Dakota Mortensen dating Shinia Powell amid custody battle

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Dakota Mortensen is reportedly in a relationship with fellow reality TV personality Shinia Powell, months after speculation about the pair first surfaced.

According to People, sources close to the couple confirmed that Mortensen and Powell have begun dating after their friendship gradually developed into a romance. 

The source said Powell has been a "steady source of support" for Mortensen during a difficult period and that the pair are taking a thoughtful approach to their relationship while considering the wellbeing of their children.

Rumors of the relationship first emerged during season four of the Hulu reality series, when Mortensen admitted to his then-partner Taylor Frankie Paul that he had hooked up with Powell before she left to film The Bachelorette. 

As per the outlet, the revelation became one of the season's major storylines and fuelled speculation that the pair had remained close.

News of the romance comes as Mortensen remains embroiled in an ongoing custody battle with Paul over their two-year-old son, Ever.

Earlier this month, Utah's Division of Child and Family Services petitioned a juvenile court to place Paul's three children under protective supervision, alleging concerns over abuse, neglect or dependency. 

Moreover, Paul has denied the allegations and said she is committed to regaining custody under court supervision.

The former couple's legal dispute has attracted widespread attention following the release of footage from a 2023 domestic altercation, which led to the cancellation of Paul's filmed season of The Bachelorette.