ABC just broke 22 years of Bachelorette tradition Sept. 10 when Taylor Frankie Paul became the first lead who’s never appeared on The Bachelor – and the 31-year-old reality star’s casting signals a major Disney strategy shift for 2026.
Taylor Frankie Paul Becomes First Non-Bachelor Lead Sept. 10 – 22-Year Pattern Ends
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ABC announced Taylor Frankie Paul as Bachelorette Season 22 lead Sept. 10 during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast. The move breaks a casting pattern that’s held since the show’s 2003 debut – every previous 21 seasons featured leads plucked from prior Bachelor seasons.
Paul’s selection marks a franchise-first. She’s never competed on The Bachelor, instead building her profile as breakout star of Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where 5.7M TikTok followers watched her navigate divorce, soft-swinging scandals, and life as a single mother of 3 children. The Utah native told Cooper she’s “never done” dating multiple people simultaneously – a statement that carries weight for viewers who’ve watched 2 seasons of her relationship struggles with ex Dakota Mortensen.
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Here’s what makes this history: ABC looked beyond its contestant pool for the first time in the show’s female-led franchise. The network’s parent company Disney owns both ABC and Hulu, and Paul’s Emmy-nominated series gives producers a ready-made audience that’s already invested in her love life. Season 3 of Mormon Wives drops Nov. 13 with 10 episodes, just months before Bachelorette filming begins.
Why Mormon Wives Fans Care More Than Bachelor Nation About This Move
The casting splits audiences down the middle. Mormon Wives viewers bring 5.7M social followers and a built-in emotional investment – they’ve already watched Paul’s miscarriage, arrest for aggravated assault, and breakup with Mortensen play out across 2 seasons. That’s context Bachelor Nation contestants never carry into the mansion.
Bachelor traditionalists see risk. In 22 years, every Bachelorette earned her spot by competing on The Bachelor first – it’s franchise DNA. Paul skips that vetting entirely, arriving with controversies already baked in. The question splits fans: does unfiltered chaos revive a stale format, or does it erode what made the show work?
“This is something so new for me because obviously I got married young, divorced and then the first guy I met was the next relationship. So I have not done the whole meeting new people out, like dating at the same time … I’ve never done that, so that will be new to me,” — Taylor Frankie Paul, Call Her Daddy podcast.
Lock These 4 Viewing Prep Steps Before Season 22 Films This Fall
Filming starts fall 2025 in Utah, where production secured state tax incentives Oct. 2. The Utah Film Commission confirmed Bachelorette Season 22 will shoot around the state, with Paul telling Cooper she’s enlisted family and friends to help manage parenting logistics during production. Here’s what to track before the 2026 premiere.
| Step | Detail | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watch Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 3 on Hulu for Paul’s latest relationship status | Nov. 13 |
| 2 | Follow Taylor Frankie Paul’s TikTok (5.7M followers) for behind-scenes teasers | Now |
| 3 | Track ABC announcements for exact Season 22 premiere date (confirmed early 2026) | Dec. 2025 |
| 4 | Watch Bachelor in Paradise Season 10 to see how ABC reshuffles franchise schedule | 2025 |
Watch For These 3 Signals Before Jan. 2026 As Bachelor Franchise Shifts
ABC essentially parks The Bachelor in early 2026 to make room for Bachelorette’s return. The network’s been playing musical chairs since adding Golden Bachelor iterations – there’s not enough calendar space for all 5 versions to air annually. The Bachelor Season 30 likely returns in 2027 for the franchise’s 25th anniversary, per Deadline reporting.
Social media chatter spikes if Taylor Frankie Paul mentions specific contestants or dates on TikTok before Jan. 2026. Watch her 5.7M followers for leaked details during fall 2025 filming – reality stars with existing platforms historically struggle to stay silent.
Mormon Wives co-stars Whitney Leavitt and Jennifer Affleck compete on Dancing With the Stars Season 34 this fall. If either references Paul’s Bachelorette journey on DWTS, that’s confirmation filming’s underway. The Disney cross-promotion strategy puts all 3 women on ABC or Hulu simultaneously by year-end.
Which Bachelor Franchise Rule Will Taylor Frankie Paul Break Next?
