If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok over the last few years, you’ve probably seen the fallout of the "Mormon Momtok" era. It was messy. It was loud. It involved swinging allegations that basically set the internet on fire. At the center of that storm was Taylor Frankie Paul. But as the cameras for Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives started rolling, viewers started noticing a calming, albeit blunt, force in the background. That force is Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom, Belinda Mayne.
She isn't just a background character. Honestly, she’s become the voice of reason for a fanbase that is constantly trying to figure out how Taylor manages to navigate such a chaotic public life. Belinda doesn't sugarcoat things. She’s the kind of mother who will hug you while simultaneously telling you that you’re making a massive mistake. That dynamic is exactly why people are Googling her name. They want to know who raised the woman who accidentally dismantled a corner of the LDS community on social media.
The Woman Behind the Viral Chaos
Belinda Mayne didn't ask for the spotlight. It found her. When Taylor’s life started imploding—we’re talking about the 2022 divorce, the "soft swinging" revelations, and the subsequent domestic violence arrest in early 2023—Belinda was the one left holding the pieces.
She’s a mother of three. Taylor is the oldest, followed by her sister Aspen and their brother. Living in Utah, the expectations for women are often sky-high and incredibly rigid. You're supposed to be perfect. You're supposed to have the perfect house, the perfect kids, and the perfect testimony in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Belinda, however, seems to have a more grounded take on reality. On the show, she’s seen questioning Taylor’s choices with Dakota Mortensen, her current partner. She’s worried. She’s skeptical. She is every mother who has watched their child enter a relationship that feels like a ticking time bomb.
Religion and the Mayne Family
You can't talk about Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom without talking about the Church. It’s the atmosphere they breathe. However, there’s a nuance here that many outsiders miss. Belinda is active in her faith, but she isn't a caricature of a "strict Mormon mom."
She understands the culture. She knows how judgmental it can be.
When Taylor was facing the brunt of public shaming from the Utah community, Belinda was there. But she wasn't just blindly defending her. That’s the interesting part. In several episodes of the Hulu series, Belinda is seen pushing back against Taylor’s narrative. She challenges her. It’s a level of accountability that you don't often see in reality TV families, where parents usually just act as hype-men for their famous kids.
Why Belinda Mayne Resonates with Viewers
Why do we care about a TikToker's mom? It’s simple. Belinda represents the "old guard" of Utah trying to make sense of the "new guard."
The contrast is jarring.
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On one hand, you have Taylor, who shares every intimate detail of her life, her pregnancies, and her legal battles with millions of strangers. On the other, you have Belinda, who seems to value privacy and traditional stability. This friction creates the best kind of television because it feels real. It’s not scripted drama about a stolen handbag; it’s a mother terrified that her daughter is throwing her life away for clout or toxic love.
The Dakota Mortensen Conflict
If there is one thing that defines Belinda’s arc on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, it is her blatant disapproval of Taylor’s relationship with Dakota.
She doesn't hide it.
Belinda has expressed concerns about Dakota’s past with sobriety and the rapid pace at which the couple moved—getting pregnant while still navigating the legal fallout of Taylor's past year. In one particularly raw scene, Belinda questions if Taylor even knows who she is outside of a relationship. It was a "hit the brakes" moment.
- She values long-term stability over short-term passion.
- Belinda isn't afraid of being the "bad guy" in the room.
- Her loyalty is to Taylor’s children, Ocean and Hudson, as much as it is to Taylor.
This isn't just about being a "hater." It’s about a mother seeing patterns that her daughter is too close to the flame to notice. Fans have largely rallied behind Belinda on this front. While Taylor is the star, Belinda is the one people find themselves nodding along with.
Life Before the Cameras
Before the Hulu checks and the million-follower TikTok accounts, the Mayne family lived a relatively quiet life in Utah. Belinda has been married to Jeremy Mayne for decades. They’ve built a life that, on paper, fits the Utah mold.
Jeremy often appears as the quieter counterpart to Belinda’s more direct personality. Together, they’ve had to navigate the transition from being a regular suburban family to being the parents of one of the most controversial figures on the internet. It’s a lot. Imagine going to your local ward (church congregation) on Sunday after your daughter has trended on Twitter for a "soft swinging" scandal. The social pressure in those circles is immense. The fact that Belinda hasn't disowned Taylor or gone completely silent speaks to a specific kind of maternal resilience.
