The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul has been announced as the next The Bachelorette star, and ABC has called on "saints, sinners and suitors" to be a part of her journey.
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"After igniting MomTok and going viral for pulling back the curtain on Salt Lake's soft-swinging scene... the Utah native is ready to trade headline-making heartbreak for hometown dates as she begins making her mark on Bachelor Nation," ABC teased of Taylor's upcoming season.
Taylor boasts millions of followers on TikTok by posting comedic and sharp content that many fans find heartwarming, honest and resilient.
"She inspires others to embrace life's chaos and own their story," ABC says of Taylor.
The announcement of Taylor's The Bachelorette casting was first made on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast on Wednesday.
Taylor told the podcast's host Alex Cooper that she's open to dating outside of her Mormon faith.
She also said she'd like to meet a "hardworking and motivated" man between the ages of 27 and 43 who will be willing to move to Utah.
"I'm sorry if that is a make or break for them, but yeah, I am in Utah, and I have two baby daddies. I'm going nowhere," she quipped.
Taylor doesn't present a squeaky-clean image The Bachelorette has typically gone for in the past by casting leads such as bridal designer Desiree Hartsock, widowed single mom Emily Maynard, elementary school teacher Michelle Young, and mental health therapist Charity Lawson.
Taylor married Tate Paul in 2016 and the pair welcomed two children together: daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWIn 2022, Taylor revealed on social media that she and Tate had been "soft-swinging," which is a term used to describe consensual partner swapping in a non-monogamous arrangement.
Taylor admitted to violating the rules the couple had set for themselves by becoming more intimate with another man in their friend group, which led to their separation and eventual May 2022 divorce.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premiered in 2023, featured the cheating scandal and documented the highs and lows of Taylor's friendships as well as her rocky romance with Dakota Mortensen, the first man she dated after her divorce from Tate.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives also documented Taylor's arrest in 2023.
Taylor was taken into custody following a fight with Dakota in which she had allegedly thrown furniture at him and accidentally struck one of her children with a barstool.
Taylor was booked for aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury, and criminal mischief, according to Us Weekly.
The influencer pleaded guilty in August 2023 to aggravated assault. In exchange, the other four charges were dropped and Taylor ultimately reached a plea deal.
Taylor and Dakota, however, stayed together through the drama and welcomed a son, Ever True, in March 2024. They broke up months later in the fall.
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"Honestly, it was a joke. I was just throwing it out there, like, 'What do I lose in a relationship sense?'" Taylor told Us in an interview.
"I actually made [a different video] three years ago, and then I made another [in June], like, 'This is my audition for The Bachelorette.' It's very surreal, and I think it's not going to hit until that limo pulls up with that first guy coming out."
Taylor assured Us that there is a side of her that is "completely different" from how she is perceived on reality TV and social media.
She also told Alex on her podcast that the soft-swinging lifestyle is "not who I am anymore."
Taylor explained how she has turned her mistakes into life lessons.
"I think [that makes you] more wise and aware -- or at least self-aware," Taylor told the magazine.
"I can't say that I'll never make mistakes again. We're human. We always will. But it's learning, growing and then having the tools to navigate the next one."
While The Bachelorette won't be returning until next year, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is set to release new episodes on November 13 on Hulu.
Two other stars from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck, will also be competing on Dancing with the Stars' 34th season on ABC and Disney+ this fall.
The Bachelorette's official premiere date and cast of bachelors for Season 22 will be announced at a later date.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
