For years, Emma Johnston has been the Johnston family’s unofficial wingman. Now, as Emma turns 21, the roles have reversed, and the family seems to be lining up to return the favor.
7 Little Johnstons Season 18 premieres Tuesday, November 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TLC, streaming on Max, and Emma’s dating life takes center stage. In the trailer, a friend asks Emma point-blank whether she wants a boyfriend. Her answer, with zero hesitation: yes. She also admits she is still single, and no boyfriend has been announced anywhere publicly. Season 18 promises not a finished love story, but the search itself — with two very determined matchmakers already at work.
The Trailer Line That Started It All
Emma’s moment lands because viewers watched her grow up on screen. Adopted by Trent and Amber Johnston in 2010 when she was five, Emma was nine when the show premiered in 2015. She finished school in 2024 and runs her jewelry business, Emma’s Rings ‘n Things, launched in 2019. Her parents set a dating rule — dating after 16 — but Emma never publicly confirmed a boyfriend, saying school, filming, and her shop kept her busy. She has corrected the record herself before: when fans speculated about a boy in a prom photo, she shut it down, saying he was just a good friend.
Meet the Matchmakers: Ashley and Allie
According to The Ashley’s Reality Roundup on October 31, the matchmaking is being led by Ashley, Jonah’s girlfriend of seven years, and Allie Smith, Alex’s girlfriend. Emma calls Ashley her “bestie” and her “other sister,” so Ashley’s role feels personal, not performative. Allie just earned a headline of her own, receiving the American FFA Degree, a top honor in the youth agriculture organization. They heard her say, on camera, that she wants a boyfriend. According to reports, their efforts point to one familiar name.
Who Is Joose? The Finland Friend in the Middle
Joose Jeskanen was 17 when he stayed with the Johnston family for three months in 2021 as a foreign exchange guest, working on his English. He and Emma became close fast, filming TikToks together. When he returned to Finland, the family visited him there in 2022. Neither has ever publicly confirmed they dated. According to reports, Joose may have a crush on Emma — a report, not a confirmation, and TLC has not said they are a couple. Fans have been here before: Emma’s childhood friendship with Lucca Rannigan once sparked the same frenzy after the two said “I love you” in Season 7. Emma explained they were not dating because she was too young, later called Lucca her best friend, and in 2024 he posted a photo with a new girlfriend. The speculation fizzled. The friendship did not.
Matchmaking or Meddling? The Fan Split
Team Let Them Matchmake says Emma opened this door herself: she said yes, she wants a boyfriend, and help from people who love her beats another year of waiting. Joose is no stranger — a familiar face with years of friendship behind him. Team Hands Off Emma says a 21-year-old with her own business and voice does not need a committee picking her date, especially a family friend. If a setup with Joose goes wrong, it is not just an awkward date; it is an awkward family friendship, on camera. And saying she wants a boyfriend is not handing Ashley and Allie her dating life.
YOU MAY LIKEEverything We Know About 7 Little Johnstons Season 18 — Wedding Bells, New Homes, and One Big Question MarkUntil then, the confirmed facts are Emma’s own words: she is 21, single, and wants a boyfriend. So where do you stand — Team Let Them Matchmake, or Team Hands Off Emma? And be honest: would you want your brothers’ girlfriends choosing your date?
