Rachel Leviss overcame one of the hardest years of her life — and now she’s ready to talk about how it changed her for the better. Last year, Leviss, 29, hit rock bottom after her affair with Tom Sandoval — her Vanderpump Rules costar and longtime beau of friend Ariana Madix — came to light, making headlines across the country and painting her as the ultimate villain. But through hard work, Leviss says she’s moved on and has transformed her life for the better.
“The dark times were so dark, and it felt like there wasn’t a way out for the longest time. I [decided] I need[ed] to start making better decisions,” Leviss, who checked herself into a mental health facility for three months to focus on her well-being, exclusively tells Us Weekly . “It took time to integrate everything that I learned into my real life, but I feel like I’m finally now able to start living for me.
” After prioritizing her mental health, the “Rachel Goes Rogue” podcast host has made great strides in her personal life. “Although I’m still in therapy and make it a point to continue to work on myself,” she added. “There’s a newfound level of freedom — it’s an era of healing.
” Keep scrolling for Leviss first interview in a year: How would you describe this new era of Rachel? This era I would say is the era of freedom. How do you feel free now? I’m choosing to surround myself with people that lift me up as a person. That helps with my freedom in being my most authenti.
