Ariana Madix Reveals When She Really Walked Away From Vanderpump Rules

Ariana Madix has officially closed the chapter on Vanderpump Rules, revealing that she had no intention of returning for another season—even before Bravo announced the show’s reboot.

In a candid conversation with People, Madix shared that after filming season 11, she realized her time on the reality series had naturally come to an end. “I don’t think I was ever going to go back to Vanderpump Rules,” she admitted. “That’s the first time I’ve ever said that publicly, but I was never going to.”

Her decision wasn’t about feeling above the show or turning her back on reality TV. Instead, it was a matter of personal and professional alignment. “It just didn’t feel right,” she explained. “Not in a rude way, not in a ‘We don’t need this’ way, and not in a ‘I’m too good for this’ way. It just didn’t feel right.”

Life After Scandoval

Madix’s departure follows one of the most explosive scandals in Vanderpump Rules history—her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval’s highly publicized affair with their former co-star Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. The fallout reshaped the dynamics of the show, but for Madix, returning didn’t make sense.

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

Stepping away from reality TV has given Madix a newfound sense of clarity. While she played a key role in the show’s success, she never felt completely at home in that world. “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.”

The self-reflection continued as she acknowledged how the pressures of filming affected her authenticity. “Maybe that’s not the best setting for me,” she said. “It’s not a setting that really allows me to be myself. 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.”

Embracing a New Chapter

Now, with Vanderpump Rules behind her, Madix has embraced a different career path—one that allows her to thrive on her own terms.

As the host of Love Island USA, she’s found fulfillment in a role that aligns more closely with her personality and aspirations.

“I feel at almost 40 like my true self,” she shared. “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.”

And as for the scandal that made headlines worldwide? She has no interest in reliving it. “I don’t,” she said bluntly when asked how she looks back on it now. “I hate that name too. That word has never come out of my mouth.”

With a fresh start and a career she truly enjoys, Ariana Madix has officially moved on from the past—and she’s thriving.

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