A new day brings a new reality TV obsession. Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives takes viewers inside the world of a group of Mormon moms who are also influencers, collectively known as MomTok. These women are navigating the ups and downs of motherhood and marriage and are in the public eye as they share their lives on social media. The series starts with a dramatic bang, thanks to Taylor Frankie Paul’s TikTok revelation about soft swinging, sparking a scandal that reverberates far beyond the MomTok community.
It’s a group of Mormon women who have gained fame through their relatable and engaging content on TikTok, sharing everything from parenting tips to snippets of their daily lives. However, the idyllic images they portray shattered when Taylor admitted she and several others were soft-swinging with each other’s spouses. This scandal changed the dynamics within the group and attracted major attention online.
Now, let's take a closer look at the cast members' partners and how they’ve handled life in the spotlight.
The partners of the cast members of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen
Taylor Frankie Paul, one of the most prominent faces of MomTok, caused the initial wave of controversy when she confessed in 2022 that she and some members of the group had engaged in soft swinging. At the time, Taylor was married to Tate Paul, but this scandal led to the collapse of their marriage. Taylor introduced her new partner, Dakota Mortensen, in a TikTok post in July 2022.
Taylor and Dakota's relationship has faced many challenges, including dealing with a miscarriage and a physical altercation that led to her being charged with aggravated assault in 2023. Despite the drama, Taylor shared in a 2024 interview that she and Dakota are in a good place now.
Interestingly, Dakota and Taylor's ex-husband, Tate, have become friends, and Taylor is also on good terms with Tate’s new partner. Taylor and Dakota have a son, Ever, and Taylor has two children from her previous marriage.
Mikayla Matthews and Jace Terry
Mikayla Matthews’ story is one of early motherhood. She gave birth to her first child at just 17, and she and Jace Terry married shortly after. While it wasn’t an easy journey, Mikayla saw many blessings in becoming a young mom. She has candidly shared that those early years were tough, navigating motherhood and the critical phase of life when many are figuring out their career paths and dreams.
Mikayla and Jace have since welcomed two more children, and though Jace isn’t featured much in the show's first season, Mikayla hopes he’ll have more screen time if there’s a season two.
Layla Taylor and Clayton Wessel
At just 23 years old, Layla Taylor is the youngest member of the MomTok crew. She married Clayton Wessel, and the two share two sons, Oliver and Max. Throughout The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Layla is shown adjusting to life as a newly single mom after her divorce from Clayton.
She’s been open about how being a young mother forces you to grow up quickly. While her experience has been different from the other moms in MomTok, Layla is embracing her new journey, balancing single motherhood with dating and rediscovering herself.
Demi and Bret Engemann
Demi Engemann and Bret Engemann’s relationship has stirred controversy, mainly because of their 16-year age gap. The couple, who started dating in 2020 and married in 2021, have children from their previous marriages. A former football quarterback, Bret was also briefly considered for The Bachelorette but chose to step away before filming began.
Demi has addressed their age difference on TikTok, sharing that she knew Bret when she was just a child, as they were introduced through a family friend. Despite the gossip surrounding their relationship, the couple remains strong, focusing on raising their blended family.
Jen and Zac Affleck
Jen Affleck’s rising fame through MomTok has caused tension in her marriage with Zac Affleck. Throughout the show, Zac’s discomfort with Jen’s public persona is apparent, and he struggles to cope with her increasing influence. Jen has expressed her frustration over Zac’s lack of trust, especially since she says she would never do anything to harm their marriage.
Zac, initially the family's sole provider, finds it difficult to adjust to Jen’s new role as an influencer. Despite these challenges, the couple moves to New York by the end of season one, where Zac is pursuing medical school.
Mayci and Jacob Neely
Both love and tragedy have marked Mayci Neely’s journey. She shares a daughter, Harlow, with her husband, Jacob Neely, but her first child, Hudson, was born from a previous relationship. Tragically, Hudson’s father, Arik, passed away in a car accident before his son was born in 2015.
Mayci and Jacob’s relationship has been one of support and understanding. They both attended Brigham Young University and were friends before falling in love. Today, Jacob works as a finance consultant, and they continue to build a life together with their children.
Whitney and Connor Leavitt
Whitney Leavitt and her husband, Connor, went through a major challenge when Connor opened up about his struggle with p*rnography addiction. In the show, Whitney explains that the couple temporarily moved to Hawaii to escape the fallout from the MomTok scandal. Still, it was also a time for Connor to work on himself and their relationship.
The couple is now back in Utah, and Whitney is pregnant with their third child. Despite the ups and downs, they are focused on rebuilding their marriage and moving forward together.
Jessi and Jordan Ngatikaura
Jessi Ngatikaura and her husband, Jordan, are partners in marriage and business. Jessi owns a hair salon, while Jordan runs a solar panel company. Together, they have three children, and Jordan showcases his culinary talents on Instagram through his Naughty Kitchen page.
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Their relationship seems to be one of the more stable ones featured on the show as they navigate parenthood and entrepreneurship.
Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives offers a fascinating look into the lives of these influential women and the challenges they face in the public eye. From the 2022 soft-swinging scandal to the intimate details of their relationships, viewers get a raw and unfiltered glimpse into their world. As MomTok grows, the series leaves us wondering what new twists and turns might await these women.
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