Ariana Madix talks about hosting Love Island USA as a superfan

Ariana Madix had no problem hosting the 6th season of “Love Island USA” for Peacock, after all, she has been a superfan of the franchise for years.

“‘Love Island’ is my favorite show,” the “Vanderpump Rules” star told TheWrap. “I’ve always loved watching every single moment and I always feel like I can’t get enough of it.”

Madix wasn’t a total newbie to the set of Love Island either, having stopped by the Fiji villa for a guest appearance in season 5. The reality star said her first exposure to the world of Love Island last season “secured her success this year,” recalling the excitement of seeing the villa first-hand “rather than always seeing it on (her) TV screen.”

“It’s better than I thought it would be because I can … experience everything in real time,” Madix said. “When it’s on TV, (a discussion or conflict) can last five minutes, whereas in real life it might last an hour.”

The flip side of witnessing the juicy drama in the villa is that Madix now has to keep an open mind when it comes to internal conflicts. Madix points to the recent departure of Andrea Carmona and the near departure of Rob Rausch as difficult moments in which not to get involved.

“It’s difficult because part of me sometimes wants to step in, especially tonight. But even as a host, I have to be somewhat impartial, at least in front of them,” Madix said.

After Carmona was voted off the island earlier this week, Rausch immediately stood behind her and said he would leave the show as well (he later decided to stay). At that point, Madix encouraged Rausch not to leave the house, which the host said reflected a two-pronged approach.

“I don’t think it’s the best thing to make such a big decision in a highly emotional moment… wait a few days,” Madix said, adding that Carmona was still in a hotel in Fiji. “Plus, I wanted to call him bluff because I didn’t really think he wanted to go… Especially with Aaron there.”

Below, Madix chats about the most shocking moment she’s experienced in the villa so far, reveals how “Love Island” compares to “Vanderpump Rules,” and gives a sneak peek at which couples might be put to the test in Casa Amor.

TheWrap: Ian Stirling enjoyed having you host. How closely do you get to work with Ian on the jokes he makes about you or the cast in his commentary?

Ariana Madix: I don’t know all of this until after the fact, which is amazing. He just gets it. He was always one of my favorite parts of Love Island, whether it was in the UK or when he moved to the US. I think he’s the funniest person. Sometimes I have to rewind the scene because I’m still laughing at his joke and then I miss what’s actually happening.

You have a lot of experience with reality shows and their production. What surprised you about the way “Love Island” works?

Something that’s really interesting about ‘Love Island’ as opposed to ‘Vanderpump’ or ‘Housewives’ or anything like that is that there are no cameramen near the islanders. There are cameras set up throughout the villa, and then there are walls with sliders and behind the walls there are cameramen that can move around, but the islanders never actually see the cameramen, and there are no areas of the house — aside from the obvious ones like the toilet or the shower — that are blind spots, and so you might think you’re having a secret conversation in a corner, which isn’t the case. They really are flies on the wall and can capture everything.

It’s mind-blowing to me that they shoot hours of footage from all different angles and then edit it together in less than a day.

When the first surprises came, you were visibly shocked to see the ladies kissing the men. What was it like to witness this drama up close?

Nicole and Andrea – they came in and rocked it. They did exactly what you would expect from any bombshell that comes into the villa. I know it’s silly because they were kissing people blindfolded and handcuffed, but I was proud of them in a way because I think it takes a lot of courage and a lot of confidence. They also wore lingerie and just came in and enjoyed that moment.

When you first met the islanders, you seemed so excited to meet them in person. How did you build that relationship with them?

I miss them every day that I’m not there and can’t speak to them. As a fan of the show and as a presenter, I really wish them all the best. I feel like every girl and boy that comes into that villa is there with the right intentions for the most part. When you see that, of course you want to cheer them on, so I’ve got my fingers crossed for all of them and if we can get them all paired up with the right person before they leave, that would be great.

What moment has really shocked you as an observer so far?

This most recent elimination, not the elimination itself, but the reaction to it when Aaron started freaking out. I was so glad that Liv was there to really stand up and assert herself and make a case for the cause. I couldn’t believe how emotional everyone was after that elimination.

Which islander surprised you the most and why?

Liv. When she came out as the first bombshell on her own, I think there was a little hesitation from the other islanders. It’s hard to go through that. And the more we get to know Liv, the more I feel like she stands up for everyone and is a very strong person. I love watching her development on this show as she gets closer to everyone there.

I’m always surprised by who chooses who and how it all works out. They always keep me on my toes.

What can you tell us about the upcoming episodes?

Coming soon is Casa Amor. That usually happens about halfway through the season. That’s going to be very exciting. Who knows what’s going to happen? Kaylor and Aaron are the strongest couple right now in my opinion and Casa Amor has torn apart some of the strongest couples in past seasons, so we’ll see.

Normally you would be filming “Vanderpump Rules” at this time. How does hosting “Love Island” compare to that?

Being in Fiji is very different from LA. It’s very nice to just hang out. I spend a lot of time going to the gym or hanging out by the pool with the others who have a day off and we just really enjoy being here in Fiji. It’s always exciting when I can go to the villa. I can actually see the villa from my hotel so I might buy a really powerful pair of binoculars and then I can watch it the whole time.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

New episodes of Love Island USA air daily at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, except Wednesdays, on Peacock.