Taylor Frankie Paul is set to hand out roses on season 22 of The Bachelorette — yes, really.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 31, was announced as the new ABC lead on Wednesday, September 10, via an appearance on Alex Cooper‘s “Call Her Daddy.” (The podcast previously teased a Bachelor Nation-related announcement this week.)
“The 31-year-old Utah native is ready to trade headline-making heartbreak for hometown dates as she begins making her mark on Bachelor Nation,” an ABC press release reads. “[Taylor] is the breakout star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, captivating millions with her raw, unapologetic storytelling. Off-screen, she’s a TikTok powerhouse whose comedic, heartwarming and bitingly honest content has earned her a massive following. As a single mother of three, [Taylor] shares the highs and lows of her life with unfiltered candor. With humor, resilience and a fearless openness, she inspires others to embrace life’s chaos and own their story.”
The network previously renewed The Bachelor for season 30, but Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette will air instead.
Taylor and her Utah-based social media group, known as MomTok, went viral in 2022 after she revealed several members were involved in soft-swinging. Taylor’s role in the scandal led to her divorce from her then-husband, Tate, with whom she shares two kids: Indy and Ocean. During seasons 1 and 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, fans witnessed her rocky relationship with Dakota Mortensen. The now-exes welcomed son Ever in 2024.
While the Hulu star hasn’t revealed much about how things ended for good with Dakota, fans who to tune into season 3 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premieres on November 13, will learn the details of their split.
Taylor is a rare casting decision for The Bachelor franchise, which typically opts for leads from previous seasons of the show. Season 21 of The Bachelorette starred Jenn Tran, who split from fiancé Devin Strader while the season was still airing in summer 2024. Earlier this year, fans watched season 29 Bachelor Grant Ellis get engaged to winner Juliana Pasquarosa, but the twosome called it quits in June.
ABC has yet to announce a premiere date for season 22 of The Bachelorette, but the series is expected to air in 2026.
Mel Owens’ journey to find love on season 2 of The Golden Bachelor, meanwhile, kicks off Wednesday, September 24, at 8 p.m. ET.
Read the full article here
