ABC has selected Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead for Season 22 of The Bachelorette, the network confirmed, handing the franchise's next season to a reality television and social-media figure rather than a former contestant from the Bachelor franchise. The network has not released a specific premiere date but said Season 22 will air in 2026.
Paul, 31, rose to prominence on TikTok and other platforms with a large MomTok following and has appeared on the reality series Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. She is a mother of three and has been a prominent presence on social media, where she has shared details of her relationships and family life with millions of followers.
Her selection marks a departure from the show’s long-standing practice of choosing leads from past seasons of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Franchise viewers are familiar with leads who have previously competed within Bachelor Nation; Paul’s casting introduces a lead whose public profile was built outside that ecosystem.
Paul’s public history includes coverage of personal controversies that have been widely reported. She told followers she and her then-husband, Tate Paul, had engaged in what she described as “soft-swinging,” a revelation that preceded their divorce. She later entered a relationship with Dakota Mortensen, a relationship that was chronicled on the first season of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives; the two have a child together and have since separated. In February 2023, Paul was arrested and charged with aggravated assault following a dispute; court proceedings and the status of those charges are matters of public record.
ABC has provided few scheduling details beyond the 2026 window. The most recent editions of The Bachelorette — Seasons 19 through 21 — premiered between June and July in their respective years, a pattern that could indicate a summer release for Season 22, but the network has not confirmed that timing. Historically, new episodes have aired weekly on ABC and become available the next day on Hulu, and past seasons of The Bachelorette remain streaming on Hulu.
Paul is scheduled to appear on the next season of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which ABC has slated to premiere Nov. 13, 2025. Viewers will have the opportunity to see her on that series before The Bachelorette begins its run.
Producers and network executives have not issued detailed statements on how Paul’s casting will shape the structure or tone of Season 22. The franchise has periodically shifted its casting and production approaches in response to viewer interest and broader cultural conversations, and recent seasons have included efforts to broaden representation and refresh the format.
Fans awaiting an exact premiere date for The Bachelorette Season 22 should monitor ABC’s official announcements and the network’s scheduling updates. Until the network provides firm dates, viewers can stream previous seasons on Hulu and watch for Paul’s upcoming appearance on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in November 2025.