Ariana Madix Reveals When She Really Walked Away From Vanderpump Rules

It should come as no SUR-prise that Ariana Madix was less than pumped at the idea of returning to Vanderpump Rules after Scandoval.

In fact, the Love Island USA host revealed for the very first time that she decided to leave the hit Bravo reality show after 2024's explosive season 11 finale, months before the network announced they were entirely rebooting the cast for season 12.

“I don’t think I was ever going to go back to Vanderpump Rules," Madix told People in an interview published March 13. "That’s the first time I’ve ever said that publicly, but I was never going to."

"It just didn’t feel right," the 39-year-old continued. "Not in any sort of rude way, not in a professional, ‘We don’t need this,’ not in a, ‘I’m too good for this’, but it just didn’t feel right."

Especially after her ex-boyfriend of a decade Tom Sandoval blew up their lives with his months-long affair with their former costar Rachel "Raquel" Leviss.

"If I did go back, I wouldn’t have been able to do the job that would make a good show," Madix noted. "And so it just wasn’t going to make sense, the story didn’t make sense.”

Surprisingly, Madix never felt fully comfortable being part of the drama that followed Lisa Vanderpump's rowdy group of former employees.

“I was never really made for reality TV,” she admitted. “I don’t think I’ve ever been what makes ‘a good reality star.’ I think in some ways that’s what has made me a good reality star. But that being said, I think that a lot of times I got in my head.”

Ariana Madix, Love Island USA — Kim Nunneley/Peacock

“I’ve also learned that maybe that’s not the best setting for me, and it’s not a setting that really allows me to be myself," Madix continued. "And when you’re not being yourself, you get yourself into situations where you’re saying or doing things that you don’t really back or believe in.”

As for how the Chicago star looks back on Sandoval's cheating scandal—which has since become known worldwide as Scandoval—now that several years have passed?

“I don’t," she bluntly stated. “I hate that name too. That word has never come out of my mouth.”

Plus, Madix has found plenty of success since leaving the show as host of Peacock's Love Island USA.

“I feel at almost 40 like my true self,” she told the outlet. “I’m surrounded by such amazing friends and family. It feels really good to be in a position where I’m able to do what I love and make a living doing it. Being in this business for many, many years, it’s taken a long time to get to that point, and I feel really lucky.”

Keep reading for a closer look at Madix's post-VPR fashion glow up and style transformation.

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