From Southern Journal magazine cover story:
The Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman and Josh Murray Talk Love, Charity and Wedding
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, a spin-off of the Bachelor, are staples in today’s entertainment culture. For ten seasons, we have been glued to our television to see who will receive the final rose. On July 28, 2014, the viewing audience witnessed Josh Murray receive Andi Dorfman’s final rose after his proposal. The two have been inseparable and public with their love since that day.
Andi Dorfman, a native Atlantan and Josh Murray, originally from Tampa, Florida are now experiencing a whirlwind romance without the cameras. The chemistry between the engaged couple is undeniable and their playful banter and familiarity is demonstrative of a couple that has been together for much longer than six months. Andi is a little feisty and Josh is the gregarious one of the two. They finish one another’s sentences and are attentive in ways that bespeak love and commitment.
The Work
So what’s next for the couple? In addition to making appearances and spending quality time with one another, Andi and Josh are working diligently to help change the lives of many by promoting health and wellness. One look at this gorgeous pair and you know that they live a healthy lifestyle. They maintain a regular gym schedule while at home and even during their heavy travel schedule. Admittedly they are eaters and allow cheat days for themselves. What do they indulge in when they allow themselves a treat? Andi will have a glass of red wine and Josh partakes in his favorite: ice-cream.
As a former professional athlete, Josh is very passionate about maintaining a fit lifestyle and they both promote their beliefs with their support of AdvoCare, “a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products along with a rewarding business opportunity”. Andi and Josh do not just promote AdvoCare to others, but they use it to make lifestyle adjustments in their own personal lives. “The 24-Day Challenge is such a great kick start. It is so fun,” Josh shares. The couple has seen people who are members of their team improve their health and lose over 20 pounds by participating in the 24-Day Challenge. A professional financial advisor, Josh has plans to one day enter into the health and fitness industry.
Helping people to be their best is what Andi and Josh are about. In fact in the midst of interviews and television appearances, they have been traveling to charity events for causes such as LAPD and Veterans. Currently, the couple is carefully searching for a charitable cause to donate their time, treasure and talents. They know that their platform is for a greater cause than just to promote themselves and they are dead set on ensuring that they invest in others and their community. “We are really searching for something to give our time to here in Atlanta, in our own backyard, in my hometown,” Andi says.
“We are really searching for something to give our time to here in Atlanta, in our own backyard, in my hometown.”
A charitable heart is just one of the many things that Andi and Josh have in common. They are even in agreement on the focus of their charitable efforts: youth. As a former Assistant District Attorney in Fulton County, Andi had an up-close and personal look at the effects of youth not having adequate resources and positive role models. “I’ve seen the realness of what happens when young people don’t have a fatherly presence or a mother that is unable to support them,” Andi says. She has a vision to provide resources and support to youth before they become involved in the criminal justice system.
“I love children. I love being able to give back to them at a young age. Because that helps a lot as they develop and get older,” Josh says.
Andi also sees a space where she can help women realize their worth and power. “I am passionate about women. I want women to be empowered, to have education and to be able to support themselves. In the areas where I worked I saw women who were left to support families on their own. I want them to know if they cannot change their situations, they have to figure it out,” Andi says. She wants to be a part of that “figuring-out” process.
The Wedding
Even though Andi and Josh are now able to spend much of their time together, there has not been much wedding planning as a result of their hectic schedule. They have ideas about what they want but have decided to really focus on the details this year. Although they are not overly desirous of the publicity that surrounds a television wedding, they realize that it would be fun for their fans to watch and continue the journey that began on the Bachelorette.
One thing is for certain, their dog Sabel, an American Bulldog, will have a role in the wedding. Josh rescued the dog six years ago, and Sabel quickly became the love of his life. Andi has grown to love her as well and even grants her a pass to sleep in their bed when they return from long trips. Although Josh has a new love, he is clear about Sabel’s place: “She has brought me so much joy,” he says.
Although wedding details are not completely ironed out, they have settled on some key details of their life after the wedding. Within the next few years, we can expect to see this young couple adding to their family, as having children is definitely a part of the plan. “We will have about 4 or 5 kids- a little basketball team,” Josh says. Andi definitely agrees with having a large family. Both Andi and Josh come from loving and close-knit families, and they want to share the love and values they have experienced with a family of their own.
Raising a family with a spiritual foundation is also important for the couple. Josh recalls his mom experiencing a miracle when a brain tumor disappeared after her confessing her faith and believing. This experience has strengthened his faith and is one of the many reasons he knows that spirituality must be an integral part of his family’s life.
In the meantime, this couple will continue to enjoy fun dinner dates, attending University of Georgia football games, traveling, and meeting people from all over the nation and growing closer in love. And one day soon, before we know it, they will seal what began almost a year ago now and become one of the couples from The Bachelorette who found true love.