Latter-day Saint women are dominating television

Driving the news: Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck recently competed on "Dancing with the Stars," while Taylor Frankie Paul is set to lead the next season of "The Bachelorette."

• Hulu is currently exploring spinoffs of "Mormon Wives" piggybacking on its popularity, Deadline reports.

The big picture: The Washington Post named 2024 "the year of Mormon women."

• Historian and podcast host Lindsay Hansen Park told the Post that the religion's "intense focus on perfectionism" translates well on social media.

What they're saying: "I don't know if it's the air, or maybe the not drinking, but there's something about Utah that breeds great personalities and beautiful people," Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television's executive vice president of unscripted and alternative entertainment, told the Journal.

The other side: Depictions of Latter-day Saints in the media have long been criticized by church members for heavily relying on stereotypes.

• "We hope viewers remember that our faith runs much deeper than what's shown on screen, grounded in discipleship to Jesus Christ, service to our communities, and devotion to family," a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, per the Journal.

Yes, but: "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Layla Taylor told Axios earlier this year that the series showcases women's varied approaches to the Utah-based faith.

• "We're not telling everyone to live your life this way, but we're saying that if you do, it's OK," she said.