I Don't Think Ariana Madix Should Have Been Cast As The Love Island USA Host Again

Love Island USA fans are counting down the days until season 7 premieres this summer, but I think it was a mistake to bring back host Ariana Madix. The Vanderpump Rules alum joined the show for its sixth season, which aired in the summer of 2024. Season 6 was a phenomenal success that helped cement the show within the American mainstream, and Ariana was a major factor in the show’s reception by fans. However, I think Ariana has outgrown the show, and it’s time for the two to part ways.

Viewers won’t have to wait long to dive back into Love Island USA. The show returns to Peacock on June 3, 2025, with new episodes dropping every day except Wednesdays. In addition, the summer of love will continue with Love Island: Beyond The Villa, a new spinoff that will focus on fan favorites from season 6. Now that Love Island has finally connected with American audiences, it’s time to find a new host with a fresh dedication to their role. Ariana is focused on expanding her empire, which no longer relies on reality television.

Ariana Became The Love Island USA Host Shortly After "Scandoval"

She Bounced Back From Heartbreak Stronger Than Ever

Ariana’s fame reached new levels after her involvement in “Scandoval,” during which her then-boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, was revealed to be having an affair with her best friend, Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. Ariana and Tom’s relationship had been on display since Vanderpump Rules season 3, with Rachel joining the cast in season 5. News of the affair broke in March 2023 after Ariana discovered a risqué video on Tom’s phone. Tom was villainized, while Ariana was the innocent victim. The drama played out in the media and later in Vanderpump Rules season 10.

While Ariana may have been the victim of Tom’s betrayal, she quickly bounced back and rewrote the narrative to become the hero of her own story. She embraced every opportunity for appearances and brand partnerships to give her the financial freedom she needed to move on without Tom. Love Island USA was Ariana’s big break outside of Vanderpump Rules. It allowed her to step beyond the confines of her relationship with Tom and introduce herself to viewers as a vibrant, independent woman.

Now that Scandoval is in the rearview, Ariana no longer needs to prove herself. She’s flourishing on her own, and memories of her life with Tom are growing more distant. Vanderpump Rules announced plans to reboot the show with a new cast, freeing Ariana from her reality television origins. I think Ariana’s hosting gig on Love Island was a rebound move, and while it was successful, it’s time for her to move on.

Love Island USA Doesn't Keep Their Hosts For Very Long

It’s Had Three Hosts In Only Six Seasons

Love Island USA doesn’t have a history of consistency, especially when it comes to its hosts. The first six seasons saw three different hosts. Actress Arielle Vandenberg hosted seasons 1 through 3 before being replaced by Modern Family star Sarah Hyland for seasons 4 and 5. The ever-shifting lineup of hosts set a precedent for change being the norm in Love Island USA, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

The hosts weren’t the only fluctuation throughout Love Island USA’s first six seasons. It was initially broadcast on CBS before moving to Peacock in season 4. The location has also been in flux, bouncing between Fiji, Las Vegas, Hawaii, and California, before returning to Fiji beginning in season 5.

While Love Island has been a big part of British pop culture, it took time to find its footing with American viewers. Now that its popularity is growing, I think it’s a mistake to get locked into a single host. Love Island USA has the potential to keep things interesting by bringing in new talent. With Ariana’s role in Vanderpump Rules behind her, she risks her identity becoming tied up in hosting, but she still has so much more to offer.

Ariana Is So Much More Than a Reality TV Host

She’s Continuing Her Acting And Entrepreneurial Pursuits

Since her departure from Vanderpump Rules, Ariana hasn’t slowed down with business opportunities. She and former VPR costar Katie Maloney opened their long-awaited West Hollywood sandwich shop, Something About Her, in May 2024. The shop, which had been in the making for years, didn’t disappoint, with many customers waiting in line for hours on opening day. Something About Her has created a name for itself not just through its highly rated sandwiches, but also its romantic ambiance and branded apparel.

Ariana’s star is continuing to rise on other platforms as well. She competed in Dancing With The Stars season 32, finishing in third place alongside partner Pasha Pashkov. In early 2024, Ariana fulfilled her dream of starring on Broadway when she landed the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago. Her performance received rave reviews, and she reprised her role again later that year. Ariana has also released two mixology books and appeared in a 2023 Lifetime movie, Buying Back My Daughter.

Ariana once told Us Weekly that her dream was to own her own home, star on Broadway, and host a dating show. By March 2024, she had landed the role on Love Island USA and moved out of the home she'd shared with Tom. Now that Ariana has achieved her dreams, it’s time for her to set her sights on bigger and better things.

On top of her career success, Ariana is in a loving relationship with her boyfriend, Daniel Wai. She’s no longer a scorned woman who needs to seize every opportunity to get on her own two feet. Ariana deserves life beyond reality TV and mingling with single people. Love Island USA viewers are highly anticipating its season 7 return, and I fear Ariana will disappoint if she’s forced into a role that no longer fits her vision.

Love Island USA season 7 premieres on June 3, 2025, on Peacock.