Bachelor Nation

‘The Bachelorette’ Casting Shocker, Reality Star Named As New Lead

Published

2 hours ago

September 10, 2025

ABC did a switcharoo on fans. Season 30 of The Bachelor was supposed to air in January 2026. However, Call Her Daddy podcast queen Alex Cooper revealed via cake that there has been a change in plans. The network decided to go with The Bachelorette instead. She then made another video in which she talked about the new lead never being a part of the franchise before. Plus, she said she was already on another television show. Early Wednesday, the announcement was made. Who is it?

The Bachelorette 2026 Revealed

The Bachelorette for Season 22 will be a reality star. This woman is already on another popular television show. Alex Cooper made the announcement on the Call Her Daddy podcast. The new lead is a single woman with three children. The youngest was born in 2024.

ABC decided to go with Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul. The 31-year-old had previously mentioned in May that she might be open to doing the reality dating show. However, she didn’t want it to interfere with her current show.

In ABC’s press release, they said, “[Taylor] is the breakout star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, captivating millions with her raw, unapologetic storytelling. Off-screen, she’s a TikTok powerhouse whose comedic, heartwarming and bitingly honest content has earned her a massive following. As a single mother of three, [Taylor] shares the highs and lows of her life with unfiltered candor. With humor, resilience and a fearless openness, she inspires others to embrace life’s chaos and own their story.”

Taylor Frankie Paul-Instagram

What Did She Say About Being The New Lead?

Taylor Frankie Paul appeared for her first interview as The Bachelorette on Call Her Daddy. She said at first she wasn’t sure she could handle being the lead. She has two baby daddies and three children. Ultimately, she decided to go for it and take the role. She said you can find a way to do anything you want if you really want to.

So, Paul’s season of the show will begin filming in October and begin airing on ABC in January in place of The Bachelor. So far, ABC has not shared why the decision to switch the two shows happened.

Fans can catch a glimpse of who Taylor is by watching Seasons 1 and 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The Hulu show will premiere Season 3 on November 13.