Key Takeaways
- Taylor Frankie Paul was announced as the new Bachelorette, an unexpected choice originating from a viral TikTok joke.
- Paul, a single mother of two, navigated logistical hesitations about the Bachelorette role by establishing a strong support system.
- Her previous relationship with Dakota from "Secret Lives" has definitively ended, a decision she made after a challenging summer.
- Paul is seeking a hardworking, motivated partner, open to any religion, who prioritizes deep conversations and shared values.
- She openly discussed past shame regarding sex from church teachings and expressed how she plans to navigate physical intimacy on the show.
- Paul emphasized learning to trust her intuition in relationships and discussed her journey of healing and growth after past public mistakes.
- She desires authenticity during filming, acknowledging that her relatable imperfections, or "messy Taylor," are expected when dating extensively.
Deep Dive
- Host Alex Cooper officially announced Taylor Frankie Paul as the new Bachelorette, a surprise as the season was initially intended for a male Bachelor (2:32, 3:22).
- Paul's journey to the role began with a viral TikTok joke three years prior, playfully putting herself forward as a candidate (3:22).
- She expressed hesitations due to being a single mom with two co-parents and filming logistics, but decided to proceed by assembling a support team, including a nanny (4:52).
- Paul reflected on societal double standards, particularly for mothers balancing personal pursuits with family responsibilities, noting her family was initially shocked but then excited (5:55, 6:07).
- She is the first Bachelorette not originating from within the franchise, and admitted unfamiliarity with dating multiple people simultaneously and limited reality TV experience (7:05, 7:27).
- In a
- Rose or No Rose
- game, Paul would give a rose to a
- hopeless romantic
- who "trauma dumps," relating it to her own story (1:01:34).
- However, she would
- absolutely not
- give a rose to a man who is supportive of her career but
- won't be in your TikToks,
- highlighting the importance of her content creation (1:02:22).
- Paul believes physical attraction can develop over time, citing personal experiences where initial preferences evolved (1:04:02).
- She stated her mother's strong intuition is a significant factor, and if her mother dislikes someone, it would likely be a deal-breaker, though she still plans to introduce potential partners to her children (1:04:32).
- Recent photos posted by Paul featuring a man with a guitar led to online speculation about a new relationship (14:51).
- Paul clarified the photos were not a soft launch, stating she had met the man only twice and enjoys
- creating curveballs and confusing people
- (15:10).
- She described him as likable, great, and respectful, emphasizing they are not official, as she intended to date casually before the show (16:23).
- Paul met the man on a TikTok live where he was singing, and he recognized her from a Mormon wife show (16:45).
- She informed him about her participation in
- The Bachelorette,
- and he reacted maturely, expressing openness to her continuing and even appearing mid-season (17:44, 18:42).
- Paul confirmed her relationship with Dakota, featured in "Secret Lives," is definitively over as she pursues "The Bachelorette" (20:53).
- She made the final decision to end the relationship, reflecting on the difficulty of letting go of someone she loved, especially after one of her hardest summers (21:13).
- Paul is unsure if Dakota knows about her opportunity to be the Bachelorette and anticipates he may be sad upon hearing the news (24:44).
- Paul's ideal Bachelorette contestant is in their late 20s to early 40s, with a preference for men in their 30s (25:52).
- She seeks a hardworking and motivated partner, as she manages many responsibilities as a mother of three and does not want to be the sole provider (26:45).
- Paul values deep, intimate conversations over superficial activities, preferring to ask detailed questions about past relationships (28:22, 28:33).
- She is open to partners of any religion, including Mormon, prioritizing core values of love, family, and how individuals treat others (29:30, 32:08).
- An immediate turn-off is a significant ego, though she humorously noted a man performing a strip tease upon arrival could be entertaining and earn a rose (30:39).
- Growing up in the church, Paul described feeling shame and guilt regarding sex, treating sexual activity as taboo and secretive (37:42).
- While acknowledging the potential benefits of church teachings on abstaining from sex before marriage, she expressed dissatisfaction with the associated guilt and shame (38:30).
- Paul stated her personal decision to refrain from discussing her sex life publicly moving forward, noting such discussions remain taboo in the LDS church (39:22).
- She questioned how she will navigate the
- fantasy suites
- on "The Bachelorette" and expressed that she would feel "guilt and shitty" if a partner she cared about risked their relationship by engaging physically with others (39:37, 41:22).
- Paul used a "test drive the car" analogy to discuss the importance of physical compatibility in the context of the show (41:48).
- Paul's preference for a
- life of the party
- partner has shifted; she now seeks someone more passive and less controlling, valuing a balance between shared activities and individual pursuits (47:36).
- She reflected on her relationship with Dakota, where she repeatedly felt something was wrong but attributed it to personal trauma from divorce, public scrutiny, and two miscarriages (49:20).
- This experience taught her to trust her intuition, stating she will leave any future situation where she has to question her partner (50:56).
- On "The Bachelorette," Paul believes trust will be built on feeling, intuition, and the honesty of contestants, as phone use and social media sleuthing are prohibited (52:05).
- Paul reflected on her past arrest, detailing that charges were dropped and she never intentionally harmed her children; her primary concern was their presence in the house (54:12).
- She described her emotional state during the arrest as significant pain and sadness, admitting she lacked necessary coping tools and acted selfishly at the time (55:05).
- Her healing journey includes extensive therapy, learning coping mechanisms, and dedicating more time to her children (55:54).
- Paul stated she has become a better mother, now prioritizing time with her children over dating, and acknowledged past controversies, including "swinging parties" with her ex-husband (56:19).
- Paul expressed a preference for inexpensive or Amazon-purchased wedding rings, emphasizing symbolic meaning over materialistic value, noting she would likely lose an expensive ring (1:10:04).
- She anticipates filming "The Bachelorette" with "surreal excitement" about potentially finding a husband (1:10:58).
- Paul discussed the upcoming third season of "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" as a "chapter closure with a cliffhanger" (1:10:58), reflecting on personal growth and learning from mistakes (1:11:56).
- She urges viewers to give her a fair chance on the show, recognizing her self-awareness and learning process (1:13:10).
- Paul hopes her
- messy Taylor
- persona is relatable, acknowledging that imperfections are expected when dating extensively (1:15:09).