What happened to Dayna on 'Vanderpump Rules'? An update on Ariana and Katie's BFF

'I'm grateful for the experience and wish everyone on the show all the best,' Dayna said upon her exit

What happened to Dayna on Vanderpump Rules? Pictured: Dayna Kathan on Watch What Happens Live on Bravo in March 2020
(Image credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

So, what happened to Dayna on Vanderpump Rules

Now that we're worried about the series' future—will the forthcoming Vanderpump Rules secret shatter everything?!—we're digging through our memory bank and landed on Dayna Kathan. The SUR newbie hasn't been seen in Vanderpump Rules season 10, but she still remains a fixture amongst the group.

Considering she's friendly with Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix, perhaps we'll be seeing her at Something About Her, noshing on a Greek salad sammie in the near future? We're willing to bet on it.

What happened to Dayna on 'Vanderpump Rules'?

Season eight left us with plenty of shocking exits, including mainstays Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor. Dayna, new to the group, quietly made her departure known on Instagram, and seemingly did not provide much detail on her choice. 

"I'm not returning but excited to see next szn!" she commented on a post back in 2021, according to E!. "The pod will be back soon, you're amazing, thank you!!!"

The stand-up comic ended her podcast, Unf***withable, in 2021 as well. Judging from her social media presence, she's been traveling—and even went on a European getaway with Katie and Ariana this year—enjoying her auntie duties and, yes, siding with Ariana amidst #Scandoval , just like the rest of the world.

"Get your sunnies out because this girl is entering her shine bright as a b*tch era 🕶️
she wrote on Instagram alongside a pic of Ariana.

While on the show, she and Ariana particularly became close and bonded over their bisexuality. Dayna was involved in a love triangle at one point with fellow SUR newbies, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni, who were ultimately fired for inappropriate commentary. 

Why did Dayna leave 'Vanderpump Rules'?

Although she never explicitly says why she decided to leave the Bravo show, Dayna revealed that the series wasn't a proper fit for her.

"It was a tough decision for me but ultimately the right one. I'm grateful for the experience and wish everyone on the show all the best," she told E! Online

We have to say, the maturity feels like a breath of fresh air. Perhaps her early exit is something we should've seen coming, considering the way she described her transition onto the cast.

“I think not all of us knew how big or small we’d play into everything. It happened very quickly. It was kind of surreal," she told People.

Maybe being enveloped in all of that drama so quickly was a bit too much? We definitely can't blame her! But one thing she did note was how the cast of OGs and newbies blended well together. 

“I feel like there are some moments where we all hate each other and moments where we all really love each other and between us and the OGs, the mixture of adding us into that is interesting,” Dayna further revealed to People. “It blends well … and I just think it’s probably a fresh take.”

Needless to say, things have taken a turn in 2023. Here's hoping we get out of the Sandoval drama in one piece—and that Vanderpump Rules season 11 will be a little less sensational.

I SURvived Scandoval Wine Glass
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I SURvived Scandoval Wine Glass
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Pour a Pumptini into one of these handmade Scandoval-decorated wine glasses. Holds 20.5 fluid oz. 

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.