Paul’s already shattered the biggest precedent – arriving from outside Bachelor Nation. She told Cooper she’s never watched much reality TV and doesn’t know “huge stars that people know.” That lack of franchise fandom could either free her from playing to Bachelor tropes or create disconnect with longtime viewers who expect certain beats.
The stakes get real when Season 22 premieres in early 2026. Will her existing 5.7M TikTok following translate to Bachelorette ratings? Does unfiltered storytelling – the kind that earned Mormon Wives an Emmy nomination – fit inside Bachelor’s polished format? And can a mother of 3 who’s publicly navigated arrest, infidelity, and divorce find lasting love through a process she’s never experienced?
Which outcome matters more to ABC: reviving cultural relevance with a controversial outsider, or preserving franchise tradition that’s worked for 22 years?
SOURCES
- https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/bachelorette-season-22-taylor-frankie-paul/story?id=125403612
- https://deadline.com/2025/09/the-bachelorette-season-22-taylor-frankie-paul-mormon-wives-1236519246/
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bachelorette-taylor-frankie-paul-season-22-secret-lives-mormon-wives-1236366945/
Daniel Harris is a specialist journalist focused on the crossroads of breaking news, extraordinary history, and enduring legends. With a background in historical research and storytelling, he blends timely reporting with timeless narratives, making complex events and ancient myths resonate with today’s readers. Daniel’s work often uncovers surprising links between present-day headlines and legendary tales, offering unique perspectives that captivate diverse audiences. Beyond reporting, he is passionate about preserving oral traditions and exploring how extraordinary stories continue to shape culture and identity.
Ever hear about Taylor Frankie Paul taking the lead in Bachelorette Season 22? Its like the shows flipping the script! Wonder if this move will shake things up or just be another ratings stunt. Whats your take on this unexpected twist?
Anyone else notice how Taylor Frankie Paul is breaking the mold on The Bachelorette? First non-Bachelor lead in 22 years! Wonder how Bachelor Nation will react to this shake-up. Will it be a hit or a miss? #BacheloretteHistory
Anyone else wondering how Taylor Frankie Paul will handle being the first non-Bachelor lead? Will this shake up Bachelor Nation or fall flat like last seasons drama? #BachelorNationBuzz
Taylor Frankie Paul leading the show? Now, thats a plot twist I didnt see coming! Its like tossing a pineapple into a basket of apples and hoping for a fruity outcome. Bachelor Nation might need to buckle up for a rollercoaster ride, or will it be a snooze fest like a cat napping in the sun? Who knows, maybe this unconventional move will stir things up in the Bachelor world. But hey, change can be refreshing, right? Whos ready for this wild card to shake things up, and whos already reaching for the remote? Let the drama unfold! Whos in for the ride, and whos jumping ship before it even sets sail?
I mean, who wouldve thought Taylor Frankie Paul would be the one to break the Bachelor pattern? ABC really spicing things up. Wonder how the Mormon Wives fans are taking this juicy twist. Will the show be the same without the usual Bachelor lead?
Ever been so shocked you dropped your phone in the toilet? Thats how I felt when I heard Taylor Frankie Paul landed the Bachelorette gig. I mean, after 22 seasons, ABC finally breaks the Bachelor lead pattern? Is this a glitch in the Matrix or a real game-changer? Whats next, a goat as the host?
Taylor Frankie Paul as the Bachelorette? Well, thats a plot twist bigger than finding out your favorite character in a show is actually a ghost. ABC sure knows how to keep us on our toes. Who knows, maybe next theyll have a llama as a contestant competing for a rose. Stranger things have happened in the world of reality TV, right? But hey, could this unexpected move breathe new life into the series, or are we in for a wild ride straight off the rails? What do you think – is this a genius move or a recipe for disaster? Time will tell, but until then, lets grab some popcorn and watch the drama unfold.
Anyone else notice Taylor Frankie Paul making history as the first non-Bachelor lead in 22 years? ABC finally spicing things up or just pulling a desperate move for ratings? Guess well have to tune in to find out the real tea!
Anyone else notice Taylor Frankie Paul breaking the mold as the first non-Bachelor lead in 22 years? ABC really shaking things up or just following trends? Will Mormon Wives fans bring a fresh perspective to the franchise? #Bachelorette22