TMZ Reports 'Mormon Wives' Star Dakota Mortensen Is Dating Co-Star Shinia Powell, Who Appeared in Season 4
Dakota Mortensen and Shinia Powell, both from 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' are reportedly dating, per TMZ sources.
Two stars from the reality series 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' are reportedly in a new relationship. According to TMZ, Dakota Mortensen and Shinia Powell have officially begun dating, with the outlet citing unnamed sources described as having 'direct knowledge' of the situation. Page Six, which has also picked up the report, notes that Powell made a brief appearance in Season 4 of the Hulu reality series, which premiered in March. Just Jared has similarly repeated the story. The report surfaces while Mortensen is said to be engaged in a custody battle with his ex, Taylor Frankie Paul, who is also a cast member on the same show. The full details of when the relationship began and its current status were not available in the published reporting.
Why it matters
The story involves overlapping personal relationships among cast members of the same reality show, which may have implications for the ongoing custody proceedings between Mortensen and Taylor Frankie Paul.
Key facts
- Dakota Mortensen and Shinia Powell are both cast members on 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives'
- TMZ reported the relationship using unnamed sources described as having 'direct knowledge'
- Just Jared's coverage cited TMZ's report rather than independent sourcing
- Mortensen is reportedly in an active custody dispute with ex Taylor Frankie Paul
- No official confirmation from Mortensen or Powell was included in the reports
Bias & framing notes
Both outlets rely on the same TMZ report; Just Jared adds no independent verification and simply republishes the claim. The sourcing is entirely anonymous ('sources with direct knowledge'), which is standard tabloid attribution but provides no independently verifiable basis. The framing in both headlines emphasizes the custody battle angle to heighten drama, even though the reporting contains no substantive information connecting the new relationship to custody proceedings.
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