Credit: Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA, Instagram
Ariana Madix and her new beau, Daniel Wai, look happier than ever after her high-profile split from her ex-boyfriend of nine years, Tom Sandoval.
Ariana has been on a whirlwind media tour as of late, giving nonstop interviews as her former relationship has caught the attention of pretty much the entire nation. The news made it to The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, for goodness’ sake. She recently stopped by Today, where she couldn’t help but gush over Daniel.
“You know, I’m enjoying myself, and I would say I’m very happy right now,” she told host Hoda Kotb of the fitness instructor.
Ariana first debuted her relationship with Daniel in April at Coachella, sharing multiple snaps of the two on social media. Before going Instagram official, Ariana said they originally met at a mutual friend’s wedding, where Ariana said his personality was the winning feature that caught her attention.
“I met him at a wedding about 10 days after all of this,” the Vanderpump Rules star said. “And in no way, shape or form did I go into that thinking anything, and I’ve just been taking things very, very, slow and really enjoying myself.”
“It’s just really lovely to interact with someone who is so nice and kind and caring,” she added.
Despite Ariana saying she’s taking things slowly, naysayers and critics may believe that the couple’s new romance is moving too fast after ending things with Sandoval. However, sources inside Ariana’s “inner circle” say that the chemistry between the two was a surprise, and they are down for the ride.
“At first, it looked like just a light rebound fling, but they have a special bond,” a source recently told PEOPLE. “Even though he lives in New York City, they’ve been able to make it work.”
Ariana’s so happy that the source alleges that her feelings for Daniel are steadily reaching the point of love.
“Ariana’s been telling people in her circle that she’s falling in love with him,” they revealed. “It’s happening faster than she thought, but he treats her well, they’re having fun, and she’s happy to be moving on to this next chapter with such an incredible guy.”
Daniel and Ariana have been inseparable since going public with their relationship. He has been seen accompanying the Something About Her co-owner to nearly all of her press events. The two most recently got dinner with Real Housewives of New Jersey star Margaret Josephs while in NYC.
Part one of the three-part Vanderpump Rules reunion airs on Wednesday, May 24, at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.