Dakota Mortensen, a star of the reality series "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," has officially confirmed his relationship with influencer Shinia Powell via Instagram. The announcement comes nine months after reports of their alleged hook-up led to significant drama involving Mortensen's ex-partner.
Mortensen, 33, and Powell, 29, shared a series of photos on social media showcasing their relationship, with Mortensen captioning the post, "Soaking up our last bit of summer." The couple was seen enjoying an outing that included a minor-league baseball game in South Jordan, Utah, on July 23. Powell is the owner of Basin Tiling and has two children, Sophia, six, and Beckham, five, from her previous marriage to real estate agent McKoy Allred.
A source told People on July 22 that Powell has been a consistent source of support for Mortensen during difficult times, especially when he lacked nearby family. "Their close friendship has naturally grown into something more, and they are enjoying their time together while thoughtfully navigating what that means for them and their children," the source stated.
The past controversy surrounding Mortensen and Powell surfaced on October 14, when Mortensen's former partner, Taylor Frankie Paul, publicly accused Powell of infidelity. Paul alleged that Powell was involved with Mortensen, referred to as her "babydaddy," while simultaneously confiding in Paul about a breakup with a married man. Powell responded the following day, suggesting that if Paul had an issue, she should contact her directly.
The love triangle was a focal point of the fourth season finale of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," which depicted Mortensen addressing the situation with Paul. "I do just want to say sorry for everything that I did. I know that caused a lot of problems," Mortensen said to Paul via FaceTime on the show. He acknowledged that hooking up with Powell was a "dumb" decision that "obviously" came with complications.
Taylor Frankie Paul has been navigating her own legal and personal challenges. She revealed on July 23 that she was observing a period of celibacy in a TikTok video with their two-year-old son, Ever, after a judge granted her visitation rights. Paul was awarded primary custody of Ever following the leak of 2023 phone footage showing her throwing a barstool and striking her eight-year-old daughter, Indy, during an episode of intoxication. Paul recently completed a three-year probation sentence stemming from a 2023 plea deal for aggravated assault. Utah's Division of Child and Family Services filed a petition on July 13 requesting that Paul's three children be recognized as "abused, neglected, or dependent" and placed under protective supervision.
Despite the past controversies, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" has been renewed by Hulu for a sixth season, with its fifth season still awaiting its airing date.