Layla Taylor Shares Her Journey Embracing Black Identity on ‘Mormon Wives’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — November 25, 2025 — Layla Taylor, a biracial woman and cast member of the Hulu reality series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” is using the show’s third season to share her personal story of identity and self-acceptance. Taylor, the only Black star featured among the women on the show, has spoken candidly about her experiences growing up in predominantly white Utah and the challenges she faced with her hair and cultural identity.

Taylor’s journey became a focal point in the current season as she navigated haircare issues related to her natural hair texture. For years, she had been visiting her best friend Jessi Draper Ngatikaura’s salon, JZ Styles, for hair extensions despite noticing balding caused by the treatments. Taylor said she hesitated to address the problem directly to avoid straining their friendship and because of assumptions within their social circle that switching salons might signal conflict.

“I was noticing it wasn’t working for my certain hair texture and my certain hair type, but it was hard for me to bring it up,” Taylor told BuzzFeed ahead of the season premiere. She explained that continuing to go to Jessi’s salon was partly to avoid “ruffling any feathers” and because many people assumed all the women on the show used JZ Styles.

The decision to switch to a Black hair salon marked a significant moment for Taylor, both personally and publicly. The conversation about her haircare needs was filmed for the show, capturing a candid discussion with Jessi about the challenges of caring for ethnic hair. Taylor emphasized that her choice was not a reflection of Jessi’s skills but rather a matter of finding the right expertise for her hair type.

“I wasn’t leaving because I didn’t like the way that her color would turn out or anything. It was just that she didn’t necessarily have the right education to properly handle ethnic hair,” Taylor said. She acknowledged Jessi’s understanding and support, noting their close friendship helped facilitate the conversation.

On the show, viewers see Taylor receiving a sew-in at a Black salon, a vulnerable moment that allowed her to connect with someone who understands the Black experience in Utah. Taylor described this as a turning point in confronting insecurities she had long carried about her hair and identity.

“Since I was a little girl, the second I get out of the shower, I’m blowing out my hair and I’m having it straight,” she said. “It’s just taking a lot working through those traumas that I didn’t realize I had.”

Taylor also reflected on her broader experience growing up biracial in Utah, saying, “I feel like I spent a long, long time in my life, basically my whole life, trying to be more white.”

She expressed a commitment to using her platform to inspire change for her two sons and for Black girls and women watching her story, aiming to foster confidence in their natural hair and skin tone.

Taylor’s story adds a nuanced perspective to “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” highlighting the intersection of race, identity, and friendship within the context of a reality series centered largely on white women in Salt Lake City.