Ariana Madix.Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Ariana Madixis officially a contender for the mirrorball trophy!
On Friday,Dancing with the StarsjudgeDerek Houghannounced onGood Morning Americathat theVanderpump Rulesstar, 38, will appear on season 32 of the ABC dance competition.
‘That’s right, I’mVanderpump Rules’ Ariana Madix, and I will be joining the cast ofDancing with the Starsthis season," she said, before showing off some moves with Hough.
Madix is the first star to be revealed for season 23 ofDancing with the Stars. The full cast will be revealed onGood Morning AmericaSept. 13.
Andy Cohenpreviously teased Madix’s involvement inDWTSon his Sirius XM radio show,Andy Cohen Livein May.
“I mean, she’s gotten endorsement deals. She’s onDancing with the Stars. The way people responded to her last night was so positively,” he said ofher appearanceonWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
Hough also teased Madix’s casting on Thursday when he appeared onGMA’s Instagram Story.
“Good morning, America!” he said in the clip, which appeared to be filmed inside Madix andVPRcostarKatie Maloney’s new sandwich shop,Something About Her. “Guess who is joiningDancing with the Starsthis season?”
Derek Hough on Good Morning America’s Instagram Story.gma/instagram
gma/instagram
The casting news comes more than four months after shesplitfrom her boyfriend ofnine years,Tom Sandoval, after she discovered his affair with theirVPRcostar and friend,Raquel Leviss.
Madix first commented on the breakup in an Instagram post about two weeks after the secret relationship was exposed.
Rather than addressing Sandoval, 40, and Leviss, 28, she thanked her fans and friends: “when i have felt like i couldn’t even stand, you all have given me the strength to continue and seen me through my darkest hours. to say i have been devastated and broken is an understatement.”
She ended the statement,“what doesn’t kill me better run.”
Ariana Madix; Tom Sandoval; Raquel Leviss.Tammie/AFF-USA/Shutterstock; Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
Tammie/AFF-USA/Shutterstock; Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
In May, she opened up to PEOPLE about her reaction tolearning of the affair, sharing, “My anxiety at first was through the roof. Those first few weeks … just the stomach ache, not being able to fall asleep, not eating and feeling sick even at the idea of wanting to eat. It was really so bad.”
She said that learning of the cheating scandal between now-ex and their Bravo costar back in March was her lowest point.
“It felt like rock bottom,” she explained. “I’ve gone through other stuff before on the show but nothing like this at all. But there’s nowhere else to go from rock bottom except up. So honestly, realizing that really helped me come out of that.”
Ariana Madix as Officer Karen in ‘Buying Back My Daughter’.Lifetime
Lifetime
Since the split, Madix hasbooked a partin the upcoming Lifetime movieBuying Back My Daughter. PEOPLE exclusively revealeda first lookat her role as Officer Karen in the film, which is set to premiere this fall.
InGlamour’sJune cover story,Madix revealed that she said yes to nearly every sponsorship deal to provide for her family.
“We have no generational wealth in our family. 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," she explained. “I never want to worry about it ever, ever, ever. So I will work as much as possible to not have to.”
She also moved on with new loveDaniel Wai, who she celebratedher 38th birthdaywith last month, and began shootingseason 11 ofVanderpump Rules.
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Season 32 ofDancing with the Starspremieres this fall on ABC, and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
source: people.com
