Layla Taylor Confronts Weight and Mental Health in Candid “Mormon Wives” Moment

2 July 2025

Layla Taylor speaks on self-harm. credit : Hulu

In a deeply personal and never-before-seen scene from Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” Layla Taylor offers viewers a rare glimpse into her lifelong struggle with body dysmorphia, self-image, and mental health. During a heartfelt conversation with fellow cast member Demi Engemann, the 24-year-old mother of two addresses public concerns surrounding her slender frame, revealing a history of eating disorder behavior and self-harm that she has worked tirelessly to overcome.

Layla clarifies that her thinness was never a new development, emphasizing that it has been a constant throughout her life. She shares how feedback intended to be supportive often triggered unhealthy responses. In her own words, hearing remarks like “when you look healthy again” or “you look sick” gave her a rush, a disturbing reminder of how deeply entrenched distorted body perceptions had become.

Taylor’s vulnerability deepens as she discusses the pressures endemic to Utah’s Mormon society, where expectations of perfection can sting. She reveals the emotional impact of comments on her self-harm scars, which were once visible on her wrists. She describes how judgment and misunderstanding from others compounded her insecurities.

Taylor confesses that her mental health battles began early, with depression, anxiety, and multiple suicide attempts marking key chapters of her life. She admits to self-harming, sharing that in her darkest moments, she believed she would be better off not living. With tears in her eyes, she recalls the shame she felt in contemplating and attempting suicide, attributing much of it to her belief that she was never enough an internal echo of criticism she heard growing up .

In the unreleased reunion footage, host Nick Viall gently inquires about her current well-being. Taylor is proud to report that she has not self-harmed in a considerable time and that she underwent a scar removal procedure. She speaks candidly about the moment her young sons noticed her scars, describing how their innocent questions, like “Mama, owies,” became a catalyst for change. It was in that moment she resolved to stop self-harming so she could be stronger for them.

Taylor’s revelation underscores a powerful theme of resilience and transformation. She states that while her mental health journey has been arduous, she continues to prioritize healing and recovery. The unaired scene reaffirms the show’s commitment to authentic storytelling, offering viewers more than sensational drama by giving a voice to earnest struggles around mental health, body image, and motherhood.

The sharing of this conversation arrives at a time when mental health dialogues are rapidly becoming more mainstream. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” since its debut, has been praised for pushing the conversation around topics such as sexuality, faith, and emotional wellness. This newly released footage marks a pivotal contribution to ongoing discourse around women’s mental health, especially among communities with intense societal expectations.

Layla’s journey adds to a growing chorus of real-world stories where public figures share mental health hardships to inspire collective compassion and hopeful transformation. She confronts her past including depression, self-harm and suicide attempts with transparency and courage. Her message is that these experiences do not define her. Rather, they are reminders of how far she has come, and how much healing is still possible.

Her story resonates far beyond the screen. Whether one is a mother, a survivor, or a fan of the show, Layla’s honesty offers a powerful reminder of the human capacity for recovery. She demonstrates that recovery does not end, but rather continues with intention, community support, and love. Layla’s journey marked by pain, hope and gradual healing is a moving testament to the power of resilience.

This poignant moment reminds us that reality television can serve as more than entertainment. It can be a catalyst for conversation, empathy and awareness. In an era where discussions about mental health and body image are ever more necessary, Layla Taylor’s courage to share her most vulnerable moments provides an invitation for viewers to reflect on their own stories and perhaps open pathways to healing.