Ariana Madix.Photo:River Callaway/Variety via Getty

Ariana Madix at the “Vanderpump Rules” Season 11 Premiere held at the Hollywood Palladium on January 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

River Callaway/Variety via Getty

Ariana Madixis continuing to look out for herself.

In a new interview withThe Los Angeles Times, theVanderpump Rulesstar, 38, reflected on how her career has taken off outside of the Bravo reality series sinceScandovalunfolded last year.

While some fans — as well assome of her castmates— have criticized the amount of opportunities that have come her way, from brand sponsorships to astarring role inChicagoon Broadway, she admitted that she feels as though she’s “not in a position to say no right now.”

Madix explained that her decision to take on upwards of 17 brand partnerships has come down to stability. Madix shared, “My team would be like, ‘This is a really great offer from Bic, look at it.’ And I’d say, ‘It is a fantastic offer, but even if it wasn’t, I’m not in a position to say no right now, because I have to make myself financially stable from now until kingdom come.’”

Ariana Madix.Mindy Small/Getty Images

Ariana Madix attends BravoCon 2023

Mindy Small/Getty Images

Opportunities started to present themselves to Madix almost immediately after her exTom Sandoval’s infidelity withRachel “Raquel” Levissbecame public.

She revealed that, at the time, she was concerned with what the breakup might mean financially, and because she had just invested a great deal in her sandwich shop, Something About Her, with her costar and friendKatie Maloney.

“I was like, ‘I’m not OK,’” theSingle AF Cocktailsauthor recalled. “There’s no one here about to bail me out. I don’t have rich parents. I don’t have an inheritance from anybody who’s passed.”

“I think those people are confused about what it is that I do for a living. Those are acting jobs,” she continued. “I’m doing the same job I have done for many years; I’m just working more. And that’s why I signed up forVanderpump Rulesin the first place — to work more.”

From left: Ariana Madix; Tom Sandoval; Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.Tammie/AFF-USA/Shutterstock; Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

Ariana Madix; Tom Sandoval; Raquel Leviss

Tammie/AFF-USA/Shutterstock; Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

Madix has received sponsorship deals from brands like Bic, Bloomingdales, Lay’s, T-Mobile, Uber 1 and others since last year, as well as appeared onDancing with the Stars, and is currently starring in her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart inChicago.

As she was in the midst of landing various opportunities, the Something About Her co-owner opened up about her decision to take them on in a June 2023 interview withGlamour.

“I want to make enough money to be able to take care of my mom and my brother and any other family members who may or may not need it,” Madix revealed. “I never want to worry about it ever, ever, ever. So I will work as much as possible to not have to.”

TheVanderpump Rulescast member is currently trying to sell the L.A. home that she and Sandoval, 40, co-own and have continued to live in since their breakup.

In January, shefiled a suit againsther former boyfriend of nine years, requesting that they sell the property and split the profits.

The Schwartz & Sandy’s co-owner thenresponded to the filingover a month later in February, alleging that Madix failed to state a cause of action in her suit and that she did not act “reasonably and in good faith” when filing it.

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Vanderpump Rulesairs Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.

source: people.com