Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor is putting her relationship in the spotlight.
Taylor attended New York City’s Virtual Reali-Tea Awards on Tuesday, October 6, with her girlfriend, Kelsie Chesser. Speaking with Page Six, the 25-year-old reality star confirmed that the event marked their first red carpet appearance as a couple.
“I’m actually super nervous,” Chesser admitted in an interview shared online by the outlet that evening. The couple’s public debut follows Taylor’s July 29 appearance on the “On Purpose With Jay Shetty” podcast, where she opened up about being bisexual. Taylor shares two children with her former husband, Clayton Wessel. The pair divorced in 2023, one year before Bravo premiered Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Chesser first identified herself as Taylor’s girlfriend in a July 21 TikTok. She also told Page Six that she had already “met the kids” and enthusiastically agreed when asked whether Taylor’s children “love” her.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star has also discussed why she has not yet shared her sexuality with her costars. “No, [they don’t know],” Taylor, 25, said during a Monday, June 29, episode of the “On Purpose With Jay Shetty” podcast. She explained that the cast had not been in a bad place with one another, but she still had not found the right way to have that conversation.
During the interview with Shetty, 39, Taylor described her sexuality as something she spent years trying to understand. “I’m gay and I’m bi and date women and men,” she said. Reflecting on her childhood, Taylor explained that she often felt different while growing up as a Black girl in a largely white community. She recalled watching Pretty Little Liars and seeing Shay Mitchell kiss another girl, wondering, “Wait, why is that hot?”
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Taylor said she lacked the queer representation that might have helped her recognize those feelings as normal. Although she had been Mormon and did not necessarily feel direct pressure from her parents to hide her identity, she said she simply did not have people around her who modeled what living openly could look like.
Kelsie Chesser and Layla Taylor Courtesy of Layla Taylor/Instagram
In her conversation with Page Six, Taylor also offered a preview of season 6 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which is currently in production. “I think it’s going to be a really good season,” she said, adding that season 5 had been difficult for viewers. Taylor said she was looking forward to audiences seeing more of each cast member and experiencing what she described as a happier, lighter chapter.
Season 5 focused heavily on the turbulent relationship between Taylor’s former costar Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. The ongoing conflict was followed by Mikayla Matthews’ departure from the reality series. Matthews confirmed last month that Paul’s continued involvement played a direct role in her decision to leave. Paul, 32, has also hinted that she may eventually exit the show.
Taylor previously spoke about supporting her close friend Miranda McWhorter after Miranda’s ex, Chase McWhorter, kissed their friend Jessi Draper. While promoting her SHOWPO collection, Taylor, 25, told Us Weekly exclusively that she was focused on being there for Miranda, while declining to get deeply involved in the situation between Jessi, Chase and the rest of the group.
Taylor said the cast was “very sad” to see Mikayla leave, describing her as one of her dear friends. At the same time, she said she respected Mikayla’s choice and felt proud of her for standing up for what she believed was right.
As for Paul, Taylor said she wished her well but confirmed that the two no longer speak. She added that she could not say whether Paul remained in contact with the other women from the cast.