Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney: Unbreakable Bonds and Enduring Ventures

Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney have been steadfast companions, both on and off the Vanderpump Rules stage.

In April 2023, Katie expressed her appreciation for her friendship with Ariana, highlighting their shared ability to maintain objectivity when it comes to their friends, even when they may not always see eye to eye.

Katie praised Ariana for her ability to preserve their friendship despite the drama and conflicts that arose between her and Tom Sandoval, as well as between Katie and Tom Schwartz. Despite their respective breakups in March 2022 and March 2023, the two women managed to maintain a strong bond and their friendship continued to flourish. Katie expressed her admiration for Ariana's efforts in a social media post in April 2023, highlighting the growth and resilience of their relationship.

After ending their previous relationships, the women prioritized themselves and their friendship above all else. (In addition to getting together with Sandoval, Raquel also shared a kiss with Schwartz at Scheana Shay and Brock Davies’ wedding in August 2022.)

"I'm going to focus on myself. And by doing so, they won't be a part of my life," Ariana shared with The Los Angeles Times in May 2023, expressing her current stance on Sandoval and Raquel. Katie echoed a similar sentiment at the time.

"I have a strong support system with my friends, including Ariana and Lala Kent. Scheana and I are in a good place now. With the exciting developments surrounding our sandwich shop, I have other priorities and don't dwell on Sandoval and Raquel's presence in my life. They are not a significant concern for me as there are so many positive things happening." Katie shared with the newspaper. The news of Katie and Ariana's collaboration on their French-inspired sandwich shop, Something About Her, was first revealed in season 9 of Vanderpump Rules.

Katie mentioned to Lala during the January 2022 episode that she had discussed the idea of opening a sandwich shop with Schwartz. However, Schwartz's commitment to his TomTom bar with Sandoval would keep him occupied for some time. Ariana, on the other hand, expressed her willingness to join Katie in this venture. Later in the episode, Ariana explained that she didn't want Sandoval to be her business partner, drawing a parallel to Jay-Z not being a partner on Beyoncé's successful album, Lemonade.

Scroll below to revisit Ariana and Katie’s friendship journey through the years:

Credit: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock; Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney’s Friendship Through the Years: Scandoval Support, Sandwich Shop Co-Owners and More

Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney have been inseparable in their journey through Vanderpump Rules and beyond.

Katie expressed her admiration for their friendship, particularly highlighting Ariana's ability to maintain objectivity. In an Instagram Story shared in April 2023, Katie gushed about how both of them are able to stay unbiased when it comes to their friends, even if they don't always see eye to eye with each other's friends.

Despite tensions between Utah native and former professional partner Tom Sandoval, Ariana and Katie's friendship remained unaffected. They supported each other even though Katie's ex-husband was close friends with Sandoval. Ariana and Sandoval broke up in March 2023 due to his infidelity with their co-star Raquel Leviss. In April 2023, Katie praised Ariana for successfully navigating the drama and maintaining their bond. She expressed her appreciation for their growing friendship despite past challenges.

After ending their previous relationships, the women prioritized themselves and their friendship above all else. (In addition, Raquel also shared a passionate moment with Schwartz at Scheana Shay and Brock Davies' wedding in August 2022.)

"I'm going to focus on myself and my own growth. By doing so, they won't be a part of my life," Ariana explained to The Los Angeles Times in May 2023, expressing her stance on her relationship with Sandoval and Raquel. Katie echoed a similar sentiment during that time.

Katie expressed her contentment with her circle of friends, including Ariana and Lala Kent. She also mentioned her improved relationship with Scheana. With the sandwich shop as a new project, Katie revealed that Sandoval and Raquel were not a priority in her life at the moment. She emphasized that there were numerous positive things happening and other concerns to focus on, making it unnecessary for her to worry about how they fit into her life. During season 9 of Vanderpump Rules, Katie and Ariana had initially shared their plans to launch Something About Her, a sandwich shop with a French-inspired concept.

During the January 2022 episode, Katie informed Lala about her conversation with Schwartz regarding the possibility of opening a sandwich shop together. However, Schwartz's commitment to his TomTom bar with Sandoval meant that he would be occupied for some time. In response, Ariana expressed her willingness to join Katie as her business partner. Later in the episode, Ariana explained her reservation about Sandoval becoming her business partner by drawing a comparison to Jay-Z not being involved in Beyoncé's successful album, "Lemonade."

Scroll below to revisit Ariana and Katie’s friendship journey through the years:

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo (2)

2013

Both Ariana and Katie were part of the cast of Vanderpump Rules before the show's second season premiered. Ariana, who is also the author of Fancy AF Cocktails, worked alongside eventual partner Sandoval behind the bar at Lisa Vanderpump's SUR. Meanwhile, Katie was hired as a hostess.

Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock

May 2015

The two women were all smiles on the red carpet alongside Sandoval and Scheana.

Credit: Courtesy of Katie Maloney/Instagram

June 2019

“Happy birthday, [Ariana]! I've had an incredible time with you, from exploring Kings Road to our adventures in Tokyo,” Katie wrote in the caption of her Instagram tribute. She shared some beautiful snapshots from their unforgettable Japanese vacation. “From laughing so hard that our bellies hurt to shedding tears together, every moment with you is precious to me. I love and cherish you so much!”

Credit: Courtesy of Katie Maloney/Instagram

January 2022

Ariana and Katie embarked on the planning of a sandwich shop that celebrated femininity without any apologies. This idea came to fruition during season 9 of Vanderpump Rules when Katie recognized that her then-husband, Schwartz, would be preoccupied with his responsibilities at TomTom, leaving her to handle the restaurant's management on her own.

Credit: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

July 2022

“I can’t even begin to fathom the emotions Schwartz and Katie must be experiencing,” Ariana shared exclusively with Us. “They had invested so much time and effort into building a life together. On one hand, there might be a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead in this new chapter, but undoubtedly, it must also be filled with immense challenges.”

Credit: AFF-USA/Shutterstock; Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

March 2023

After news broke that Ariana and the Missouri native had split following his affair scandal, Katie rushed to her BFF’s side.

“Tomorrow marks International Women’s Day, and many of you have been inquiring about ways to show support for Ariana and the sandwich shop. Well, the wait is almost over,” Katie announced on her Instagram, building anticipation for the brand’s upcoming merchandise release. “I can’t wait for all of you to see what we have in store, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for reaching out. The amount of support has been truly overwhelming. Ariana is deeply grateful and extends her thanks to each and every one of you.”

Credit: Courtesy of Ariana Madix/Instagram

April 2023

“Lads on tour ,” Ariana wrote via Instagram, sharing a photo with Katie, Dayna Lathan and Raleigh Seldon at a mutual friend’s wedding in England.

Credit: Courtesy of Peacock/YouTube

May 2023

Ariana and Katie were seated beside each other at the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion, which took place in March of the previous year. This reunion marked the first occasion where they spoke to both Sandoval and Raquel since Scandoval.

In the explosive third part of the reunion, Sandoval made a sarcastic remark about his last sexual encounter with Ariana, stating that she had kept her T-shirt on. This comment received backlash from many of his fellow cast members.

Ariana and Katie wasted no time in releasing their latest merchandise, the Something About Her shirt with a bold statement that read "F—k Me in This T-Shirt".

Just a week after that, the dynamic duo graciously invited their former co-star, Stassi Schroeder, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of their upcoming café. During the visit, they tantalizingly hinted at the café's opening date, which was set for later in the summer.