‘The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives’ Star Layla Taylor Says She Had A “Wild Phase” After Her Divorce: “I Was Just Getting It Out Of My System”

As the youngest member of #MomTok, Layla Taylor came into The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives newly divorced and ready to get her groove back. Although the 23-year-old mom of two joined the Mormon church when she was in high school, that didn’t stop her from oiling up some muscular male dancers when she went to a Chippendales show on a cast trip to Las Vegas. While she admitted to DECIDER that she went through a “wild phase” after her separation, she said she has since “settled down a lot.”

“I think I was just getting it out of my system. I got pregnant at 19 and when I turned 21, I wasn’t able to drink because I was pregnant with my second baby. So I think I definitely had a little phase right there,” she said, noting that she’s since directed her focus to her sons and also began “seeing somebody a little bit more exclusively.”

Regarding the Hulu series, Taylor’s co-star Demi Engemann believes it will help restore the reputation of #MomTok in light of creator Taylor Frankie Paul ‘s soft-swinging scandal. “I think [viewers are] going to see that just like any relationship and friendship, there’s hardships and there’s drama, and there are betrayals and everything. And that’s a normal thing,” she said.

Some of that drama came amid Engemann’s feud with co-star Whitney Leavitt , who shockingly decided to leave #MomTok by the end of the first season. Despite their rocky friendship, Engemann told DECIDER that they are now “cordial” with one another.

“I am wishing her nothing but the best success, continued growth for her and [her husband] Conner, and [I’m] excited for her new pregnancy and just overall just wishing the best for her,” she added.

DECIDER caught up with Engemann and Taylor, who weighed in on everything going on in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Check out the full interview below.

DECIDER: #MomTok has gone through a lot from the swinging scandal to Taylor’s arrest. Do you think the show will help restore the reputation of #MomTok? And what’re you hoping viewers take away from it?

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DEMI ENGEMANN: I think so. I think they’re going to see that just like any relationship and friendship, there’s hardships and there’s drama, and there are betrayals and everything. And that’s a normal thing. I think that they’re going to be inspired to see how we handle a majority of those situations. And the takeaway for me is just that they’re going to — I hope that they feel empowered to step outside of their comfort zones, do things that they maybe wouldn’t otherwise. I feel like there’s this divide with women specifically where it’s like this competition, and it doesn’t need to be that way. You can root for women and also root for yourself. So I think there’s a lot of that and I hope that that’s the takeaway.

LAYLA TAYLOR: I completely agree with everything Demi said. She said that perfectly.

Layla, it was so much to see you let loose at Chippendales. Have you gotten to have any other wild mom’s nights out since then? And how is your dating life doing?

LAYLA: Honestly, I feel like at the beginning of my separation, I definitely went through a little bit of a wild phase. I think I was just getting it out of my system. I got pregnant at 19 and when I turned 21, I wasn’t able to drink because I was pregnant with my second baby. So I think I definitely had a little phase right there. Since then, I’ve definitely settled down a lot. I feel like I’ve just been trying to focus on my boys, focus on my family. Dating life? I was dating around a little bit, but now I’m kind of seeing somebody a little bit more exclusively at the moment. So that’s been fun.

Demi, you did not hold back when confronting Whitney. What was your reaction when she decided to leave #MomTok once and for all? And where do you stand with her now?

DEMI: So we currently are cordial and we get together, we’ve filmed stuff since then and have filmed content and interviews and stuff, and we’re cordial. I will say we are a unique group of girls. I don’t know if it’s the religious background or what, but we really are able to just look at everyone with kind eyes and just be able to say, “You know what? You’re human. We all make mistakes.” So as far as where I stand with her, I am wishing her nothing but the best success, continued growth for her and Conner, and [I’m] excited for her new pregnancy and just overall just wishing the best for her.

What about you, Layla? Where do you stand with Whitney?

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LAYLA: I think the same. I think that a lot happened in those couple months of filming, and we are all human and none of us are perfect. And I think I just try to see everyone in that way – how God sees us — that we’re not perfect and that we make mistakes and that’s okay. I think in terms of our friendship, we definitely have parts that we need to work and grow on, but I think that that will come with time. And good friendships take time.

Demi, early in the season you think that Jen talks too much about her Mormonism, but you are quick to back her in Vegas once you see how Zac was treating her. Do you think she and Zac will stand the test of time? And how do you feel about him moving her to New York?

DEMI: Speaking on my take on the relationship — from my perspective, any relationship takes work and it takes effort and you go through hard times. The only difference is they are airing that out, which is very vulnerable. I think it’s inspiring that they are working through this in the way that they are, because I truly think that more people are going through these types of things than we realize and oftentimes silently suffering through those things. So I hope that it’s a net benefit for them. The growth that I’ve seen from them has been incredible thus far, and I do see them putting in the work, so I’m hopeful that they’ll be able to come out on top for sure.

Layla, what advice would you give Jen seeing the current state of her relationship?

LAYLA: I think I have a harder time with it. Just coming from a marriage that I saw very similar tendencies in Zac that I saw in my ex, unfortunately. And the line that he said — that being divorced with two kids would be very hard — I think that stung a little but because I think it’s definitely better to be happy on your own than in a marriage that’s difficult. But ultimately, I just want Jen to be happy. And if she’s happy with Zac, then I’m happy for her.

Question for both of you: do you think Dakota is guilty of the confession Mayci received? And do you think their relationship is stronger now that they have a baby together than what we saw in the show?

DEMI: We’ll have to wait and see on that. I don’t know personally, so I can only assume and it does make me nervous, but I don’t know. We’ll have to watch and see.

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LAYLA: I think it’s hard. And being in newborn life is definitely hard, for sure. And we only see small snippets of what’s going on. I went over to their house the other day and hung out with them. They seemed like they’re doing well and really happy, so I think we just all just want the best for them.

There seems to be a heightened interest in shows about your religion, first with The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and now with your show. Have you ever crossed paths with any of the Real Housewives ? If so, what can you tell us about your interaction?

DEMI: Yeah, Utah is a very small place. My husband’s ex-wife was on Real Housewives as a friend of and I actually interviewed to be on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City . And I know a few of the cast members just from past relationships. And so, yeah, we do cross paths and it’s not surprising because Utah, again, like I said, is very small and especially the influencer world and community here is very tight-knit. So we do cross paths.

LAYLA: Yeah, I know Monica [Garcia]. We are just kind of internet friends and we chat here and there. She’s given me advice on the reality TV show world and stuff like that. Sweet girl. [I] wish she was still on this season, to be honest. I think she had a really good aspect to last season. And then we know Meili [Workman] that’s a “friend of” this next season. So yeah, it’s funny how everyone just knows each other. It’s just a very close knit world in Utah.

Demi, who was your husband’s ex-wife?

DEMI: Meili is on it — she’s one of our good friends. She’s so sweet. I’m excited to watch her on this next season. And my husband’s ex-wife was Angie Harrington. She was a “friend of . “

Oh, wow! One last question. What’s your favorite TikTok trend right now?

LAYLA: I think my favorite one is the, “Give me your money,” trend. I think it’s so funny. It’s a little mean. But, I mean, we’re on a floating rock, so I think it’s funny.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is currently streaming on Hulu.

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