The Unprecedented Bachelorette: 5 Shocking Facts About Taylor Frankie Paul And Season 22

The question of "who's the new Bachelorette" has finally been answered, but the identity of the next lead has sent shockwaves through Bachelor Nation. As of today, December 12, 2025, the new star of the franchise's 22nd season is none other than viral TikTok sensation and reality television personality, Taylor Frankie Paul. Her casting marks a historic and unprecedented shift for the long-running show, as she is the first lead in the franchise's history not to have previously appeared on a season of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Her season is set to premiere on March 22, 2026, and is already promising to be the most dramatic and controversial yet.

The announcement of Taylor Frankie Paul was made on September 10, 2025, during an episode of the popular *Call Her Daddy* podcast hosted by Alex Cooper. This non-traditional reveal, bypassing the usual *After the Final Rose* special, perfectly sets the tone for a season that is breaking nearly every rule in the *Bachelor* playbook. Paul, a 31-year-old single mother and content creator, brings a tumultuous and highly publicized past—including a viral "soft-swinging" scandal—that will undoubtedly be a central theme as she searches for love.

Taylor Frankie Paul: The Unconventional Bachelorette Biography & Profile

Taylor Frankie Paul is not your typical Bachelorette. Her fame stems from her life as a "MomTok" content creator and her starring role on the reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Her background is a stark contrast to recent leads like Jenn Tran (Season 21), Charity Lawson (Season 20), or Michelle Young (Season 18).

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• Full Name: Taylor Frankie Paul
• Date of Birth: May 23, 1994
• Age: 31 (at the time of the announcement)
• Hometown/Base: Utah, USA
• Occupation: Content Creator, TikTok Influencer, Reality TV Star
• Known For: *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives* (Hulu), viral "soft-swinging" controversy, and her "MomTok" presence.
• Children: Three—Indy, Ocean, and Ever. Her older two children, Indy and Ocean, are from her previous marriage.
• Ex-Husband: Tate Paul (father of Indy and Ocean).
• Current Relationship Status: Single, looking for love on The Bachelorette Season 22.

The Scandal That Made Her Famous: Soft Swinging and MomTok Drama

To understand why Taylor Frankie Paul’s casting is so revolutionary, one must look back at the viral drama that catapulted her into the national spotlight. Paul was a prominent member of the "MomTok" community, a group of Utah-based social media influencers, many of whom were featured on *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*.

The 'Soft-Swinging' Controversy Explained

In mid-2022, Paul became the center of a massive social media scandal when she publicly revealed that her group of friends was involved in "soft-swinging"—a practice where couples swap partners but limit sexual contact to kissing and touching.

The situation quickly escalated into a full-blown controversy involving multiple couples, including her then-husband, Tate Paul, and other cast members of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives like Jen Affleck, Demi Engemann, and Whitney Leavitt.

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The fallout from the scandal led to her divorce, a brief arrest, and a period of intense public scrutiny. This raw, unfiltered, and often messy history is a dramatic departure from the carefully curated narratives of past Bachelorettes. Her willingness to be open about her life, including her co-parenting challenges and past mistakes, is what host Jesse Palmer has hinted will make her season unique.

Season 22: Breaking the Bachelor Nation Rules

Taylor Frankie Paul's season, which is set to premiere in March 2026, is already defying franchise norms in several key ways, promising a level of "real-life" drama that Bachelor Nation has rarely seen.

1. Filming Location: Goodbye Bachelor Mansion, Hello Utah

While the iconic *Bachelor Mansion* in California is the traditional starting point for the show, Season 22 has reportedly started production primarily in Utah. This choice is significant, as it keeps Taylor close to her support system and her three young children: Indy, Ocean, and Ever.

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The shift in location suggests that the show is embracing her life as a single working mother rather than trying to fit her into the traditional romantic fantasy bubble. Rumors from sources like Reality Steve suggest that this Utah setting will allow for her friends and even her ex-husband, Tate Paul, to make appearances, injecting an authentic layer of family and co-parenting dynamics into the dating process.

2. The Host's Perspective on the New Bachelorette

Host Jesse Palmer has confirmed his return for Season 22 and has openly acknowledged the groundbreaking nature of Taylor's journey. Palmer noted that Taylor is "doing things that no other Bachelorette has ever done before."

This admission from the franchise’s main host suggests that the producers are fully leaning into Taylor's unconventional background. One confirmed detail is that the season will feature a group date on *Dancing With the Stars* (DWTS), adding another unexpected celebrity crossover to the season's itinerary.

3. The Contestant Pool: A Different Kind of Suitor

Given Taylor’s age (31) and her life as a mother of three, the contestant casting for Season 22 is expected to be more mature and grounded than in previous seasons. The men will need to be prepared to date a woman who is not only a successful content creator but also someone with a complex family life and a very public past.

The focus of the season will likely be less on fairytale romance and more on finding a partner who can integrate into a pre-existing family structure. This shift from the typical 20-something leads like Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia to a 31-year-old single mother is a refreshing move for viewers who have often criticized the franchise for its lack of diversity in life stages.

Why Taylor Frankie Paul’s Season Is a Must-Watch

Taylor Frankie Paul’s Season 22 is poised to be a cultural phenomenon that transcends the typical *Bachelor Nation* viewership. The combination of her controversial "soft-swinging" past, her "MomTok" celebrity status, and the show’s decision to film in her home state of Utah makes this a unique blend of traditional reality TV and social media drama.

For fans of *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, this is an unprecedented crossover event. For longtime *Bachelorette* viewers, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the typical contestants who emerge from the franchise machine. The season promises to explore themes of co-parenting, public scrutiny, and finding genuine love after a scandal. The journey of Taylor Frankie Paul—a woman who has lived her messy life in the public eye—is a bold, risky, and ultimately captivating choice for the next Bachelorette. Be sure to tune in on March 22, 2026, to see if this controversial lead can finally find her happily ever after.