\n<\/p>\n
Vanderpump Rules<\/em><\/a>\u00a0star\u00a0Ariana Madix<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0got straight to the point about former partner\u00a0Tom Sandoval<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s cheating scandal<\/a> with\u00a0Raquel Leviss<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0during her Tuesday, September 26 debut on\u00a0Dancing With the Stars<\/em><\/a>, saying being the victim of infidelity by her boyfriend of nine years won\u2019t be the defining point in her life.<\/p>\n \u201cMy life has been a rollercoaster in the past year,\u201d Ariana, 38, explained said during the show\u2019s pre-taped segment ahead of her first dance with pro partner Pasha Pashkov<\/strong>, adding, \u201cEverybody got to watch it all play out and my life blow up on television.\u201d<\/p>\n The reality star said that Scandoval\u00a0\u201cdoes not define\u201d her and that trying her hand at ballroom dancing was a great way to help reestablish her sense of self.\u00a0\u201cI just want to do something that is for me and positive,\u201d she continued, adding, \u201cIt\u2019s time for me to stand on my own two feet.\u201d<\/p>\n Ariana addressed the amount of public humiliation she suffered after Tom\u2019s affair with Raquel was exposed<\/a> in March and the subsequent treatment she received from Tom during episodes of Vanderpump Rules<\/em>, the show\u2019s reunion and in interviews.<\/p>\n \u201cFeeling like you were a joke to your partner of nine years is devastating, but I want to show other women that you don\u2019t have to let that hold you back,\u201d the Florida native proclaimed.<\/p>\n Ariana went on to express how competing on DWTS <\/em>has helped in her healing process, saying, \u201cThis is going to be a more confident, fun and vibrant version of myself, because I don\u2019t need anybody else. I love me.\u201d<\/p>\n She went on to perform a scorching tango<\/a> with Pasha that earned her a total score of\u00a021 from the judges, just one point behind leader and former Bachelorette Charity Lawson<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Ariana wore a bright red dress with midriff cutouts that was nearly identical to the \u201crevenge\u201d gown she wore on the season 10 reunion<\/a> of Vanderpump Rules<\/em>. Over the course of the three episodes, Tom, 40, took numerous digs at the Buying Back My Daughter<\/em> actress.<\/p>\n \u201cAriana and I kept our relationship pretty private for many years. We had issues. I felt like I was her gay BFF. We put on a front when we were filming \u2026 For us to be having these issues and keeping it from people, I just didn\u2019t think it was fair to the rest of the cast,\u201d Tom said during the May 24 reunion episode<\/a>. During the final episodes of the season, Sandoval expressed to pal Tom Schwartz<\/strong><\/a> how he wanted to end things with Ariana but couldn\u2019t muster up the courage.<\/p>\n