After months of whispers, ABC made a bold move: instead of recycling a familiar face from Bachelor Nation, they plucked their next leading lady straight out of Hulu’s wildest new hit. Taylor Frankie Paul, the breakout star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (and former face of the #MomTok swinging scandal), is officially the next Bachelorette.
For years, The Bachelorette leaned on a predictable formula—handing out roses to fan-favorite alums from past seasons. But Taylor offers a game-changing crossover. She’s already a viral headline-maker whose messy, very public love life has captivated viewers, making her a perfect storm of drama, redemption, and intrigue. By casting her, ABC isn’t just refreshing the franchise, it’s injecting it with a whole new audience from Hulu and TikTok, proving the show is willing to risk tradition for ratings gold.
‘The Bachelorette’ Needed a New Hook and MomTok Was It
Taylor said becoming the new Bachelorette hasn’t quite sunk in sharing the feeling is, “Surreal. It has not hit me right now in this moment. I’m just thinking about it, and it’s not real. And it’s not going to be until I think the limo is pulling up, you know? And meeting the people,” she shared on the Call Her Daddy podcast, referring to her potential suitors. What started as a joke three years earlier is now a reality, she shared with some jubilation. But she admitted she’s nervous. And rightly so. Unlike many of the previous leads of the franchise, this is a first for Taylor. She hasn’t been on the other side of the competition, vying for a man’s heart with cameras capturing every interaction. But her reservations also stem from balancing her time on her hit Hulu series, as well as co-parenting with two baby daddies. With ABC behind her and fellow DWTS contestants Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt in her corner, Taylor’s casting isn’t just a personal win—it’s a massive, franchise-defining move for The Bachelorette.
On the air since 2003, both the spin-off and the flagship series, The Bachelor, were becoming formulaic. It’s literally taken 22 seasons before The Bachelorette cast someone outside of Bachelor Nation. It’s a risk and a gamble, but a high-stakes, high-reward payoff. The show needed a revitalization. As time goes on, the pool of contestants evolves, but Taylor’s casting also marks a generational shift. She is a woman who has found a following and career through social media. Someone easily could have found a streamer or network to pitch a Taylor-led dating show, but using The Bachelorette as the basis indicates the willingness to explore new options to remain relevant. It could open up other pseudo-stars to take on the reigns in the future.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s Life Story Is Already Out in the Open Thanks to ‘Mormon Wives’
Taylor is the biggest name to lead the series in some time, simply based on public knowledge, so the series cannot craft a story about Taylor because it’s already been done. The bigger question is are the men looking for true love or to attach themselves to a viral superstar? Furthermore, are they willing to partner with the controversial figure and mom of three? A central moment in every season of the show is the family visit. After watching how Taylor’s family scrutinized her during Season 2, is there any man brave enough to be caught in that line of fire?
Taylor rose to fame as an influencer in the #MomTok community, but caught further attention after exposing the soft-swinging scandal that rocked the community and spawned a reality show. The first season focused on Taylor’s life after her divorce from Tate Paul, while the second season keyed into her roller-coaster relationship with Dakota Mortensen. Now single, Taylor hasn’t been shy about her desire to find the right guy, but will she find that person who aligns with her life through the show? Thankfully, the dating pool will be much more vast and plentiful of options than just the toxic men in Utah. No matter what happens, Taylor’s casting is creating a buzz for people to tune in!
The Bachelorette is available to stream on Hulu.
The Bachelorette
- Release Date
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January 8, 2003
- Showrunner
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Mike Fleiss
