Taylor Frankie Paul Wraps Up Her Bachelorette Season with Excitement and Authenticity
Taylor Frankie Paul, the breakout star from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” has officially wrapped filming for season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” marking a significant milestone in her journey. Taking to Instagram on December 20, the 31-year-old Utah native shared her enthusiasm with fans, saying, “I never experienced anything like this.” Her post included behind-the-scenes photos from production, including promotional shoot images and a candid shot of her flipping the middle finger during an interview session—a genuine glimpse of her unfiltered personality. Taylor expressed deep gratitude for being welcomed into the Bachelor Nation family and promised viewers that the upcoming season, set to premiere in March, “will be worth the wait.” Her selection as the Bachelorette came as a surprise to many fans, as she had never previously appeared in any Bachelor franchise shows, making her an unconventional but refreshing choice.
What makes Taylor’s casting particularly interesting is her established public profile outside the Bachelor universe. ABC’s announcement highlighted her as “the breakout star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, captivating millions with her raw, unapologetic storytelling.” Beyond television, she’s built a significant following on TikTok with content that blends comedy, vulnerability, and honest reflections on her life. As a single mother of three, Taylor has always shared the complexities of her personal journey with remarkable candor—a quality that resonated with viewers and likely influenced producers’ decision to cast her. Throughout the filming process, she has continued this transparency by sharing glimpses of production with her followers, including dramatic rose ceremonies and teasing about “one of the BEST nights of my life” during filming, though joking she couldn’t fully discuss it “for like six months.”
The road to becoming the Bachelorette hasn’t been without familial commentary. In October, Taylor’s mother, Liann May, made headlines when she appeared on iHeartRadio’s “Almost Famous” podcast, expressing strong opinions about the show’s infamous Fantasy Suites phase. Liann candidly shared that she would be “so pissed” if her daughter had intimate relationships with multiple contestants, rejecting Taylor’s comparison to “test-driving a car before buying it.” Liann reflected on her own experience, noting, “I didn’t have sex with my husband until I got married and I already had her, right? I tried it that way first and then obviously I married and I’ve been married for 29 years.” This generational difference in perspectives offers an intriguing subplot to Taylor’s journey, highlighting the personal values and family dynamics that influence contestants’ experiences on reality dating shows.
Taylor has received support from Bachelor Nation alumni as well, including Hannah Ann Sluss, who spoke exclusively to Us Weekly in December. Sluss offered encouraging advice: “I would just say, enjoy it, because I feel like she’s really going to take off and have so many fun opportunities.” Expressing her admiration for Taylor’s authentic approach, Sluss added, “I love how authentic she is, and I think she’s really going to bring in the views.” This endorsement from a former contestant underscores the positive reception Taylor has received from within the Bachelor community, suggesting her season might bring a fresh energy to the long-running franchise. The support from established figures in the Bachelor universe provides Taylor with a foundation of goodwill as she prepares for her season to air.
What sets Taylor apart from previous Bachelorettes is her established public persona and the life experiences she brings to the role. Already accustomed to sharing intimate details of her life through “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and her social media presence, she enters this new chapter with a different perspective than contestants who first become known through the Bachelor franchise. As a single mother of three navigating the complexities of dating in the public eye, her journey represents a more mature and multifaceted exploration of finding love than some previous seasons. Her willingness to be vulnerable and authentic—exemplified by including that middle-finger photo in her wrap announcement—suggests viewers can expect a season that balances the show’s romantic formula with genuine emotional depth and perhaps some unexpected moments of humor and rebellion against reality TV conventions.
As fans eagerly await the premiere on Sunday, March 22, 2026, on ABC, Taylor’s season promises to bring something different to “The Bachelorette” landscape. Her background in Mormon culture, experience as a mother, and established comfort with public vulnerability create a unique foundation for her journey to find love. While maintaining the familiar elements that Bachelor Nation fans expect—dramatic rose ceremonies, emotional connections, and romantic adventures—Taylor’s season may also challenge some of the show’s traditions through her unfiltered approach and life experience. For viewers who appreciate authentic storytelling in the often heavily produced world of reality television, Taylor Frankie Paul’s unconventional path to becoming the Bachelorette represents an exciting evolution for the franchise, potentially drawing in both dedicated Bachelor viewers and fans who have followed her journey through “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and social media. As Taylor herself put it, this experience has allowed her to be the most authentic version of herself—and that genuine quality might just be what makes her season particularly compelling.
