Taylor Frankie Paul is stepping into the spotlight as the next Bachelorette — and spoiler alert: her suitors don’t have to be Mormon.
On Wednesday, September 10, the 31-year-old Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star announced she’ll lead season 22 of The Bachelorette — making history as the first lead in Bachelor Nation who hasn’t previously been part of the franchise.
“No, they don’t have to be Mormon is the easy answer,” Taylor told Us Weekly, addressing fan questions about religion.
Faith, however, is a topic she plans to discuss with her suitors. “I would love to talk to anyone on the subject, and definitely the very last people,” she says. “I’m open to any religion. It doesn’t have to be Mormonism, but I would like to align, obviously, with the same values and morals, and at least someone that does believe in faith and God and whatnot. When you’re raising kids, it does become a factor… what we are going to teach them, what we believe in.”
Taylor is approaching the ABC dating show with a sense of openness rather than a strict set of rules. “What I’m most looking forward to is meeting a handful of people that are outside my bubble — and even if there’s a couple in there, that’s OK — but I’m just excited to get to know different perspectives and new parts about myself too,” she says. “It’s out of my comfort zone, so, obviously, it’s scary. You’re dealing with feelings — and you’re dealing with other people’s feelings — and I don’t really like to hurt other people’s feelings, especially when you’re being vulnerable and open.”
The Hulu star acknowledges that being the lead won’t be easy. “It’s going to be really hard to hurt someone, especially because you have to make fast decisions,” Taylor admits.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Plan to Balance ‘The Bachelorette’ and Co-Parenting Her Kids
Taylor is one of the rare Bachelor Nation leads not to come from the franchise. She rose to prominence as a MomTok influencer, documenting her life in Utah, including her rocky post-divorce relationships and her Hulu reality series. Fans may remember a scandal that brought her attention: Taylor admitted to cheating on her husband in a soft-swinging situation, followed by legal troubles in 2023, including charges for aggravated assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, of which she pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after a plea deal.
“If [the men on The Bachelorette] have seen the show, or if they’re going to watch the show, don’t go into it like, ‘That’s who she is,’” she tells Us. “To be honest, I feel like there is a side to me that is completely different [from how] I am perceived on social media and the show.”
