The Bachelorette 2026: Taylor Frankie Paul’s Journey

ABC Television has made television history by announcing Taylor Frankie Paul as the groundbreaking lead for Season 22 of “The Bachelorette.” This unexpected choice marks a significant departure from the franchise’s tradition of selecting previous “Bachelor” contestants. Instead, producers have chosen a reality star from a completely different world – the hit Hulu series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” 

The 31-year-old Utah native and mother of three received the life-changing invitation during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast. During the emotional announcement, Paul described feeling completely overwhelmed by the surprising opportunity. She confessed the news felt “surreal” and admitted, “It has not hit me right now in this moment. I’m just thinking about it, and it’s not real. And it’s not going to be until I think the limo is pulling up.” 

Breaking Tradition: A New Type of Bachelorette

For the first time in the show’s extensive history, the producers have chosen a lead completely outside the Bachelor Nation universe. This revolutionary decision signals an exciting new direction for the franchise. Traditionally, the show selects former contestants from previous Bachelor seasons who have already captured viewers’ hearts. However, Taylor Frankie Paul brings a fresh perspective as an established reality star from a different network and genre altogether. 

This isn’t completely unprecedented in the franchise – Matt James became the first Bachelor without prior show experience in 2021. Nevertheless, Paul’s selection as Bachelorette represents a bold step toward diversifying the types of stories and backgrounds featured on the popular dating show. Her massive social media following and established television presence likely contributed to this innovative casting decision. 

Who Is Taylor Frankie Paul? The MomTok Sensation

Taylor Frankie Paul first rose to prominence as a central figure in Utah’s #MomTok community – a group of Mormon mom influencers who share their lives on TikTok. With over 5.1 million followers across her social platforms, Paul has built an impressive digital empire by sharing content that blends motherhood, lifestyle, and unfiltered honesty about her personal struggles. 

Her reality television journey began with Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which premiered in 2024. The show explores the lives of several Mormon mom influencers as they navigate friendship, motherhood, and relationship challenges. Paul serves as a central figure in the series, which earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program in its first season. 

Table: Taylor Frankie Paul’s Quick Facts

The Swinging Scandal That Changed Everything

Taylor Frankie Paul’s path to fame took a dramatic turn in May 2022 when she made a shocking revelation during a TikTok livestream. She confessed to participating in what she described as “soft-swinging” within her Mormon social circle. This admission sent shockwaves through her community and ultimately led to the dissolution of her marriage to Tate Paul, her husband of several years and father of her two oldest children. 

During her candid livestream, Paul explained, “The whole group was intimate with each other. Tate has made out with several girls and other things, and I’ve made out with all of the husbands and vice versa.” She further revealed that while the couple had agreed to certain boundaries in their open relationship, she had “stepped out of that agreement” and developed feelings for one of the other husbands. This confession ultimately led to their divorce. 

Personal Life and Motherhood Challenges

Beyond the scandalous headlines, Taylor Frankie Paul is first and foremost a dedicated mother to her three children. She shares daughter Indy (8) and son Ocean (5) with ex-husband Tate Paul, and son Ever True (1) with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. Interestingly, her children’s faces are rarely shown on her reality series due to a request from her ex-husband, who preferred to maintain their privacy. 

Paul initially hesitated about accepting the Bachelorette role precisely because of her parenting responsibilities. She openly questioned, “How do I make this work? I’m a co-parent. I have two baby daddies, not one, so I’m dealing with two different people, my children, my home base is here. Can I travel that long? Can I be gone that long?” 

Ultimately, she realized that with proper support from family and friends, she could make the experience work. She determined, “I can. If I want to, I can. You can do anything you want, if you want. It comes down to that. So I was like, I will make it work.” 

Controversies and Legal Challenges

Taylor Frankie Paul’s journey hasn’t been without significant challenges. In February 2023, she was arrested after a drunken argument with then-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen turned physical. Police reports indicated she threw chairs at Mortensen during the altercation, and she faced charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child. 

