Ariana Madix was awarded the Competition Contestant of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, a ceremony she could not attend due to her Broadway role in “Chicago.” The award, which has recognized various talents across reality shows since its inception in 2018, saw Madix triumph over notable nominees from shows like “Dancing With the Stars,” “The Bachelorette,” “American Idol,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Ariana Madix won the Competition Contestant of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, unable to attend due to her Broadway role, amidst a diverse group of nominees from various reality shows.
Ariana Madix just snagged the title of Competition Contestant of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards. And boy, was it a night to remember! The event unfolded at the glamorous Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on a breezy Sunday night, February 18. However, Madix couldn’t grace the event with her presence. Why, you ask? She’s been busy lighting up Broadway as Roxie Hart in *Chicago*.
The competition was stiff, with names like Xochitl Gomez from *Dancing With the Stars* and Charity Lawson from *The Bachelorette* in the mix. Not to forget Theresa Nist, the golden girl from *The Golden Bachelor*, and Keke Palmer, who showed off her vocal chops on *That’s My Jam*. Then there were Iam Tongi and Anetra, alongside Sasha Colby, who brought the house down on *American Idol* and *RuPaul’s Drag Race*, respectively.
Speaking of impact, let’s dish. Gomez, only 17, danced her way to victory in season 32 of *Dancing With the Stars*. Meanwhile, Madix, at 38, clinched third place. Over in the *American Idol* and *RuPaul’s Drag Race* arenas, Tongi (19) and Colby (39) emerged as champions of their respective seasons. And in Bachelor Nation, Lawson, at 28, led *The Bachelorette*’s 20th season, while Nist, at a spry 70, became the first to clinch *The Golden Bachelor*. Palmer, though not winning on *That’s My Jam*, still managed to wow everyone with her stunning vocals.
Now, let’s switch gears to fashion – because, why not? The 2024 People’s Choice Awards wasn’t just about the awards. The red carpet was on fire with movie stars, TV personalities, and influencers strutting their stuff. We’re talking billowing gowns, flirty frocks, and stylish suits that had everyone talking. And some outfits? Well, you’d have to see them to believe them.
Since its introduction in 2018, the Competition Contestant of the Year category has shone a spotlight on various talents across the reality TV spectrum. Past winners read like a who’s who of reality TV royalty: Maddie Poppe from *American Idol* (2018), Hannah Brown from *The Bachelorette* (2019), Gigi Goode from *RuPaul’s Drag Race* (2020), JoJo Siwa from *Dancing With the Stars* (2021), and Selma Blair, also from *Dancing With the Stars*, in 2022.
This year, the People’s Choice Awards decided to throw a curveball, recognizing stars who’ve previously dazzled the audience. For instance, Palmer had already snagged nominations for The Female Movie Star of 2022 and The Drama Movie Star of 2022 for her role in *Nope*. Meanwhile, Madix was in the running for The Reality TV Star of the Year for her stint on *Vanderpump Rules*.
And let’s not forget about Madix and Colby making waves outside the awards circuit. Both found themselves on *Us Weekly*’s list of top reality stars of 2023. Colby, in particular, shared a heartfelt message about the significance of her win on *RuPaul’s Drag Race*, especially amidst the backdrop of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation. “This isn’t just for me,” she told *Us* in an exclusive interview back in October 2023. “It’s for all those kids out there who are scared. I wanted to be strong for them and use my platform to challenge people to really look at themselves.”
