Season 22 of “The Bachelorette” is officially happening — and it comes with a familiar face. Taylor Frankie Paul, known for her role on Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” was announced as the new lead during the Sept. 10 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
ABC Confirms Taylor Frankie Paul as ‘The Bachelorette’
“It has not hit me right now in this moment,” Paul told host Alex Cooper. “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.”
Paul’s casting comes as a surprise after ABC had announced the series would not air in its traditional July timeslot. The 30-year-old TikTok star revealed she first joked about becoming the Bachelorette in a viral video earlier this year. “It was mainly a joke to me … Then we had a meeting. I still didn’t believe it until I got the invitation, ‘Will you be our Bachelorette?’ Same reaction, shaking, pacing back and forth. There’s no way, no way.”
Paul, who shares two children with ex-husband Tate Paul and a son with Dakota Mortensen, has been highly open about her personal and romantic life. She also rose to notoriety on MomTok, becoming a central figure in the group’s highly publicized soft-swinging scandal.
In an official release, ABC described Paul as “a TikTok powerhouse whose comedic, heartwarming and bitingly honest content has earned her a massive following.”
What to Expect on Season 22 of ‘The Bachelorette’
While Season 22 will follow the show’s classic format, there are already hints at new challenges and dynamics. For one, ABC has not confirmed whether longtime host Jesse Palmer will return, sparking speculation after Paul made the announcement on “Call Her Daddy.” Some fans even wondered if Cooper could make an appearance.
Paul admitted her biggest hesitation was the logistics of filming while balancing her role as a mom. “I’m a co-parent,” she explained. “I have two baby daddies not one, so I’m dealing with two different people, my children, my home base is here. Can I travel that long? Can I be gone that long?” Ultimately, she decided to make it work: “If you want to, you can, and it comes down to that, so I was just like, I will make it work … I can ask for help more.”
The contestants have not yet been announced, but Paul shared her priorities when it comes to finding a partner. “How you treat people is my no. 1,” she told “Good Morning America.” She also said her ideal partner does not need to be Mormon and that she is open to exploring other religions.
ABC has also not released a premiere date, but Deadline reported that Season 22 will replace “The Bachelor” in early 2026. New episodes will air on ABC and be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
From TikTok fame to a starring primetime role, Taylor Frankie Paul’s road to becoming the next Bachelorette is anything but typical. With her unique backstory, outspoken personality, and openness to finding love outside her comfort zone, Season 22 is shaping up to deliver both familiar romance and unexpected twists
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