Dakota Mortensen Caught Cozying Up to Shinia Powell Amid Custody Chaos
Dakota Mortensen and Shinia Powell were spotted together at a baseball game, sparking intense dating speculation.
The reality star was photographed with Shinia on July 23 at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan, Utah.
In the images, Dakota had his hand on Shinia’s back while they watched the game from the lawn. Another shot showed Dakota getting close to Shinia as she relaxed on a blanket.
Both wore cream-colored baseball hats. Dakota sported a black T-shirt and khaki pants, while Shinia opted for jean shorts, high-top sneakers, and a silky top.
Shinia shared her outing on social media, posting a picture with friends but omitting Dakota from her recap.
This sighting follows reports that Dakota and Shinia are dating amid Dakota’s ongoing custody battle with ex Taylor Frankie Paul.
After months of speculation, it was reported that Dakota and Shinia’s “close friendship” evolved into something more during his tumultuous relationship with Taylor, whom he dated from 2022 to 2025. They share a 2-year-old son, Ever, born in March 2024.
The rumored romance raises eyebrows due to Dakota’s previous backlash from Taylor for hooking up with Shinia during season 4 of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives." Shinia debuted on the Hulu series as one of Miranda McWhorter’s best friends.
During a FaceTime call in season 4, Dakota apologized to Taylor, acknowledging the problems caused by his actions. “I’m sorry for hooking up with Shinia. Was it dumb of me? Yes. Could I have picked someone else? Yes,” he admitted.
Dakota recognized the complications of his choice since Shinia was part of their friend group. “I picked somebody that was obviously going to come with problems, and that was very s***y of me to do,” he stated.
This situation also created tension for Miranda, who felt caught between her friends Shinia and Taylor.
As Dakota and Taylor fight over custody of their son, speculation about Dakota and Shinia’s relationship intensifies.
Earlier this year, both Dakota and Taylor were granted restraining orders against each other following alleged domestic disputes. Dakota received temporary custody of Ever in March, but Taylor has since gained more parenting time.
On July 13, Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) filed a petition in juvenile court regarding Taylor’s three children, alleging they are being “abused, neglected, or dependent.” The petition requested protective supervision and the appointment of a guardian ad litem for the children. Taylor also has a daughter, Indy, 8, and a son, Ocean, 6, with ex-husband Tate Paul.
In response to the DCFS inquiry, Taylor expressed support for the organization’s involvement. “It was recently decided that the ongoing custody actions would be best suited for juvenile court,” she stated on July 16. “Taylor is not deterred by this transition; she welcomes the added structure and oversight it provides.”
Her statement concluded with a commitment to reach her goals regarding custody and personal health.
Dakota and Tate issued a joint statement addressing Taylor’s remarks, expressing concern that her comments downplayed the seriousness of the DCFS action. They emphasized the need for meaningful coordination among family court systems and child-welfare agencies to protect the children involved.
