Inside ‘Love Island USA’ winner Hannah Wright’s new friendship with Ariana Madix

Reality TV

Ariana Madix is a massive fan of “Love Island USA” — and the Peacock reality series’ Season 5 winner, Hannah Wright.

Wright, 24, reveals on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast that a friendship is blossoming after the “Vanderpump Rules” star, 38, met her in Fiji this year.

“I have [been communicating with Madix],” she says. “A good friend of hers messaged my sisters when they had my [Instagram] account [while I was filming]. They messaged me when I got out, ‘We’d love to do lunch with you soon.’”

The schoolteacher and aspiring TV host jokes that she will “drop everything” to grab a bite with Madix.

“I said, ‘Literally any time, let me know,” she tells us, adding that she hopes to make it happen at Something About Her, the Los Angeles sandwich shop co-founded by Madix and her “Pump Rules” castmate Katie Maloney.


Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli
“Love Island USA” Season 5 winners Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli appear on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast.
Page Six

Ariana Madix
Wright reveals a new friendship with “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix is blossoming.
arianamadix/Instagram

Wright, who ended her “Love Island” journey with boyfriend Marco Donatelli, first got face time with Madix this summer.


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Fresh off the heels of ex Tom Sandoval’s cheating scandal, the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 competitor — who is currently dating fitness pro Daniel Wai — flew to the South Pacific to host a “Love Island USA” game that tested couples’ compatibility.


Ariana Madix
After surviving ex Tom Sandoval’s cheating scandal, Madix flew to Fiji to host a game for the Peacock reality show.
arianamadix/Instagram

“I can’t wait to see who’s actually been taking the time to get to know one another,” the Bravolebrity told participants while presiding over the “Mr. and Mrs.” challenge.

“Take it from me, it’s important to know who you’re dating or sharing a bed with,” she continued. “And if they’re not the one for you, trust me, it’s better to find out sooner rather than later.”

Of course, Madix was referencing Sandoval’s shocking months-long affair with her former pal Raquel Leviss.


Marco Donatelli and Hannah Wright
Wright says she hopes to meet up with Madix for lunch at the latter’s Los Angeles sandwich shop, Something About Her.
Peacock

It was not lost on Wright that Madix’s “Love Island USA” appearance came after Sandoval, 41, dissed his ex for watching the show during a heated discussion over their differing definitions of “quality time.”

“I don’t have time to watch 50 goddamn episodes of ‘Love Island,’” he huffed in a “Pump Rules” scene. “That is your definition of quality time, not the definition of quality time.”

For his part, Sandoval stated that he would rather skinny-dip, “take some mushrooms together” and watch the sun rise.


Ariana Madix
Madix made her love for “Love Island” known on “Pump Rules” Season 10.
SplashNews.com

Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix
Sandoval notably huffed that watching the unscripted dating series was not his definition of “quality time.”
Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

“I had literally just finished her season not that long ago, and it was the biggest thing ever, like, Scandoval,” Wright says. “So I said, ‘Ariana?!’ I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness.’ I went right up to her, and I gave her a hug. And I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, she loves “Love Island.” She’s here.’”

The Palm Springs, Calif., native elaborates, “I was like, ‘They’re doing it this season!’ She’s just so cool, she’s just so personable and she’s so amazing in person, too.”

“Love Island USA” is available to stream on Peacock. 

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