Ariana Madix Pulls VF for a Chat

Plus: The Nazi-Hating Duchess That May Have Inspired Wonder Woman

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August 31, 2026

If, hypothetically, you find yourself with an abundance of free time—say, between 2 and 4 a.m. each night, say because you happen to be feeding a newborn baby—I recommend getting really into Vanderpump Rules. The show was enormously trashy fun for a solid eight seasons (longer than these things usually stay good!), thanks entirely to its uncommonly messy cast: Stassi Schroeder, Jax Taylor, Kristen Doute, and especially Ariana Madix, who perfected the art of being a reality star while also seeming too cool to be a reality star. But all that was several lifetimes ago, as Madix tells VF’s Anna Peele—before the scandal that blew up her era of Vanderpump and allowed Madix to start doing the thing she always meant to do, which was act. These days, Madix is a sandwich entrepreneur, a Broadway regular, an Emmy nominee for hosting the American version of Love Island, and a distributor of harsh truths about Gen Z. “What I hear online is that they are afraid to be cringe, they’re afraid to dance,” she tells Anna. “On some level, I get why they don’t want to take in alcohol. I get it healthwise. But at the same time, live a little. Smoke a little weed.” Elsewhere, VF’s awards obsessives predict who will win at the 2026 Emmys—they’re on Monday, September 14! Mark your calendars; Joy Press asks Elizabeth Meriwether to break down the season finale of her sleeper hit Furious; and Nate Freeman gets the State Department to admit that yes, they did remove a Kehinde Wiley painting from a US embassy…and they’d do it again if they could. More tomorrow!

HILLARY BUSIS FEATURES EDITOR

Can I Pull You for a Chat? Ariana Madix Makes the Case for Ariana Madix   By Anna Peele She’s got an Emmy nomination for Love Island, she’s returning to Broadway, she’s very over Vanderpump Rules—and she’s dying to know: Are you mad at her? Read more

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EMMYS 2026   See Our Prediction for Every Emmy Winner   By VANITY FAIR   We’re seeing big things ahead for The Pitt, Beef, and Hacks—though Widow’s Bay could be nipping at the latter’s heels. Read more

HOLLYWOOD   Furious Finale: Elizabeth Meriwether on Rage, Redemption, and Why Her Show Isn’t About Jeffrey Epstein   By Joy Press   The showrunner is also starting work on a Britney Spears biopic based on the singer’s memoir: “I do think it’s the right time for this movie.” Read more

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According to the State Department, Kehinde Wiley Is Just the Beginning: More Art Could Be Removed and Sold From Embassies   By Nate Freeman   Trump’s government deemed a painting of four young artists “very woke” before it was covered by a tarp, carted up, and removed to an undisclosed location. Now, the head of Art in Embassies confirms “the same review and process would apply to other works of art for which similar concerns arise.” Read more

Wonder Woman’s Tiara May Have Been Inspired by a Nazi-Hating Grand Duchess When Hitler invaded her country, Charlotte, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, was forced to flee to the United States. Her prized tiara bears an uncanny resemblance to the one worn by Diana Prince.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Have Been “Derailed” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Decision to Return to the UK Sources tell Vanity Fair that the Prince and Princess of Wales had no idea Harry and Meghan were coming back and had already enrolled Archie and Lili in a private prep school.

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