For ‘Love Island USA’ superfan Ariana Madix, hosting the show ‘doesn’t feel like work’

“I don’t have time to watch 50 episodes of ‘Love Island,'” he said.

“That’s actually all we talk about, so…” Madix replied, either you join in or you’re out of luck.

Nearly a year and a half later, Madix and Sandoval are no longer together. The biggest scandal of all is that Sandoval had been cheating on Madix for over six months with her “Vanderpump” co-star. Madix is ​​now the host of “Love Island USA” on Peacock, replacing previous host Sarah Hyland.

It’s a fitting development for Madix, whose nearly 10-year relationship ended in a very public breakup. Since then, she has appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” and performed as Roxie Hart in “Chicago” on Broadway. Her initial stint was extended due to ticket demand, and she will return to the role next month. A former bartender, Madix released a bestselling cocktail recipe book and opened a sandwich shop called “Something About Her” in Los Angeles with “Vanderpump” co-star Katie Maloney.

For the past month, Madix has been in Fiji filming “Love Island USA.” She says the job is a dream come true for a superfan like her.

“I love seeing how this show is made,” Madix said in a recent Zoom interview. “There’s a crew of about 400 people who work to make this show and create these episodes almost in real time. It’s pretty impressive.”

In “Love Island USA,” a group of single men and women move into a remote villa with the goal of finding love. Contestants form couples based on first impressions. Those relationships are tested. Do they have lasting chemistry? They also have the option of seeking relationships with other people, including a stream of new singles who arrive throughout. At different times, viewers are invited to vote for their favorite couples. Contestants are also eliminated at different points, and at the end, the public votes for the winning couple who receives a cash prize.

In the Q&A, Madix talked about “Love Island USA” and future opportunities. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

, As a fan of “Love Island USA,” you’ve been working on the show to see how the sausage is made. What’s that like?

Madix: I love it. I think there are a couple of things about this show that are very interesting compared to other reality shows where there are cameras everywhere. These are cameras on the wall and nobody walks around with a camera on their shoulder like you would see on ‘Real Housewives’ or ‘Vanderpump’ or some show like that. I love how unpredictable it is. It doesn’t feel like work at all. What attracts you to this?

Madix: I feel like it’s a study of sociology or something. Besides the big dramatic moments that you see, I’m also fascinated by just everyday interactions and the little moments and conversations that happen between people. I think it’s a culture study. A group of people are in an aquarium, and I’m just watching them interact and fall in love and fall out of love. Had you voted before you came on the show? Were you that invested?

Madix: I couldn’t vote for the UK version, which was available in the US after the initial broadcast in the UK, but I have voted for “Love Island, USA” in the past. I started with Season 4, which was the season they shot in California. When you’re not on set or working, are you still a spectator?

Madix: I’m constantly messaging the people who work at the villa, on days when I’m not there. Do you get a chance to interact with the contestants beyond what is shown on the show?

Madix: I say hi to them when I come in, but it also depends on what I’m coming in to do. Recently a girl and a guy went home as a result of the audience vote. That was one night I wish I could have talked to them more. And when I come in, you know, sometimes they’re excited to see me. Sometimes they can tell by my facial expression that I’m coming in to deliver bad news. I always wish I could talk to them more and spend more time with them because I love all of them in different ways. I feel bad when someone is, like, initially excited to see me and then I make a poker face so you know it’s going to be bad. : You recently turned 39. If you think about it, your 38th year was very exciting with lots of opportunities. Do you think this year will be just as busy?

Madix: I have a few things I’m working on. I’m hoping this year will be just as great. I’m hoping to make it really fun and celebrate the last anniversary of my 30th year. There was a lot of interest in you right after the scandal, but you kept getting opportunities — “Chicago” probably wouldn’t have happened without “Dancing With the Stars.” Did you embrace it?

Madix: It’s not often that I stop and think about things, but if I do, I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of my team because they executed it as perfectly as possible. We’ve all kind of come together, worked so hard together for many, many years. Self-doubt and things like that are things that creep in. I really try to push all of that out and focus on how hard we’ve worked and how we’ve earned these things. And hopefully we can keep that going.

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