister Jessa is also currently "courting." The Duggar sisters recently revealed their family's strict dating rules -- for example, Jessa was allowed to "side hug" beau Ben Seewald only after the two officially began courting.

Jill had announced her relationship with Derick in March, but the two have been dating since last November. The pair got engaged this week.

"I am so happy," the young woman tells People. "Our story is so very unique."

"The first time we talked, he was in Japan," Jill continues. "We met in Nepal, he spent time in India and Israel and then came back to Arkansas where he met my family. We have a very international story even though we live so close."

Jill and Derick have decided that it is okay to hold hands now that they are engaged. The couple's first kiss will take place on their wedding day.

"I feel like I'm dreaming," Derick adds. "It was great to grab her hand for the first time."

[People]