Taylor Frankie Paul’s next chapter isn’t on Hulu — it’s handing out roses on national TV.
The 31-year-old Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star has officially been named the next lead of The Bachelorette, making history as the first-ever person to step into the role without previously appearing in the franchise. The news instantly set off a firestorm of reactions from fans, viewers — and, of course, her Hulu castmates.
Paul may be a newcomer to the world of limo entrances and fantasy suites, but she’s no stranger to the spotlight. She first rose to fame as a Utah influencer and became the face of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives after her headline-making soft-swinging scandal and tumultuous relationships put her at the center of Hulu’s breakout reality show. Now, she’s stepping into a completely different chapter — one she admits didn’t come without hesitation.
On the September 10 episode of Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Paul revealed she had serious doubts before accepting ABC’s offer. “My home base is here. Can I travel that long? Can I be gone that long?” she recalled asking herself. “Is this possible for me to do as a single mom? Can I make it work, realistically, no matter how much I want this?”
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Plan to Balance ‘The Bachelorette’ and Co-Parenting Her Kids
Paul, who shares daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, with ex-husband Tate Paul, as well as son Ever, 1, with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen, admitted the idea of leaving her kids for months of filming was daunting. But in the end, she couldn’t turn down the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I can. If I want to, I can. You can do anything you want, if you want,” she explained, adding that she’s relying on a strong support system of family, friends, and nannies to keep things running smoothly at home.
As she prepares to lead season 22 of the hit ABC series, Paul acknowledges this dating journey will be unlike anything she’s experienced before. “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 … dating at the same time,” she said. “That will be new to me.”
Now, the big question isn’t just how Taylor will handle group dates and heartbreak — but how her fellow Mormon wives feel about her headline-making new role.
Scroll through our gallery to see which Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars have responded to Taylor’s Bachelorette news.
