Ariana Madix Cashes In On Scandoval Drama By Landing On ‘Dancing With The Stars’ 2023 Cast

By Samantha Nungesser Twitter @samjnungesser
Published July 7, 2023, 12:21 p.m. ET

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Ariana Madix

Goodbye Scandoval, hello Mirrorball! Ariana Madix — who was born fucking cool — is officially joining Dancing with the Stars Season 32. The beloved Vanderpump Rules star announced the exciting news alongside Derek Hough on this morning’s episode of Good Morning America.

Back in April, sources revealed that Madix was in “late-stage conversations” to join DWTS and had “already received all of the approvals and sign-offs” from NBC Universal, the owner of Bravo, per Page Six.

In the cheeky announcement filmed right from Madix and Pump Rules co-star Katie Maloney‘s sandwich shop, Something About Her, she confirmed her highly anticipated involvement in the dance competition show.

“This season on Dancing with the Stars, we are going absolutely mad — mad for Madix!” Hough says in the clip, before later adding, “Say goodbye to the drama and hello to the dance floor!”

Hough, who will take over as head judge for the late Len Goodman, posted another cute video to his Instagram page, where he puts in an order to Madix at her new shop. The specials? Cha-Cha Club, Mirrorball Meatball Sub, the Ballroom BLT and the Tango Tuna Melt.

“What a totally unplanned coincidence that all of those sandwiches sound like dances,” he says. “I think you’d be fantastic on the show. What are you doing this fall?”

Under the video, Madix commented that she’s “beyond grateful, excited, and nervous all rolled into one 🪩 absolutely thrilled!”

Ever since finding herself at the center of the Scandoval controversy — in which her boyfriend of nearly a decade Tom Sandoval had a months-long affair with her BFF Raquel Leviss — Madix has racked up a laundry list of successes. Aside from joining Dancing with the Stars, she has secured multiple endorsements and even signed on to act in a Lifetime movie — all on top of continuing to work on Vanderpump Rules Season 11, which began filming last week.

Last month, Madix told Glamour that she has said yes to nearly every sponsored opportunity that has come her way in hopes to gain financial independence as well as help out her family as much as she can.

“We have no generational wealth in our family,” she explained. “I want to make enough money to be able to take care of my mom and my brother and any other family members who may or may not need it. I never want to worry about it ever, ever, ever. So I will work as much as possible to not have to.”

The full Dancing with the Stars cast list will be announced on GMA on Sept. 13.