Taylor Frankie Paul, the breakout star of Hulu's 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' is trading in her tumultuous relationship drama for a chance at love on ABC's 'The Bachelorette.' Season 22 will feature Paul as the leading lady, marking a significant departure for the franchise. This is the first time 'The Bachelorette' has chosen a lead who wasn't previously involved in the Bachelor universe, following in the footsteps of Matt James, who led 'The Bachelor' without prior franchise experience.
Paul, a mother of three, brings a raw and relatable energy to the show. Known for her candid and humorous approach to life, as stated in her ABC bio, she's ready to embrace the chaos and hopes to inspire others to do the same. Viewers will likely see further exploration of her recent split from Dakota Mortensen, the father of her youngest son, in Season 3 of 'Mormon Wives,' premiering November 13.
This casting decision also reflects a strategic shift in ABC's scheduling of the Bachelor franchise. With the addition of 'The Golden Bachelor' and 'The Golden Bachelorette,' the network is rotating its various iterations to optimize airtime. 'The Bachelorette' will effectively replace 'The Bachelor' in early 2026, with the latter potentially returning in 2027 for its 25th anniversary. In the meantime, 'The Bachelorette' season 22 will be followed by another season of 'Bachelor in Paradise'.
The appointment of Scott Teti, former showrunner of 'Bachelor in Paradise,' as executive producer for both 'The Bachelorette' and the upcoming season of 'The Bachelor' underscores the network's commitment to the franchise's evolution and its ongoing popularity. Meanwhile, 'The Golden Bachelor' is set to return on September 24, keeping the franchise’s momentum strong.
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Originally published at: https://deadline.com/2025/09/the-bachelorette-season-22-taylor-frankie-paul-mormon-wives-1236519246/
