The Hulu reality star and single mom of three is breaking franchise tradition as she takes the lead in Season 22 of ‘The Bachelorette’.
ABC is switching up tradition for The Bachelorette Season 22, and the new leading lady may surprise longtime fans. Instead of choosing a contestant from The Bachelor, the network announced that Taylor Frankie Paul, star of Hulu’s breakout reality hit The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, will hand out roses.
The announcement dropped in an unexpected way—on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast—marking the first time the franchise revealed its star outside of ABC’s own platforms like Good Morning America or late-night TV.
Paul, 31, isn’t new to the spotlight. With a massive TikTok following and her role on the Hulu reality series, she’s become known for her raw honesty about life as a single mom of three.
ABC praised her humor, resilience, and “fearless openness,” describing her as someone who inspires others to embrace life’s chaos.
Still, Paul has admitted the idea of becoming the Bachelorette felt almost “unattainable.” On the podcast, she revealed her initial doubts: “I have two baby daddies, not one. Is this possible for me to do as a single mom? Can I make it work, realistically, no matter how much I want this?” Ultimately, she decided she was ready for the challenge. “If I want to, I can. You can do anything you want, if you want.”
Her fans will see plenty of her in the coming months—The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives returns with Season 3 on November 13, while The Bachelorette will debut its new season in 2026.
This casting marks a bold move for the franchise, which has shifted its scheduling in recent years. After Jenn Tran’s 2024 season, ABC introduced The Golden Bachelorette, followed by Grant Ellis’ Bachelor season in 2025.
With Taylor Frankie Paul now stepping in, producers seem eager to bring fresh energy and a new kind of story to Bachelor Nation.
