Ariana Madix has offered glimpses into her steamy connection with Daniel Wai following her split from Tom Sandoval.
After nearly a decade of dating, Us Weekly confirmed in March 2023 that Madix and Sandoval parted ways due to his affair with their Vanderpump Rules costar Raquel Leviss. The TomTom co-owner later issued a public apology to Madix after initially only addressing the negative response his Los Angeles business received amid the fallout.
One month later, Madix attended Coachella with a group of friends, which included Wai. The pair sparked romance speculation after they posted several snaps of them holding hands and kissing at the musical festival.
A source exclusively told Us at the time that Madix and the personal trainer were “just having fun” during the outing. “Ariana is not ready to commit to anything serious right now as she is still healing from the relationship that just ended with Tom,” the insider explained, noting that the Bravo star is “not looking” for commitment after calling it quits with Sandoval. “Part of her healing process was going to have a good time at Coachella and that is what she did.”
Sandoval, for his part, wished his ex-girlfriend luck with her romantic life. “Yes, I love that,” he told TMZ in April 2023. “Yes, I do [want her to find love again]. I really do.”
Scroll down for a full breakdown of Madix and Wai’s romance:
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
April 2023
The pair initially sparked romance rumors after they hung out together at Coachella with a group of friends. Madix and Wai were seen packing on the PDA in the desert and shared a steamy kiss at the Los Angeles airport days later.
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
April 2023
Amid Madix's public outings with Wai, a source exclusively told Us that the reality star was enjoying single life. "She is allowed to date whoever she wants and was having an amazing time at Coachella with Daniel," the insider shared. "She's definitely open to seeing where things go with Daniel, but at the same time, Ariana isn't totally ready to jump into a serious relationship."
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
April 2023
After a social media user asked Wai to "take care" of the Bravo star, he replied, "Will do!" The New York native also wrote "yes" when another follower told him to "treat ariana like the queen she is."
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
May 2024
The Fancy AF Cocktails coauthor visited Wai in New York one month after they went public with their romance. The twosome were photographed at a baseball game and getting cozy on several date nights.
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
May 2023
Madix was by Wai's side as he celebrated his birthday with a shopping trip and a group dinner. The duo later packed on the PDA while strolling through New York City together.
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
May 2023
Madix was all smiles on a lunch date with Wai in New York City.
Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Wai/Instagram
May 2023
“I’ll just say that I am very happy and very satisfied,” Madix gushed on WWHL in May 2023 after being asked about the new man in her life.
That same month, the Fancy AF Cocktails coauthor recalled meeting Wai shortly after her split from Sandoval. "I met him at a wedding about ten days after all of this. And in no way, shape or form did I go into that thinking anything," she shared on Today. "I have just been taking things very, very slow and really enjoying myself. And it's just really lovely to interact with someone who is just so nice and kind and lovely and caring.”
Credit: Courtesy of Ariana Madix/Instagram
August 2023
Madix offered a glimpse into her trip to Chicago with Wai, posing in front of the city’s iconic Bean sculpture.
Later that month, Madix gushed about Wai on Scheana Shay's "Scheananigans" podcast, saying, “He’s a very grounding, calming, positive energy. He’s always trying to help with things. ... He is someone who does bring a whole lot of happiness and really just calming, positive energy to my life, so I’m gonna keep him around."
The Something About Her cofounder also discussed how the pair plan to make long-distance dating work.
“It’s hard to predict — even just work-wise — what’s gonna come up in the next year or so,” she continued. “I would love it if he moved out here [to L.A.], but he’s born and raised in New York, so I can understand how that would be a huge adjustment. His family is there, and I wouldn’t wanna take him away.”
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