On September 26, Ariana Madix made her “Dancing with the Stars” debut and came out swinging.
The “Vanderpump Rules” star stunned viewers with her excellent moves on the 32nd season premiere of the dancing competition show while paying homage to her iconic vengeance dress from the Bravo series’ Season 10 reunion special.
The 38-year-old made numerous references to the cheating scandal known as Scandoval, in which she just found herself. In case you missed it, Madix cheated on Tom Sandoval with Raquel Leviss, who was at the time both their co-star and one of Madix’s closest friends. They had been together for nine years.
Madix started her performance by posing in a bar, an obvious homage to Madix’s career as a bartender and Sandoval’s restaurant endeavors. She was there with her professional partner Pasha Pashkov.
The reality personality got right into her tango dance and performed it with a mix of technical prowess and attitude.
The “revenge dress” Madix wore to the “Vanderpump Rules” Season 10 reunion special was unmistakably referenced in her wardrobe. The fiery dress had maxi length, cuts all over, and long sleeves.
Including the carefully positioned cutouts, the “DWTS” costume team seems to have replicated the seductive red dress. This time, it had an eye-catching side slit and lots of sparkle. In a red outfit, Pashkov coordinated with his partner.
The Hailee Steinfeld song “Love Myself” by Madix was also very revealing: “Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else (hey)/I’m going to love myself, I don’t need anyone else (I love me),/No, I don’t need anyone else; I am powerless to help myself.
The performance was well received by the audience, who promptly posted their comments on the “DWTS” YouTube channel.
This performance was the greatest of the evening thanks to its overall aesthetic, outfit, choreography, and dance style. From here, they’ll only get better,” one person wrote.
I enjoy Dancing with the Stars, and I also love how she is living her best life & winning from this breakup,” one person commented. This is everything, in a word.
Let me tell you, I was not anticipating her to be this excellent, said one enthusiast. I’m giddy with anticipation to see them more.
When Madix released a funny video with “DWTS” judge Derek Hough in July, her fans first realized that she was joining the roster of the show.
The reality star has had a hectic couple of months. Madix has been concentrating on her business endeavors since the initial “Scandoval” news emerged in March. She most recently made a cameo appearance on “Love Island.”
Despite all the drama from Season 10, Madix said she was still keen to return to “Vanderpump Rules” for Season 11 in an interview with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb & Jenna Bush Hager in May.
At the time, she remarked, “I think I’ll be back if they’ll have me back.”
But Madix made it clear that she has “no intention of speaking with” either Sandoval or Leviss.
In August, Leviss informed Bethenny Frankel that she would not be returning for the show’s 11th season.
E! News announced earlier this month that Season 11’s filming had started in June.