Sophia Michaels
“Dancing With the Stars” is gearing up for its 32nd season, and now we know the identity of one of its contestants: “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix. Judge Derek Hough broke the news on “Good Morning America” on July 7 as he visited Madix’s sandwich shop, Something About Her.
“This season on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ we are going absolutely mad — mad for Madix!” Derek said. “Say goodbye to the drama and hello to the dance floor!” Madix then stepped out and introduced herself. “That’s right, I’m ‘Vanderpump Rules”s Ariana Madix, and I will be joining the cast of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ this season,” she said before breaking out a few dance moves.
The news comes months after Madix found herself at the center of a scandal on “Vanderpump Rules” when she separated from her partner of nine years, Tom Sandoval, due to his affair with their friend and costar Raquel Leviss. Overall, despite being candid about how painful the breakup was, Madix seems to have come out on top of the whole debacle, a fact that Andy Cohen reiterated on his radio show “Radio Andy” in May. “I mean, she’s gotten endorsement deals. She’s on ‘Dancing With the Stars,'” he said, teasing the news of her involvement months before it was confirmed.
The remainder of “Dancing With the Stars” season 32’s cast will be announced on “Good Morning America” on Sept. 13. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli will join Derek, who is taking over as head judge following Len Goodman’s death in April. Meanwhile, Julianne Hough will return to cohost alongside Alfonso Ribeiro.
