Los Angeles (Patrika English News): The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and influencer Taylor Frankie Paul has been announced as the lead for the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. The 31-year-old revealed the news during an interview on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, calling the moment “surreal” and admitting she feels “so nervous.”
ABC’s announcement marks a major first for the franchise. Traditionally, The Bachelorette leads are chosen from past contestants within Bachelor Nation, but Paul enters the role as an outsider — and a well-established influencer with her own reality series.
“I don’t have notes of how this works,” Paul admitted on the podcast. “It’s not going to hit me until the limo’s pulling up and I’m meeting the people.”
Who is Taylor Frankie Paul?
Paul rose to fame on TikTok’s #MomTok community before starring in Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. She made headlines in 2022 after revealing details about her divorce from Tate Paul and the “soft-swinging” scandal that shocked her online circle.
Her personal life has continued to draw attention, from her on-again, off-again relationship with Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares a son, to legal troubles stemming from a domestic incident in 2023. Despite challenges, Paul has remained a central figure in Mormon Wives — which is set to return for Season 3 this November.
When Will Her Season Air?
Paul’s season will mark Season 22 of The Bachelorette, debuting in 2026. An official premiere date has not yet been announced. She confirmed she will continue filming The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives alongside her journey on The Bachelorette.
Balancing Family and Filming
As a single mother of three with two co-parents, Paul admitted she was initially hesitant about taking on the role. “Can I travel that long? Can I be gone that long?” she recalled thinking. Ultimately, she decided to accept, saying: “If I want to, I can. You can do anything you want if you want. I will make it work.”
What She’s Looking For
Speaking on Good Morning America, Paul said kindness tops her list of must-haves. “How you treat people is my No. 1 — down to a neighbor or your server,” she explained. She also revealed she is open to dating outside her religion: “Does he have to be Mormon? No. I would be open to learning about new religions.”
For Paul, the biggest adjustment will be the dating format itself. “I’ve never dated several people at once,” she said. “That’ll be new to me.”
With her unfiltered personality and unconventional journey to Bachelor Nation, Paul’s season is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about chapters in the franchise’s history.