Paul ultimately avoided jail time by accepting a plea deal that reduced the charges to a single misdemeanor count of aggravated assault. The other charges were dismissed. She later reflected on this difficult period, stating, “I feel like I was really struggling post-divorce. I lost a baby and then I had a chemical pregnancy, so there was just so much in little time, while I’m obviously healing from a divorce.” 

She acknowledged the incident served as a wake-up call, prompting her to seek therapy and make positive changes in her life. This vulnerability and willingness to address her mistakes publicly has endeared her to many fans who appreciate her authenticity. 

What to Expect From Taylor’s Bachelorette Journey

As she prepares for her groundbreaking season, Taylor Frankie Paul brings a unique perspective to the dating process. Having married young and then moving directly from her marriage into a relationship with Dakota Mortensen, she has limited dating experience. She confessed, “This is something so new for me because obviously I got married young, divorced and then the first guy I met was the next relationship. So I have not done the whole meeting new people out, like dating at the same time.” 

Regarding her preferences for potential partners, Paul has indicated she’s open to dating outside her faith. Though she remains Mormon, she stated, “I’d be open to Mormons. I still am obviously because I’m Mormon, but he doesn’t have to be.” This flexibility might broaden her prospects compared to previous Bachelorettes with more rigid criteria. 

When it comes to the fantasy suite dilemma that often challenges leads toward the season’s end, Paul already has a game plan, though she’s keeping specifics private for now. She teased, “For me, I do know how I’m gonna go into that, but I don’t want to give that away yet.” 

Balancing Reality TV Commitments

Despite joining the Bachelor franchise, Taylor Frankie Paul isn’t abandoning “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.” She confirmed on “Call Her Daddy” that she will continue with both shows simultaneously, meaning fans can enjoy double the Taylor content in coming months. 

The third season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is set to premiere on November 13, 2025, with all episodes dropping simultaneously on Hulu. Meanwhile, Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” featuring Paul’s journey is scheduled to air in 2026. 

Paul isn’t the only “Mormon Wives” cast member expanding her reality television presence. Co-stars Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt are both set to compete on the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars,” indicating the entire MomTok group is achieving new levels of fame. 

Conclusion: A New Era for The Bachelorette

Taylor Frankie Paul represents a bold new direction for the Bachelorette franchise—one that acknowledges the changing landscape of reality television and audience preferences. Her selection acknowledges the power of social media creators and cross-platform storytelling in modern entertainment. 

Her journey promises to bring authentic vulnerability to the screen, as she navigates the complex intersection of single motherhood, personal growth, and very public dating. As she herself noted, “I want people to have a better understanding of who I am. I wanted to be vulnerable and show people that when you hit rock bottom, there is hope.” 

Follow Taylor Frankie Paul’s continuing story on Season 3 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” premiering November 13, 2025, on Hulu, and don’t miss her groundbreaking season of “The Bachelorette” in 2026 on ABC. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Taylor Frankie Paul leaving Mormon Wives for The Bachelorette?

No, Taylor Frankie Paul has confirmed she will appear on both shows simultaneously. She explicitly stated during her “Call Her Daddy” interview that she plans to continue with “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” while also filming her season of “The Bachelorette.” 

How will Taylor Frankie Paul manage her children while filming?

Paul acknowledges the challenge of balancing motherhood with filming but has enlisted help from family and friends. As a co-parent with two different fathers for her three children, she has developed a support system that will enable her to travel for extended periods required for filming. 

What is Taylor Frankie Paul’s religious background?

Taylor Frankie Paul was raised in the Mormon faith (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and remains connected to her religious background, though her participation in the swinging scandal created tension with her community. She has stated she’s open to dating both Mormon and non-Mormon suitors on the show. 

Has Taylor Frankie Paul been married before?

Yes, Taylor was previously married to Tate Paul, with whom she shares two children: Indy (8) and Ocean (5). The couple divorced after Taylor revealed their involvement in a soft-swinging scandal within their Mormon community. She later had a relationship with Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares a son, Ever True (1). 

When does Taylor Frankie Paul’s Bachelorette season premiere?

Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” featuring Taylor Frankie Paul is scheduled to premiere in 2026. This represents a shift from the show’s typical scheduling, as the franchise usually airs a Bachelor season before the next Bachelorette cycle. 

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