With her kind face and animated voice, it’s no surprise that Michelle Duggar can answer any question thrown at her with some degree of grace.
When she was quizzed on the Christian Broadcasting Network as to whether she had ever considered the effect of the carbon footprints of 19 children, the 44-year-old reality star barely batted an eyelid, although she did let out an ‘Oh wow’.
She said: ‘Well, first off, the idea of overpopulation is not accurate because really the entire population of the world, if they were stretched shoulder to shoulder, could fit within the city limits of Jacksonville.
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‘So if you realise that you know that we’re not anywhere near being overpopulated.’
But despite claiming that the notion of overpopulation is a lie, the deeply religious 19 Kids And Counting star admitted that she and her large family make sure to do their bit for the Earth.
She said: ‘What our family does is that our motto is we buy used and we save the difference. We go to the thrift store. We buy used cars'.
‘We buy the things that most people would not be using. We are teaching our children to be helpers, servicers, givers instead of takers.’
She then went on to explain why she thinks bringing so many children into the world is a positive thing, referencing the late Mother Teresa as she did so.
Michelle said: ‘I’ve heard someone say too many kids, I agree with Mother Teresa – to say there are too many children is saying there are too many flowers.’
She added: ‘Our world needs more joy and more purpose and the next generation to be encouraged by those that are going to make a difference for good in the world.’
And she explained that her large family lives simply, telling the interviewer: ‘You need to focus on living people and trying to reach out and make a difference in the world.’
The ninth season of the TLC reality show ended this week, and the finale episode saw Michelle having to tell her 19 children she had recently suffered a miscarriage.