“Love Island” is one of Peacock’s most thrilling reality shows, featuring a cast of attractive singles and an even hotter host. Ariana Madix, who first rose to fame on “Vanderpump Rules,” has become one of the dating competition’s most essential figures, known for her stunning features, extravagant looks, and killer catwalk. And speaking of catwalk, the viral slow-mo entrances that have taken the world by storm don’t happen by surprise. In a new interview, Madix revealed that nailing those scenes takes intentionality, and to get her mind right, she channels another superstar: Beyoncé.
@cnn Ariana Madix says she taps into Beyoncé’s Sasha Fierce persona when filming her signature slow-motion walk. She explains the inspiration came from seeing the singer’s “Renaissance” tour. Join CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister as she interviews Emmy-nominated celebrities on anything from their career-defining moments to news-making reflections. Stream episodes of Coming Up on the CNN app now. #arianamadix #loveisland #beyonce #confidence ♬ original sound – CNN
For those who may be unfamiliar with the aforementioned scenes, Madix’s slow-motion walks on “Love Island” are one of the things fans look forward to most during the captivating dating series. Throughout her last three seasons, the former Bravo reality star has been seen strutting her stuff in iconic, flowy dresses, striking hairdos, and breathtaking makeup.
Her sultry walks only add to the drama, and in an interview with CNN, Madix said it’s all part of the game. According to the 41-year-old, Madix channels Beyoncé, specifically the moment when she walks a catwalk during her 2023 tour “RENAISSANCE.”
“During Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, which I saw twice, I love Beyoncé. There is a moment where she does this catwalk and it’s the intro to the song ‘Energy’ […] And we were right there and Beyoncé was making a beeline right for us and that stuck in my head,” she said.
Ariana Madix Earned An Emmy Nomination For Her Work On ‘Love Island’
Madix’s attention to detail and commitment to making viewers fall in love with “Love Island” don’t go unnoticed. The reality star recently earned an Emmy nomination for best host for a reality or reality competition program.
She opened up about her feelings regarding the special moment in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that she learned of the accomplishment while filming season 8 of the show in Fiji.
“So I ran over to answer the phone, worried that something bad had happened. And it was my team calling to tell me about it and to congratulate, and we were all so excited on the phone,” she said.
Madix Gets Candid About Possibly Returning To ‘Love Island’ For Another Season
In another interview with Us Weekly, Madix responded to fans’ concerns about her potential departure from the series and said she’s unable to speak about the show’s future, but seemed confident she’d be back for season 9.
“I do wonder about that sometimes. [People on social media have] been saying that every year, and I always wonder where that comes from,” she said. “I have seen comments online that say there’s some sort of two-year thing and I’ve always wondered where did that [rumor] come from?”
Why Madix Loves That Fans Are Concerned About Her Future On The Show
And while the rumors can be frustrating to deal with at times, Madix said it makes her feel good to know that fans would be disappointed if she weren’t part of the program in the future.
“But you know what? It is really nice because so many of those comments will be so positive in the sense that they’re wondering because they’re hoping that I will be back. So that’s really great,” she said. “But yeah, nothing’s been said. So I don’t know where they come up with that.”
‘Love Island’ Isn’t Over Just Yet
Although “Love Island” wrapped a few weeks ago, the season isn’t over just yet. Madix will team up with Andy Cohen in late August 2026 to host the season 8 reunion.
According to a previous report from The Blast, Madix said she had so much fun working on the reunion with Cohen in the past and even revealed that she learned a lot about the job from him.
“I learned a little bit like, ‘Oh, I’m allowed to do that,’ which is great,” she said, adding, “We had a lot of fun together.”
