The Queen of 'Vanderpump Rules' Season 11 Isn't Ariana Madix, Even though She's Victorious After Ex-Boyfriend Tom Sandoval's Cheating Scandal Plenty of brand deals and Broadway roles. On the contrary, many fans believe that Sandoval's (former) assistant Ann Maddox is the real MVP this season.
Maddox (no relation to Maddix) worked for Sandoval for three years starting in December 2020, but had never appeared on camera before this season. But after Scandoval's outburst, Maddox initiated a no-contact policy between herself and Sandoval while she and Sandoval were still living in their shared Valley Village home, forcing Maddox to become their go-between .
As a result, viewers watched as Maddox made several awkward requests on Sandoval's behalf, reported Maddox's reactions to her boss, and awkwardly tracked their whereabouts so they never ran into each other— —Always have a smile on his face. And she still has to perform her usual assistant duties, like cleaning up after his pool party (which Maddix says should n't be part of her job).
Her ebullient time on Scandoval earned her sympathy and admiration from Bravo fans and the Pump Rules star, who felt she deserved better. Maddox was not allowed to agree or disagree publicly after signing a strict confidentiality agreement, which is why she only conducted interviews via email. But as she tells Bustle, working for Sandoval gave her an unexpected leap.
get a job
Maddox started out as a production assistant and transcriber for a reality TV company. But like most former Survivors, she had acting ambitions and began booking commercials. As a result, she started working odd jobs so she could have more time to audition, such as babysitting, babysitting, pet sitting, and eventually becoming a personal assistant.
Working with Sandoval is Maddox's first time assisting a celebrity. Before that, she worked as an assistant to an online spelling bee organizer and was a "really good" stop-motion animator. She also helped an unidentified "executive producer," whom she said was "unkind and always angry, and that's how polite I was."
“They threw the keyboard on the table, called me stupid a lot, and wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom, which resulted in me getting my period all over my pants and having to tie my sweatshirt around my waist,” she recalled. "This is the shame of junior high school again!"
Maddox worked as a waiter at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles before the pandemic put the theater's staff out of work. “I posted on Facebook that I was looking for a job and a mutual friend of Ariana’s responded to me,” she said. “After a phone interview, I was hired!”
Scandoval changes everything
At the time, Maddox wasn't familiar with Bravosphere but thought "it sounded like fun to help a reality star known for her wild antics." Over the next two years, she grew to like the show more and more. That's why Scandoval is as devastating to her as it is to all long-time fans, leading to a personal moral dilemma surrounding her work.
"When Scandoval happened, I was devastated," she said. "I kept my job as long as I could, but I'm a sensitive woman. The emotional toll started to feel quite heavy. My father also died eight months before Scandoval. In the midst of the chaos at work. On top of that, I feel like I have no relief but I also really enjoy working in this niche world and I don’t know if I should leave or stay.”
Maddox seemed to find the perfect solution in a preview for the March 26 episode, when Maddox asked her if she knew anyone interested in a potential assistant job, and she volunteered. "Working for Tom, I really got to know Ariana, and she's really great," Maddox said. “We also have a similar sense of humor and morals, so I always enjoy our chats at work.”
Ann’s “terrific” next step
Just before the Season 11 premiere, Maddox stopped working for Sandoval, sparking rumors that she had indeed become Maddox's assistant. While the exact circumstances of her departure remain a mystery, it may not have been her choice.
"What if I told you... I didn't actually quit?" Maddox teased.
Madix recently clarified on Watch What Happens Live that she doesn't have an assistant but that there will be further "development" this season. Maddox confirmed this to Bustle, saying she's currently working a "9-to-5 temporary job" while waiting for a "really awesome" position to open up.
While it's unclear how she left Sandoval, things are looking up for Maddox, who capitalized on her " Pump Rules " notoriety by launching the " We Signed an NDA" podcast about the "Hollywood Assistant Life" , and started a guest page "on a whim." But due to her confidentiality agreement, don't expect her to reveal her experience with Sandoval.
"Do you have a good lawyer?" she asked. "Otherwise, I might have to take these stories to my grave!"
