The Ingenious Evolution of Ariana Madix
From SUR-era sequin skirts to bombshell-worthy custom sets.
When Ariana Madix showed up to the season 10 reunion of Vanderpump Rules in a skin-tight, ab-bearing red set by Mônot, she christened the dawn of a new era.
Fresh off the viral blowout of #Scandoval and ready to call her ex-friend Rachel Leviss “diabolical, demented, subhuman,” the reality star’s “revenge dress” signalled a seminal turning point. It marked her graduation from SUR bartender and supportive girlfriend to savvy entrepreneur and shady Love Island USA host. And as the season finale of the latter approaches, Ariana Madix’s style is more commanding than ever.
Nearly every time Ariana Madix comes on-screen in an episode of Love Island USA, it means trouble. Whenever she steps into the colourful Fiji villa, it’s a sign that a teary elimination or chaotic recoupling is nigh. Madix’s presence reliably garners fear, excitement and alertness in the bikini-clad contestants. She exudes power, authority, and a certain all-knowing polish. But she’s come a long way to get to this point.
On Vanderpump Rules, Ariana Madix was a party girl whose job demanded drama. She was controversial and often at the centre of cast feuds. On Love Island USA season 7, however, she’s removed from the messiness—an omnipresent outsider.
As such, her looks fluctuate to reflect her puppet-master role, from sharp shoulders for an intense elimination to otherworldly metallics and mermaid accents for a cocktail night in the villa. Her beauty choices also tell their own elaborate story, with her Rapunzel blonde braids and Y2K-reminiscent spiky updos revealing a playful side to her persona.
Whereas her Vanderpump looks had salacious spontaneity, these days, the intentionality of her style mirrors her measured, more scripted approach. Working with stylist Emily Men, she planned out her looks for months in advance of filming Love Island USA season 7, according to Refinery 29.
The result, episode after episode, is an over-the-top aesthetic that inspires its own brand of hype in the fandom. Perhaps the most talked-about Ariana Madix ensemble came in episode 9, when she swapped her signature blonde hair for a nearly unrecognizable dark brown wig and red latex dress.
Ever since her internet-breaking Mônot moment, Madix has been on a journey of reinvention. She’s masterfully rebranded as single and unbothered with a series of sponsorship deals that bolster her unattached status, from a “Single AF Cocktails” recipe book to a stint on Broadway (yes) as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
In 2025, she’s no longer being probed to defend her honour in co-worker drama or forced to reckon with her cheating boyfriend on a worldwide stage. She’s sporting opulent beauty transformations and being dressed by coveted brands like LaQuan Smith.
Below, we’re revisiting Madix’s style evolution, from her 2013 Vanderpump Rules debut to her most talked-about Love Island USA season 7 ensembles.
Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Star Magazine Scene Stealers Party, 2013
Natalie Michie is the Fashion & Features Editor at FASHION Magazine. With a pop culture obsession, she is passionate about exploring the relationship between fashion, internet trends and social issues. She has written for Elle Canada, CBC, Chatelaine and Toronto Life. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and over-analyzing movies on TikTok.
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