Floridian Ariana Madix to host ‘Love Island Games’ in the fall: What we know

After a long, dramatic, 36-episode season, filled with love triangles, breakups and make-ups, the “Love Island USA” season seven winners were crowned this weekend.

But the “Love Island” fun hasn’t ended just because season seven is over. After the finale, host Ariana Madix announced details for the season seven reunion, a new “Love Island: Beyond the Villa” spinoff and the long-awaited return of “Love Island Games.”

“Love Island Games” is a spinoff with only one season under its belt. The first season aired in 2023, with “Love Island UK” host Maya Jama at the helm.

Now, two years later, the spinoff is coming back with a Floridian flare. Florida-born fan favorite Ariana Madix will be hosting the second “Love Island Games” in September, despite online rumors of her leaving the “Love Island” franchise.

Here’s a little bit about Madix’s reality TV career, a brief recap of her love life and how to watch “Love Island Games” this fall.

Who is Ariana Madix? Where is Ariana Madix from in Florida?

TV personality and host Ariana Madix, a native of Melbourne, Florida, and alumna of Flagler College, has had the entire reality TV realm in a chokehold over the last few years.

Aside from her reality TV work for Bravo, Ariana Madix has gone on to write books, open restaurants and even compete on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom dancing competition in 2023. She appeared on Broadway in the summer of 2024 as Roxie Hart in the “Chicago” musical.

How old is Ariana Madix?

She celebrated her 40th birthday on June 24.

What shows and movies has Ariana Madix been in?

She has appeared on TV shows such as “Anger Management,” “Single Siblings,” “Love Island,” “College Humor,” and “Waking Up with Strangers.”

She also appeared in the 2023 Lifetime movie “Buying Back My Daughter,” costarring alongside Meagan Good. The film is based on real-life events about a teen who was the victim of human trafficking.

What is Ariana Madix famous for?

Madix’s first claim to fame was her appearance on Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules.”

The spinoff show follows the lives of people who work at the West Hollywood restaurant SUR, which is owned by Lisa Vanderpump, one of the legendary Bravo reality show stars from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” Debuting in 2013, it has 11 seasons under its belt.

People Magazine reported in March 2023 that Madix previously worked as a bartender at a different Lisa Vanderpump restaurant in Beverly Hills before being transferred to the West Hollywood restaurant.

Once there, she became co-workers and castmates with the Vanderpump Rules crew.

How long were Ariana and Tom Sandoval together?

Missouri native Tom Sandoval was one of the original cast members of “Vanderpump Rules,” where he worked as a bartender at SUR.

The pair first connected when Madix joined the “Vanderpump Rules” cast during its first season in 2013. Sandoval was an original cast member, and viewers first spotted Madix while she worked as a bartender in the background.

Sandoval referred to Madix as a friend in her debut episode and shared that they had previously worked together. Sandoval’s then-girlfriend Kristen Doute accused him of cheating on her with the new castmate, which the pair denied.

According to past interviews with Madix, the two began dating in February 2014 and she would join the main cast in the following season.

Nine years later, the pair split in March 2023, amid news of Sandoval cheating on Madix with another “Vanderpump” co-star.

What was the ‘Scandoval’ incident involving Ariana Madix?

The breakup announcement heard around the world earned the name “Scandoval.” On March 3, 2023, Sandoval confirmed that he and Madix had broken up after nine years together.

The announcement came after rumors flooded social media earlier that month that Sandoval allegedly cheated on Madix with their “Vanderpump” co-star Raquel Leviss for six months. It was made worse after multiple cast members unfollowed Sandoval, including Madix herself.

Leviss joined the series as a recurring cast member during Season 5 as the girlfriend of cast member James Kennedy, and then became a prominent cast member during Season 9. They announced their engagement in May 2021 but broke up a few months later. Before the scandal broke, she was linked to Tom Schwartz in 2022, Sandoval’s best friend and business partner.

According to People, Madix learned about the alleged affair “when a selfie video sexual in nature from Leviss popped up on his phone” on March 1. She reportedly “began scrolling and saw their history of inappropriate texts.”

Madix broke her silence about Sandoval’s infidelity on March 16, 2023, thanking fans for getting her through the “darkest” part of her life.

Bravo then filmed a heated finale special on March 23 to address the allegations, which aired to the public on May 24 and June 7. Filled with angry yelling from the main cast towards Sandoval and Leviss, Madix received immense support from castmates and the general public for what she had gone through.

When did Ariana Madix begin hosting ‘Love Island USA’?

Madix replaced the previous host, actress Sarah Hyland, back in 2024 for “Love Island USA” season 6.

Who is Ariana Madix dating? Are Daniel Wai and Ariana Madix still together?

Daniel Wai is a personal trainer in New York City and co-owner of a bar in the Tribeca neighborhood. He started dating Madix shortly after her scandalous split with Sandoval.

They met at a mutual friend’s wedding in Mexico and were seen together in public for the first time at Coachella in April 2023. Their Coachella date was “when things started to get serious,” according to an Entertainment Now recap of a recent interview Madix had on the “Disrespectfully” podcast.

“I met Dan at one of my oldest friends’ weddings, literally 10, 11 days after everything frickin’ blew up,” Ariana said during a Season 11 episode of Vanderpump Rules, according to a 2024 Bravo article. “He’s a personal trainer and a bartender and he lives in New York so we’re doing a little long distance thing.”

As of summer 2025, Wai and Madix are still together and dating long-distance. However, on the May 29 episode of the “Disrespectfully” podcast, she hinted that they could be heading toward moving in together shortly, saying that she “doesn’t love the idea” of staying in a long-distance relationship long-term.

“Love Island Games” is a spinoff of the popular global franchise, that brings fan favorite “Love Island” contestants from around the world together for a second chance at finding their soulmate on TV. The show is more competition-oriented than normal seasons of “Love Island,” with both couple and team challenges.

At the end of the “Love Island USA” season seven finale, Ariana Madix said that “Love Island Games” season two is coming in September.

According to Deadline, Peacock set the second season of “Love Island Games” to premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with Ariana Madix returning to the villa to host.

Where can I watch ‘Love Island Games’? See the premiere date

“Love Island Games,” like “Love Island USA,” will be available to stream exclusively on Peacock.

 A premium monthly plan costs $7.99 or $79.99 for one year. The Premium Plus plan, which is ad-free, costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year.

You can also catch up on seasons four, five, six and seven of “Love Island USA” on Peacock.

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