Real royalty.
The star of “The Secret Life of a Mormon Wife,” Taylor Frankie Paul, has been selected to lead Season 22 of “The Bachelorette.”
This decision marks a groundbreaking moment for the ABC series, as all previous Bachelorettes originated from “The Bachelor.” The last time this happened was with Matt James in 2021.
Paul, age 31, described the news as “surreal” during Wednesday’s episode of Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
“At this moment, it’s not overwhelming,” she shared through her TikTok, explaining, “I’m just thinking about it—until I see that limousine pulling up, it doesn’t feel real.”
She mentioned that being chosen for the show left her in awe.
“When they asked me, I was shaking, pacing back and forth. I thought, ‘No way can I do this,’” she shared.
She was at the heart of a soft swing scandal
Paul rose to fame in 2022 after revealing her involvement in a Mormon soft swing community, which ultimately led to her divorce from her first husband, Tate Paul.
“We were all very close in that group,” she mentioned during a TikTok live stream. “Tate was involved with other girls, and so was I.”
“Honestly, I feel liberated,” she stated, sharing that it was a secret kept from family and friends.
When she got divorced, there was an understanding that neither would date anyone else, but Paul later admitted she fell for one of her co-parents.
She stars in “The Secret Life of a Mormon Wife.”
Hulu’s “The Secret Life of a Mormon Wife” explores the lives of Mormon mom influencers, dubbed #Momtok, following a scandal that rocked their community.
Paul has appeared alongside several cast members, including Maisi Neely, Jennifer Affleck, Demi Engeman, and others. Season 3 is set to premiere in November. Some cast members are also competing in “Dancing with the Stars.”
In “Call Her Daddy,” Paul revealed she mentioned her new role to her “Slomw” co-stars.
“I think most of them will be happy for me and supportive,” she noted. “You can’t please everyone, but we’re all busy living our own lives.”
She has three children
Paul shares an 8-year-old daughter, Indy, and a 5-year-old son, Ocean, with her ex-husband. Her family dynamics are further complicated by their shared parental responsibilities with her current partner.
In “Call Her Daddy,” she expressed uncertainty about how to balance family life with her new role on “The Bachelorette.”
“How do I make this work?” she pondered. “I have two co-parents to manage and two sets of responsibilities… Can I even travel for this?” She continued, “But I see other moms managing, and I wonder if I can do it too.”
She was arrested for domestic violence in 2023
In February 2023, Paul faced legal trouble after an altercation with her partner led to her arrest. She was accused of throwing objects, which resulted in charges of aggravated assault.
She avoided jail time following a plea agreement, while other charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Weeks before this incident, Paul announced she was expecting a child with her partner, though later she experienced an ectopic pregnancy.
“I didn’t fully deal with the pain because I was, well, a bit overwhelmed,” she reflected in an interview.
“Post-divorce, I was struggling a lot. I lost a baby and went through a lot of public challenges; it was just heavy,” she admitted.
Then, she realized she needed to make changes in her life and sought help.
“The Bachelorette” Season 22 is set to debut on ABC in 2026.
