Ariana Madix is still trying to process the news that she just earned her first Emmy nomination.
After hosting Peacock’s Love Island USA for three seasons, Madix learned Wednesday morning that she was nominated for best host for a reality or reality competition program. However, since she’s currently in Fiji filming season eight, she learned about the nomination after everyone in America due to the time difference.
“I was dead asleep. It was 4:30 in the morning here. And my room phone, not my cell phone, started ringing and as an anxious person, that is terrifying,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter on a call from Fiji Wednesday afternoon. “So I ran over to answer the phone, worried that something bad had happened. And it was my team calling to tell me about it and to congratulate, and we were all so excited on the phone.”
But Madix admits she was still half asleep during that first call, so she then “went back to sleep almost wondering if that had really just happened.”
Fortunately for her, she was absolutely not dreaming. And now that she’s had a few hours to process it all, Madix says she’s “so over the moon” about the nomination.
In the stacked reality host category, the Vanderpump Rules alum is nominated alongside RuPaul Charles for RuPaul’s Drag Race, Alan Cumming for The Traitors, Kristen Kish for Top Chef and Jeff Probst for Survivor.
Madix tells THR that it was a “really crazy and amazing and cool feeling” to see her name and picture next to people whom she calls her TV heroes.
“I know there’s kind of this joke that people make of it’s just an honor to be nominated, but it is so true,” she says. “It’s such a huge honor to be nominated, especially to be nominated in the category where these are people who are the absolute best at what they do.”
Since joining Love Island USA as host in 2023 for season six, Madix has played a huge role in helping the series become not only one of Peacock’s top original series but also one of the most popular reality shows in the U.S.
She’s previously been outspoken about her love of the franchise long before she was named the host, so to receive her first Emmy nomination for hosting Love Island USA, Madix says it feels “extra special.”
“I think part of the reason why maybe people wanted to see me nominated in this category is hopefully because they can see my love for the job and my love for the show translate on the screen. At least I hope so,” she explains.
As for how Madix plans to celebrate this special moment in her career, she tells THR that she’s going to have some sunset drinks with her team at a “lovely beach bar” in Fiji.
“The hotel that this beach bar is at, there are some really amazing, beautiful people who work there. I promised them the last time I was over there that we would do the Zara Larsson ‘Lush Life’ dance together. And I think tonight I’m going to make that happen,” she says with a laugh.
The 78th Emmy Awards will air live on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and stream live on Peacock. The Creative Arts Emmys will take place on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6.See all the 2026 Emmy nominations here.