“MomTok” Star Taylor Frankie Paul to Lead Season 22 of The Bachelorette – A Franchise First
Los Angeles, CA – In a move that signals a significant departure from tradition, The Bachelorette has cast Taylor Frankie Paul, known for her viral TikTok presence and starring role in the hulu docuseries Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, as its next lead. The declaration, made Wednesday on the Call Her Daddy podcast, has already sent ripples through the reality TV landscape.
Paul, a single mother of three and prominent figure in the #MomTok community, expressed her own surprise at the casting. “It has not hit me right now,” she told host Alex Cooper. “It’s not going to be until I think the limo is pulling up…and meeting the people.”
This decision marks a notable shift for the long-running Bachelor franchise, which historically favors leads who have already appeared within its ecosystem – typically former contestants from The Bachelor or previous seasons of The Bachelorette. This internal casting strategy has, in part, reinforced a narrative of contestants being “there for the right reasons” – genuinely seeking a lasting romantic connection.
Paul’s pre-existing fame and savvy use of social media challenge that established dynamic.As she herself acknowledged on Call Her Daddy, her journey to The Bachelorette began with a lighthearted TikTok post three years ago. While she is undoubtedly seeking love, her established platform and unconventional path to the show may raise questions among dedicated fans about motivations.
The logistics of participating in the show also presented challenges for Paul, who is co-parenting with two different partners. “I’m dealing with two different people, my children, my home base is here,” she explained, outlining her initial concerns about the extended time commitment required for filming.Ultimately, she decided, “I can. If you want to, you can. And it comes down to that, so I was just like, I will make it work.”
The casting of Taylor Frankie Paul represents a bold step for The Bachelorette, potentially attracting a new audience while simultaneously disrupting the franchise’s established formula. Whether this gamble will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Season 22 is shaping up to be unlike any other.
keywords: The Bachelorette, Taylor Frankie Paul, MomTok, Reality TV, Hulu, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Call Her Daddy, Alex Cooper, Casting News, The Bachelor, Romance, Dating Show.