In 2026, actor Josh Duhamel is enjoying a quiet, family-focused chapter of his life alongside his wife, Audra Mari. Far removed from the constant flashbulbs of Los Angeles, the 53-year-old Ransom Canyon star and the 32-year-old former beauty queen have built a grounded, Midwestern lifestyle. From a modern social media meet-cute to raising a toddler in the woods, their relationship timeline shows a couple bonded by shared roots and a preference for simplicity.
If you are curious about the woman who captured the Hollywood veteran’s heart, here is a complete look at Audra Mari, their love story, and their blended family dynamics today.
Who Is Audra Mari?
Long before she was tied to a famous actor, Audra Mari made a name for herself on the national stage. Born on January 8, 1994, she grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. Her career began in the highly competitive world of pageantry, where she quickly collected several prestigious crowns.
Her professional milestones include:
- Winning Miss North Dakota Teen USA in 2011 and placing as 1st Runner-Up at the national Miss Teen USA pageant.
- Securing the Miss North Dakota USA title three years later in 2014.
- Winning Miss World America in 2016 and representing the United States globally, eventually placing 6th overall at Miss World.
Following her pageant success, Mari relocated to Miami at age 20 to pursue a full-time modeling career. She landed campaigns for major retail brands like H&M and graced the cover of Ocean Drive’s swimsuit issue. Later, she transitioned into television hosting, working on the Welcome Channel and anchoring a local travel series for InForum online media. More recently, she even made a brief cameo appearance on her husband’s television series.
A Modern Meet-Cute and Overcoming the Age Gap
The connection between the couple started in late 2018 with a surprisingly modern approach: Instagram direct messages. Duhamel, who grew up in Minot, North Dakota, knew of Mari because of her local pageant fame. He reached out online and invited her to a backyard barbecue at his home in Los Angeles.
Initially, the actor viewed the interaction as strictly platonic. With a 21-year age gap between them, Duhamel admitted in recent podcast interviews that he initially thought she was entirely too young for him to date. However, after spending time together in person, he realized her maturity outpaced his expectations. Their shared North Dakota background provided a strong foundation that felt completely different from his previous Hollywood relationships.
A Message in a Bottle: The Proposal and Wedding
After a few years of keeping their romance relatively private, the couple took the next major step.
On January 8, 2022—Mari’s 28th birthday—Duhamel planned a highly romantic, albeit slightly chaotic, proposal during a beach vacation. He arranged for a message in a bottle to wash ashore on a sandbar, containing a handwritten note that read: “Audra Diane Mari Will You Marry Me?” According to the actor, the bottle briefly went missing in the ocean waves, forcing him to stall by awkwardly suggesting they play a game of cornhole on the beach until the bottle finally appeared.
The couple tied the knot nine months later, on September 10, 2022. Staying true to their shared heritage, they bypassed a flashy celebrity destination wedding and instead got married in Fargo, North Dakota. The reception took place on the rooftop of the local Jasper Hotel, cementing their commitment to their hometown roots.
Growing the Family: Welcoming Baby Shepherd
A year after their rooftop wedding, the couple announced they were expanding their family. On January 11, 2024, Mari gave birth to their first child together, a son named Shepherd Lawrence Duhamel.
Now two years old in 2026, Shepherd is the center of the couple’s world. Duhamel frequently praises Mari’s skills as a first-time mother, noting how naturally she took to the demanding role while balancing his busy filming schedules.
The Modern Blended Family
One of the most refreshing aspects of Duhamel and Mari’s relationship is the incredibly positive dynamic they share with Duhamel’s ex-wife, singer Fergie. Duhamel and Fergie share a 12-year-old son, Axl Jack, and have maintained a highly functional co-parenting routine since finalizing their divorce in 2019.
During a March 2026 appearance on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast, Duhamel offered rare insights into his family structure. He explained that his marriage to Fergie ended simply because they had entirely different views of the world, but he holds zero regrets.
Today, the blended family operates smoothly. Duhamel highlighted that Fergie is a fantastic, non-confrontational mother, and most importantly, she and Mari get along remarkably well. Mari has fully embraced her role as a stepmother to Axl, ensuring the 12-year-old feels just as much a part of their new family unit as baby Shepherd.
Building a Life Off the Grid
As of 2026, Duhamel and Mari are prioritizing a quiet, slow-paced environment for their kids. The couple moved away from Los Angeles, opting instead to build a home in the Midwest woods of Minnesota. This move allows them to stay close to their North Dakota families while giving Axl and Shepherd a chance to grow up surrounded by nature, far from the paparazzi lenses of the West Coast.
While Duhamel still travels for major acting and directing projects, his home base with Mari is firmly rooted in the Midwest. After seven years together and nearly four years of marriage, Audra Mari has proven to be the exact stabilizing, down-to-earth partner the actor was looking for.