Ariana Madix Named Us Weekly’s First Reality Star of the Year

Ariana Madix has been named reality star of the year by Us Weekly as part of the publication's Reality Stars of the Year franchise.

The multi-platform celebration of unscripted television features exclusive interviews and video highlighting 10 cast members who stood out on their respective shows.

The list includes Real Housewives' Kyle Richards and Jenna Lyons; the first Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner; and Sister Wives star Kody Brown. Yet the cover star is Madix, who found a legion of followers initially on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and then became headline news on Vanderpump Rules after her boyfriend Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal with her friend Raquel Leviss (who now goes by Rachel) was revealed.

"I don't even know how to put into words how it feels to be Us Weekly's Reality Star of the Year," Madix said in a statement. "That is one of the craziest and coolest things that probably could ever happen."

She also spoke about the lesson she learned as a result of Scandoval. "This situation made me realize that I can do hard things," she said. "The worst-case scenario literally did happen, and I was OK. Like, look — you can handle what's thrown at you."

Madix said she was surprised that the scandal had become part of the national conversation. "I was off social media initially, so friends filled me in here and there. I was like, 'This is crazy,' but it was also happening in the midst of not eating and not sleeping. It was a weird juxtaposition of emotions and feelings," she said.

She took her newfound fame and ran with it, landing her first movie role as well as appearing as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars. "If you were to put me in my samba outfit three months ago and say, 'OK, go have lunch in this on Vanderpump Rules,' I would've been really self-conscious. But I'm focused more on what I'm doing and less on how I look, and that's different for sure," she added.

Madix also revealed that she's learned more lessons that she'd take to heart if she were to start Vanderpump Rules all over again. "Don't date abusive men who won't let you shine and be on a TV show — because that's what was going on and why I didn't want to be on camera [during Season 1]," she revealed.

Through all the drama, though, she has changed. "I've grown up. I'm somebody who never really wanted to grow up," she said. "[But] over time, I've been able to love myself more and give myself a lot more grace when it comes to things we go through during filming. And that has allowed me to give others more grace."