The “Bachelorette” is no longer a Floridian. Instead, it’s a familiar face from a different reality show. This will be the first time that the “Bachelorette” comes from outside of “The Bachelor” franchise.
Miami resident Jenn Tran held the title last year, and the show took a brief hiatus, with fans wondering if the “Bachelor” spinoff would return at all. But on Sept. 10, ABC revealed the newest lead of the Bachelor franchise: Taylor Frankie Paul of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” fame.
The Utah-based influencer and reality TV star announced her upcoming role on an episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
“Surreal. It has not hit me right now in this moment,” she said. “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, you know? And meeting the people.”
Here’s what we know about the 22nd season of “The Bachelorette,” when it’s expected to premiere and who Taylor Frankie Paul is.
Who is Taylor Frankie Paul? Why is Taylor Frankie Paul famous?
Taylor Frankie Paul is a 31-year-old mom of three, TikTok influencer and reality TV star from Utah.
She and her friends, also Mormon mothers living in Utah, started creating TikTok videos together in 2022 and tagged them all with #MomTok, which became the name of their influencer group. The group exploded to fame following a “soft-swinging” scandal later that year that Taylor, one of the other women and their husbands were involved in.
She took to TikTok to tell her side of the story, and users on the platform became intrigued with the concept of these religion-centered Mormon moms being involved in something so taboo.
Not long after, Hulu picked up the story and released the first season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” in September 2024, a reality show about the group of friends (and frenemies), largely centering on Taylor’s relationships with her ex-husband and then-boyfriend.
Watch ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ with the Disney bundle
How many kids does Taylor Frankie Paul have?
She has three kids: two with her ex-husband and one with her ex-boyfriend.
What is ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ about?
Premiering in September 2024, the Hulu show follows the scandalous world of a group of Mormon mom influencers, referred to as “#MomTok.”
The show came after Paul told her viewers in 2022 that members of her tight-knit Mormon friend group had been “soft-swinging,” a practice where couples allegedly shared sexual partners but didn’t go “all the way.”
What ensued was calamity from all corners: partners breaking up or divorcing, people getting together, families dismantling, alliances switching, gossip videos and sordid details leaking.
The first season of the show chronicles the aftermath and fallout of that scandal, and the second season, which premiered in May, follows the relationships between the women in the friend group and their interactions with their own families and each other.
Is Taylor Frankie Paul still Mormon?
Yes. Despite being openly Mormon and posting about attending church on social media, Taylor told Alex Cooper on “Call Her Daddy” this week that she’s open to dating outside of the religion. Since her debut into internet stardom in 2022, she’s been open about her disagreement with some of the LDS values, even though she still identifies with the faith.
She did say, though, that any man she chooses to date as “The Bachelorette” will have to be open to moving to Utah for her. She said it would be a “deal-breaker” if her potential flame couldn’t make the move.
Is the term ‘Mormon’ actually used or preferred?
While the term “Mormon” is commonly used, it is not preferred by those actually practicing the religion. According to the church’s style guide, here is what they recommend:
Whether or not the term “Mormon” is offensive is still up for debate, even among the Church. The term originates from the “Book of Mormon,” sacred scripture published in 1830 by the religion’s founder, Joseph Smith.
How to watch ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ with Taylor Frankie Paul
Both seasons of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” are available to stream on Hulu.
When does the next season of the “Bachelorette” come out?
The new “Bachelorette” will debut in 2026. ABC has not announced a specific date as of Sept. 10.
What is the next show in the Bachelor franchise?
“The Golden Bachelor” is the next show coming up for the franchise, with retired NFL player Mel Owens, 66, taking over as lead. “The Golden Bachelor” will premiere on Sept. 24, slotted for Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
There will be two Floridians on this season: Alexandra of Miami and Nicolle of Miami Beach.
What is former Bachelorette Jenn Tran up to?
After taking a break from PA (Physician Assistant) school in Miami to become a contestant on “The Bachelor,” star as “The Bachelorette” lead and compete on last season of “Dancing with the Stars,” Jenn Tran is reportedly hitting the books again.
In a social media video she posted in March, Tran showed off her then-new Miami apartment and told followers she was moving back to Florida to continue getting her master’s degree to be a physician’s assistant.
“Let’s be transparent. I took a year off of PA school and it’s been so incredible. Who would have thought I would have said that, but my life has truly turned around,” she said in the clip.
“However, I know where my passions lie in life and that’s with helping people. PA school is something that I’ve always dreamed of doing and completing. I only have a year left, so I knew in my heart that I had to go back.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: ABC announces new ‘Bachelorette’ is a ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ star: What we know
Reporting by Lianna Norman and Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
