Ariana Madix Details "Lovely and Caring" Romance With Daniel Wai After Tom Sandoval Break Up

Vanderpump Rules' Ariana Madix got candid about her hot new romance with fitness coach Daniel Wai, which comes two months after Tom Sandoal and Raquel Leviss' affair.

By Brett Malec May 18, 2023 5:05 PMTags
Watch: Ariana Madix Talks Finding Love Again & If She'll Return to VPR

Ariana Madix has found happiness again after SUR-viving Scandoval.

Two months after ex Tom Sandvoal's affair with Raquel Leviss came to light, Ariana is moving on with fitness coach Daniel Wai.

"I'm enjoying myself and I would say I'm very happy right now," Ariana shared May 18 on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna. "I met him at a wedding about 10 days after all of this. And in no way, shape or form did I go into that thinking anything."

And after the Vanderpump Rules season 10 finale May 17, which saw her confront Tom for cheating, it's time for her to raise her glass high and celebrate her new beginning.

"I have just been taking things very, very slow and really enjoying myself," she continued. "And it's just really lovely to interact with someone who is just so nice and kind and lovely and caring."

Ariana and the NYC-based trainer first sparked romance rumors when they were caught making out at Coachella last month. Since then, the couple haven't shied away from posting PDA-filled photos together on social media and they even recently reunited for a date night at a May 2 Yankees game in the Big Apple.

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Vanderpump Rules Season 10 Finale Bombshells

Today, for the 37-year-old, her ex will always be a strike out, with no chance of forgiveness.

Instagram/@thestrongwai

"I would say I place more of the blame on him because he was the one in the relationship," she told co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. "Even though she was my very close friend, I do think that ultimately it is the responsibility of the person in the relationship to set those boundaries."

That doesn't mean Ariana can imagine a world where she and the former beauty queen would ever be friends again, either.

"I don't, I really don't," she confessed. "I just don't trust that person. You hear my ex on the show last night saying, 'I know it's hard for Ariana to trust people,' and it has been over many years. It took me a long time to get to a point where I did trust new friends. So, I think once that trust is broken, I don't see going back."

Bravo fans aren't the only ones happy to see Ariana move on following the messy breakup. Her VPR co-stars Scheana Shay and Lala Kent recently gave Daniel their stamp of approval.

"The way that I witnessed him treat her, I've honestly—not even in the beginning of her relationship with Tom—ever seen her light up the way she does when he gets around her, when she talks about him," Scheana exclusively told E! News earlier this month. "It's been really, really amazing to just see her so happy."

Lala echoed, "To see her with this new guy, where she just seems light and excited about life, it's inspiring."

Keep reading to see Ariana and Daniel's cutest pics.

Vanderpump Rules' three-part reunion kicks off Wednesday, May 24, at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

Dating Debut

Ariana and Daniel make their first public appearance as a couple at a Coachella 2023 party in April 2023 where they were spotted making out after her breakup from Tom Sandoval.

Coachella Cuties

The reality star cozies up to her man during Frank Ocean's Coachella concert.

Reunited

Ariana meets up with the NYC-based fitness coach and some friends.

The Look of Love

Ariana flashes a giant smile during a night out in the Big Apple.

Big Apple Babes

The lovebirds enjoy a date in NYC's Central Park in May 2023.

Date Night

Ariana and Daniel get all dolled up for a night on the town in NYC.

Fun With Friends

The duo parties with pals in the Big Apple after Ariana attended NBCU's 2023 Upfronts on May 15.

Having a Ball

Following Vanderpump Rules' shocking season 10 reunion, Ariana proved she and Daniel are still going strong by jetting off to NYC for the The Governors Ball Music Festival in June 2023.

Summer Lovin'

The lovebirds had a blast and shared videos while watching performances by Lil Nas X, Kendrick Lamar, Sofi Tukker and more.

Fourth of July With Friends

Ariana and Daniel celebrated Independence Day 2023 partying with pal at Santa Monica hot-spot Elephante.

Rainy Day Rendezvous

Ariana and Daniel reunited in Chicago in August where they posed together in the rain in front of the city's famous Cloud Gate statue—nicknamed The Bean due to its shape—in Millennium Park. "beans beans the musical fruit," the Bravo star cheekily captioned the sweet Instagram pic.

All That Jazz

Daniel supports Ariana as she makes her broadway debut as Roxy Hart in the hit musical Chicago on Broadway at The Ambassador Theatre on Jan. 29, 2024.

(E!, Bravo and TODAY are all part of the NBCUniversal family)

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