Mormon Wives' Layla Addresses Weight Concerns, Recalls Her Self-Harm Issues

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Layla Taylor broke her silence about concern over her weight — and opened up about her past mental health struggles that led to self-harm and attempts to take her own life.

During the Hulu special, which started streaming on Tuesday, July 1, host Nick Viall revealed that Layla, 24, spoke out about her issues that never aired on the show. A never-before-scene clip showed Layla addressing comments about her body.

“I’ve been skinny my whole life though. I feel like everyone’s concerned right now but I’ve been skinny my whole entire life,” Layla told Demi Engemann before confirming she still has issues with body dysmorphia. “It’s like when you guys tell me, “Oh, you used to look like a healthy weight.’ When you have an eating disorder, the word ‘healthy’ triggers me.”

Layla said being told she looks “tiny” encourages her eating disorder, adding, “For some reason, in my twisted brain I think I am going down the right track. That gives me an endorphin rush. 
Also just living in Utah, the need to chase perfection — when it’s not attainable — is such a bad thing here.”

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While opening up to Demi, 30, Layla showed her scars on her wrists from past self-harm attempts.

“They’re kind of visible but they’re not too bad. I feel like I’m more insecure about those and it’s just an image thing here,” she continued. “Because someone looks at them and they don’t recognize what I’ve struggled with. 
They look at me and they judge.”

Layla started to cry at the reunion while elaborating on her mental health journey.

Disney/Fred Hayes

“It is a hard thing for me to talk about. I’ve dealt with really bad depression and anxiety my whole entire life. I have attempted to take my life multiple times and thought that I’d be better off dead than living the life that I do,” she told her costars, who were visibly emotional. “It just goes back to just never feeling like I’m enough. I was told that a lot growing up. That’s why I self-harm too.”

After Nick, 44, asked how Layla is doing now, she confirmed that she has been “better” in recent months.

“I haven’t self-harmed in a long time, which is good. I got my scars removed and I’m trying to move past that. One of the reasons why I wanted to get my scars removed is because my boys noticed it too,” Layla, who shares two sons with ex-husband Clayton Wessel, recalled. “I was like, ‘That’s not me just falling. 
That was me doing something to myself.’”

She continued: “My kids noticed it and it could affect them. So that’s what snapped me out of it and got me to stop. I don’t want to give my kids traumas because I’m dealing with it and I need to be strong for them.”

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Mayci Neeley’s husband, Jacob Neeley, was noticeably affected by what Layla shared. When asked by Nick why he was crying, Jacob said he was thinking about his and Mayci’s children.

“I’m just a girl dad,” Jacob, who shares son Hudson, daughter Harlow, and is currently expecting a third baby with Mayci, 29, said.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion is currently streaming on Hulu.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD) website or call their hotline at (888)-375-7767 to get help.