Ariana Madix has been upgraded from visiting bombshell to full-on host for “Love Island USA.” The “Vanderpump Rules” star will replace former host Sarah Hyland for the upcoming Season 6, which is set to premiere this summer.
The reality series follows a group of young people isolated in a beautiful destination, where they strive to remain part of a couple and potentially win $100,000. Typically set in a tropical locale, previous seasons of “Love Island: USA” included Fiji, California, Las Vegas, and Hawaii. Hyland (formerly from the sitcom “Modern Family”) hosted Seasons 4 and 5 of “Love Island USA,” taking over in 2022.
“Love Island” superfan Madix is known for her role on “Pump Rules” which has been a Bravo mainstay for several years. In fact, it was in this series where Madix’s love for “Love Island” was revealed after her ex, Tom Sandoval, ridiculed her for wanting to stay in and watch endless episodes of the British show together. Their fallout after a 10-year relationship — due to an affair with co-star Raquel Leviss — eventually spiraled into the cultural touchstone commonly referred to as “Scandoval.”
In addition to starring on “Vanderpump Rules,” Madix competed on Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars” alongside Pasha Pashkov, with whom she finished in third place. Outside of reality television, she recently made her Broadway debut in January, starring as Roxie Hart in “Chicago.”
“Love Island” originated in the U.K. before branching out internationally. The first U.S. season aired in 2019, with Arielle Vandenberg serving as host on Seasons 1-3. For its first three seasons, “Love Island USA” was commissioned by CBS; it was subsequently picked up by Peacock.