A Different Kind of Influence
While Taylor is an influencer in the digital sense, Belinda is an influencer in the literal sense. She influences Taylor's decisions—or at least tries to.
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She’s often the one Taylor calls when things go south.
During the legal proceedings following Taylor’s arrest in February 2023, Belinda was a pillar. She was there for the kids. She was there to help Taylor navigate the mandatory classes and the fallout with her ex-husband, Tate Paul. This isn't just "mom stuff." This is crisis management.
The Reality of Being a "Momtok" Grandma
Being Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom means your grandkids are also public property. Ocean and Hudson have been on camera since they were born.
Belinda seems to handle this with a mix of acceptance and caution. You’ll see her in the background of TikToks, usually looking like she’d rather be doing literally anything else, but she stays because she’s needed.
There’s a specific episode where the group of women goes on a trip, and the "grandparent help" becomes a topic of conversation. In Utah culture, the "village" is usually the extended family. Belinda is the CEO of that village. Without her, it’s hard to imagine how Taylor would have maintained any semblance of a career while dealing with shared custody and a newborn (Ennis) with Dakota.
Misconceptions About Belinda Mayne
People think she’s just an enabler. That’s a common critique on Reddit threads and TikTok comment sections. "If she’s so concerned, why is she on the show?"
Here’s the nuance: staying on the show allows her to keep an eye on the narrative. If she’s not there, she has no say in how her family is portrayed. By participating, she gets to provide the counter-perspective. She gets to be the one who says, "No, this isn't okay," on camera.
- She isn't seeking fame; she’s seeking her daughter's safety.
- She isn't "anti-religion," but she is "pro-honesty."
- Her relationship with Taylor is deeply layered, involving years of unspoken Mormon expectations.
What We Can Learn from the Mayne Family Dynamic
Looking at Belinda, you see a blueprint for navigating a family member's public crisis. She doesn't run. She doesn't lie. She just shows up.
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There is a lesson here about boundaries. Belinda is great at setting them, even if Taylor doesn't always respect them. She tells Taylor when she’s being "too much." She tells her when she’s being selfish. In a world of "yes-men" and enablers that usually surround influencers, Belinda is a rare "no-woman."
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Family Drama
If you’re watching the show and feeling a bit of kinship with Belinda—maybe you have a "wild" family member of your own—there are a few things she does that actually work.
First, stay consistent. Belinda doesn't change her mind about Dakota just because Taylor is happy for a week. She waits for proof of change. Second, prioritize the kids. Every move Belinda makes seems calculated to ensure Ocean, Hudson, and Ennis have a stable environment, regardless of what the adults are doing. Third, speak your truth even if it’s uncomfortable. It’s better to be the "mean" mom who is right than the "nice" mom who watches a disaster happen in silence.
The Future for Taylor and Belinda
As The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives continues to evolve, Belinda’s role will likely grow. She is the anchor. As Taylor moves toward a potential marriage with Dakota or navigates the complexities of a "blended" family in the public eye, Belinda will be the one we look to for the "real" story.
She isn't just Taylor Frankie Paul’s mom. She’s the personification of the struggle many Utah families face: how do you hold onto your traditional values while loving someone who has completely broken the mold?
It’s not easy. It’s messy. But Belinda Mayne makes it look like something we can all understand.
Next Steps for Followers
To truly understand the dynamic, watch for the subtle interactions in the show rather than just the big blowouts. Notice the body language. Look at how Taylor reacts when her mom enters a room—there’s an immediate shift from "performer" to "daughter."
- Follow the legal updates regarding Taylor's past cases to see how Belinda's support played a role in the resolutions.
- Compare Belinda's approach to the other mothers featured on the show; you'll notice she is significantly more hands-on.
- Pay attention to the "soft" moments on social media where Belinda isn't the focus, but her presence provides the stability Taylor clearly needs.
By keeping an eye on these details, you get a much clearer picture of the woman who is effectively the backbone of the Paul-Mayne household. She’s the one making sure that when the cameras eventually stop clicking, there’s still a family left to go home to.
The real story of Mormon Momtok isn't just about the influencers. It's about the parents who have to help rebuild when the digital world falls apart. Belinda Mayne is doing that work every day, and that’s why she’s the one everyone is talking about.