Ariana Madix’s reality TV evolution from Vanderpump Rules to Love Island USA icon in 2025
She's a versatile queen
Ariana Madix’s reality TV evolution from her Vanderpump Rules days to her hosting role on Love Island USA in 2025 really is something to behold. As she literally slays every single look on Love Island USA season seven this summer, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and establish just how Ariana got here. It’s been a wild ride!
Ariana kicked off her career as a SUR server
Throwing it back to 2013, Ariana was 28 years old.
She moved from New York to Los Angeles and began working at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR restaurant.
The job was essentially what catapulted her into fame, as she ended up being cast for Vanderpump Rules.
After that, it appears the rest was history! Ariana spent 11 seasons on Pump Rules and is well-known for being one of the show’s stand-out stars.
The Scandoval drama could’ve been enough to make Ariana want to step away from the spotlight. But she appeared to only rise to further stardom after the whole debacle.
A quick pivot to Dancing with the Stars
After the Scandoval chaos, Ariana managed to pivot her reality TV career. She was cast on Dancing with the Stars season 32 in 2023.
Ariana finished in third place with her partner, Pasha Pashkov.
In the same year, she not only proved her versatility with her DWTS stardom, but she also appeared in the Lifetime film Buying Back My Daughter.
Next stop, Broadway
As if Ariana hadn’t proved her talents enough, she then ventured down another avenue in her career – Broadway.
In 2024, she began playing the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago.
Ariana literally aced it and ended up breaking records for her Chicago performance.
The musical “had its highest grossing non-holiday performance week in the show’s 27-year history. The production grossed $939,177.40 for the week ending February 4, 2024, surpassing the previous record of$926,363.35 for the week ending March 26, 2023,” per Broadway World.
Reaching iconic Love Island USA host status
In 2023, Ariana flirted with a Love Island USA hosting role, appearing as a guest host in season five and Love Island Games season one.
Then, her big break well and truly came the following year when she was cast as the show’s main host.
Love Island USA season six welcomed Ariana in place of its former host, Sarah Hyland.
Ariana’s rise from reality show participant to iconic host is a rare TV transformation. She’s proven she can pivot, reinventing relationship breakdowns into brand-building moments.
And with each bold choice, she’s less ‘reality girl’ and more formidable media presence.
Speaking of her reality TV stardom on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Ariana reflected: “Maybe I would be better at it now, but I think I have too much anxiety for reality TV.”
She explained that watching clips back, she could see herself “in scene being totally disassociated.”
A moment for Ariana Madix’s 2025 Love Island USA outfits
It’s no secret that everyone loves Ariana as the Love Island USA host, but they might love her outfits even more.
During season seven, she has not taken her foot off the gas. When it comes to showing up and showing out, Ariana has been hitting the nail on the head every episode.
She has X literally swooning over her all six days of the week that the Peacock show airs.
Each episode, Ariana often takes to her Instagram page to share some of the details of her looks.
When it comes to her Love Island USA glam, she and her team clearly don’t play. She not only has her fans and followers in awe of her looks, but other famous faces like Southern Charm‘s Madison LeCroy, The Valley’s Kristen Doute and Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Shamea Morton all paying her compliments in the comments section.
For all the latest reality TV cast member news, scandals, gossip and updates – like Reality Shrine on Facebook.