'Mormon Wives' Taylor Frankie Paul Selected as Star of 'The Bachelorette' Season 22

Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu's reality series 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives', has been selected as the lead for ABC's 'The Bachelorette' Season 22, marking a new chapter in the franchise's history. This is the first instance since the start of 'The Bachelorette' in 2003 that someone unrelated to the Bachelor franchise has taken the lead role.

The 31-year-old Paul officially announced the news during an interview with host Alex Cooper on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast on September 10. A single mom of three living in Utah, Paul gained fame through the TikTok 'MomTok' group and made international headlines in 2022 by exposing a 'soft swinging' scandal within the Mormon community.

In her interview with Cooper, Paul stated, "It's surreal. I don't feel it in this moment. It won't be real until the limousine arrives and I meet people." She revealed that a TikTok video where she jokingly said she should be on 'The Bachelorette' due to her unfortunate dating life three years ago was the catalyst for this casting.

According to ABC's official introduction, Paul is described as "the breakout star of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' who captivated millions with her honest and unfiltered storytelling." She is said to inspire others to embrace the chaos of life and own their stories with "humor, resilience, and fearless openness."

Paul clarified her ideal partner, stating she is looking for a "hardworking and motivated partner in their 30s or early 40s," adding, "I have two baby daddies. I'm not going anywhere. So if you like me enough, you need to move to Utah." Season 22 is set to premiere in March 2026, and Season 3 of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' will release all episodes at once on November 13.