Ariana Madix Shares What Led to a Recent “Nervous Breakdown”

Credit: Kim Nunneley/Peacock

Ariana Madix‘s second run in Broadway’s Chicago came with some understandable fears.

During a recent interview, as the 39-year-old Vanderpump Rules cast member expressed her excitement for Dancing With the Stars season 33 and her former pro partner, Pasha Pashkov, 38, she also admitted to suffering a nervous breakdown before taking to the stage.

“The second time around felt different. I definitely had a nervous breakdown beforehand because I was like, ‘There’s no time to do rehearsals,’” Ariana recalled to Entertainment Tonight. “But then after going back, everything felt amazing … I absolutely adore everyone there.”

As season 33 airs on ABC, Ariana said she’s tuning in.

“Obviously, I’ll always be diehard Team Pasha … [So] of course I want [Tori Spelling] to do well … I’m very excited. The cast looks amazing,” she gushed. “It’s gonna be a great season.”

As for who she was surprised to see on the show, Ariana said the casting of Anna Delvey, 33, who has since been eliminated (along with Pasha and Tori), caught her off-guard.

“I’m loving on TikTok, [Ezra Sosa]’s humor with [Anna], I feel, like is actually perfect,” she noted.

Ariana went on to say that she was looking forward to seeing Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s Phaedra Parks on the show.

“I’m very excited to see Phaedra. I think she’s gonna be very entertaining, very fun,” she suspected.

As Pump Rules fans well know, Ariana was paired with Pasha for the 32nd season of DWTS at the end of last year. And, after an impressive series of performances, she landed in third place overall.

Vanderpump Rules season 12 is expected to go into production sometime this fall.