As the only woman of color on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Layla Taylor already stands out.

However, as the reality series enters its third season, viewers will see that her storyline goes deeper than being outside the norm of the majority-white faith.

Finding faith in her teen years

“I spent a lot of my childhood just kind of spending time with my friends and their families, and they would invite me over for scripture study,” Taylor told Blavity’s Shadow and Act, explaining how she was first introduced to the Mormon faith.

The 25-year-old said the stability and happiness she witnessed while attending church or spending time with her friends contrasted with the unsettledness she experienced at home. That environment led her to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 16.

“If I join the church…then I’ll have a happy family one day, because that’s one of the biggest things that they teach…families are forever,” she said, reflecting on what drew her in.

These days, she’s honest about stepping back. “Now that I’m kind of finally stepping into myself…and trying to figure out what works for me and doesn’t. And yeah, I don’t really align with the Church anymore, but I do have respect for the Church and my people that are in it, just because it did help me through some really dark times in my life that I needed it the most. But it’s just not for me anymore.”

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Finding and embracing her voice

Since the first season, Taylor has leaned into standing out. She threw herself a divorce party after ending her marriage, embraced single motherhood to her two young children, and has become intentional about not holding back her thoughts or feelings.

“For a long time, I was definitely trying to hide that side of myself, because I feel like there’s connotation when you’re an outspoken Black woman,” Taylor shared, adding, “I’m not going to let that stop me from showing who I am.”

That mindset carries into Season 3. Viewers will see Taylor confront rumors head-on, walk away from strained relationships, and speak her mind without hesitation.

“I just try to remember the little Black girl that was constantly told to, you know, be quiet and not share what’s on my mind. I feel like that’s something that I was told a lot, was just kind of keep my emotions my emotions, and when I was little, and I think it’s just making myself proud, my little self proud, and not letting people diminish my light and diminish my voice. And I deserve to be heard and seen as well,” she expressed.

It all started with ‘MomTok’

Taylor is a founding member of “MomTok,” a TikTok content collective that offers a deeper look into the lives of Mormon wives and their families. The group began creating dance videos in 2021. Their lighthearted content soon gave way to stories of infidelity, swinging rumors, and interpersonal drama that Taylor admits she is still surprised to see unfold on camera.

“I think that we’ve always kind of said this, that when the cameras come out, for some reason, your emotions get, like, heightened. And it’s not all. It’s not that you’re acting; it’s not that you’re trying to over-dramatize situations. It’s weird,” Taylor said, adding, “These cameras have, like, a spell on you, and you get more emotional than you normally would, and I don’t think the same scenarios would unfold the way that they do on camera.”

Even with the heightened emotions that reality TV brings, Taylor said she is thankful for the community the group created.

“I’m grateful for that. I feel like this is an amazing group of women, and we’re able to inspire each other every day and bless one another. And it’s really, really cool.”

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Representation and growth in Season 3

Still, being the only woman of color has led to moments of discomfort. Taylor has noticed she may gain the fewest followers each season, receive less press, and face comments questioning why a Black woman is involved with the Mormon faith. She’s even been accused of being a “DEI hire.” Instead of letting those moments defeat her, she reframed them.

“I can kind of dwell on it, but I’ve tried to kind of change my mindset and look at them as a positive. And yes, I am the only woman of color on the cast, but I feel like that’s amazing, because I’m able to inspire young Black women and Black men and, you know, show them that it’s OK to stand out.”

This season, Taylor navigates dating again, balancing co-parenting and motherhood, and continuing to grow as a young woman under the constant presence of cameras.

“You’re going to see a different side of me that you haven’t seen before. Season 1 and Season 2 — I was still stepping up my voice and discovering who I was as a person. It’s taken a lot of trauma work and a lot of just rediscovering who I am to be able to step into my voice more. That’s something that I’ve diminished for a long time in a lot of ways. And I’m very proud of myself for this season and how I handle situations and handle the conflict, and I hope that the audience just can see that and see that I’m growing and working on finding my voice. It’s very hard when you’re in a very tense situation, and again, being broadcast on national television; it’s very challenging. But I think overall, I’m very proud of myself and excited for the audience to see that.”

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

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