Taylor Frankie Paul Still Doesn’t Know Where Her Relationship With Dakota Stands

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Spoilers for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season three follow.

After being at the heart of the drama for three seasons, Taylor Frankie Paul is surprisingly absent from most of the conflict in the latest season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. While the other moms try to figure out if Jessi Ngatikaura had an affair with Marciano Brunette from Vanderpump Villa, Taylor focuses on her own well-being, starting with a mental health retreat. She also works towards a peaceful co-parenting relationship with Dakota Mortensen, her youngest son’s father. Things are going smoothly until episode seven, when Taylor and Dakota have a sexual encounter at Stagecoach, and she soon discovers he may have been texting flirtatiously with a friend of her mother during their split.

As the new season approaches, Paul admits she’s unsure about where things stand with Mortensen. She confirms she’s not currently in a relationship, but that might change soon. She’s currently filming as the lead on the next season of The Bachelorette, and she didn’t hesitate to accept the opportunity, saying she immediately agreed to do it.

It’s funny – I just finished watching season three, which features a lot of coverage of the season two press tour, and now we’re back doing publicity for a new season! It’s a whirlwind, but I try to remember that this won’t last forever. We don’t know how long the show will run, so I’m focusing on enjoying the experience, even when it’s challenging.

The first episode focuses on your journey with Mormonism – finding value in the teachings while not feeling pressured to attend church regularly. You also share how prioritizing your mental health at the retreat positively impacted you, making you more balanced when you returned. It seemed like you became a calming influence, helping to resolve conflicts, especially between you and Whitney, and striving for peace. Do you recognize that change in yourself?

You’ve experienced being both part of the group and feeling excluded – as Whitney often describes it. She, along with Demi, frequently feel like outsiders. Having been through that yourself, you understand how difficult it is to be criticized when you’re already struggling. That experience led you to realize, ‘Who am I to judge?’ If someone is apologizing and trying to reconnect, you want to offer them the same understanding you received in the past. Being on both sides taught you to empathize with others, especially when they’re feeling isolated.

If you had to pick, what was the most meaningful relationship for you this season? Probably Demi’s. I haven’t watched the season yet, so I’m not sure how it comes across on TV, but there was a lot of back-and-forth apologizing between us. Things are different now, though. Whitney’s relationship at that time was also a strong contender.

It sounds like those relationships are different now?
Yeah, well, we’ll keep things there.

Last season, you expressed frustration that you shared so much of your personal life while others on the show didn’t. But this season, you told Jordan to keep some details of his relationship private. I’m curious if your perspective on sharing everything has changed. Are you now more cautious about what you reveal?

Honestly, I do think I’ve changed. I’ve realized that keeping things private can protect you – people can’t criticize what they don’t know. That’s what I was trying to tell Jordan. It’s important to protect your personal life when you can, because I know firsthand what it’s like to have everything scrutinized and be told what you should and shouldn’t do. Ultimately, other people’s opinions don’t matter as much as your own happiness and peace of mind.

I try to explain to people that sharing so much publicly comes with consequences. But it’s also a burden when you’re one of the few who are open about certain things, making everyday life more difficult. People often focus on the fun and glamour, but they don’t talk about the impact it has on your mental health. Those who share their lives openly understand this completely, but it’s hard to grasp until you experience it yourself.

Did anyone seem to be keeping things private or not opening up enough this season? I always feel like some people could share more, but everyone has their own boundaries, and it’s not my place to tell them what to do. I will say I’m really impressed with Jessi and Jen. They’ve both been very open about their lives, even when it wasn’t easy. They continue to share their stories, and it’s great to see them doing so well and still being a part of things.

There was a crazy moment when the cameras stopped working and Demi unexpectedly showed up at an event. Everyone on the cast instinctively stepped in to help film things, and the scene actually looked really professional. I’m amazed at how well it turned out! It was all filmed on iPhones – I didn’t even do the filming myself. People always have their phones out during disagreements, so getting footage wasn’t hard. It’s surprising how good the quality is, but honestly, not that surprising, since everyone was prepared and had their phones ready. I remember thinking, What’s happening at a Dresscue event?! Looking back, it’s funny, but it definitely wasn’t at the time. I apologized to the event owners for the drama, saying I was sorry that ‘MomTok’ was arguing there. It was embarrassing, but it made for good television, don’t you think?

I’m still catching up and haven’t watched the finale yet, but I’m dying to know how the conversation with Demi goes! From what I’ve heard, it went about as smoothly as could be hoped for, which is a relief.

How have things changed since then?
Let’s just say people sometimes fall into patterns.

Who are the main characters? There’s more than one, but I’m trying to avoid spoilers since I don’t have all the information. I share my own perspective, but I don’t know the full story for everyone involved.

So, you’re heading off to film The Bachelorette. What’s your take on where things stand with Dakota right now? We’re committed to co-parenting and will always be a part of each other’s lives, but I don’t have a clear answer about our relationship beyond that. I’m currently not in a romantic relationship.

I was really excited to step outside of my everyday life and experience something new. Living in Utah can feel a bit isolated, and I wanted to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures. Plus, I’ve never really had a traditional dating experience! I got married young, had kids quickly, and then my first relationship after my marriage resulted in another child. With three kids, finding time for dating is tough, and honestly, I didn’t have much time before this opportunity came along. It felt like something I couldn’t pass up.

I was so surprised when people from The Bachelorette reached out! At first, I kept thinking, ‘Is this a joke? Are they serious?’ I honestly couldn’t believe they were considering me. Then, when I got the official offer – with roses and everything – it finally hit me: this was really happening.

Were you doing anything to get ready – like preparing your mind, body, or feelings? Not really. I’m just being honest, and if that’s not okay with you, then that’s fine. The right person will accept you as you are, when the time is right. I’m not stressing about it, and that’s a good thing. Just relax and be yourself – don’t overthink or overprepare.

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2025-11-13 19:56