Hit pause on whatever you’re doing — it’s time for Us’ annual Reality Stars of the Year issue, celebrating the personalities who brought the drama, stole our hearts and kept the group chats buzzing.
After years of friendships, feuds and unforgettable one-liners, Dorinda Medley, Kelly Bensimon, Sonja Morgan, Luann de Lesseps and Ramona Singer are reclaiming their spot atop reality TV’s Mount Olympus as they reunite for their new E! series, The Golden Life. Fittingly, the fabulous five transformed into Greek goddesses for Us’ epic cover shoot and opened up about this exciting new era in their lives and on our screens.
But these legendary ladies aren’t the only ones who ruled reality TV in 2026: Maura Higgins took her scene-stealing style from The Traitors castle to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom. Carole Radziwill made a deliciously deadpan return to The Real Housewives of New York City. Madison Marilla and Tyler White of Love on the Spectrum proved they’re the definition of #CoupleGoals. And even after a season of calculating and cunning gameplay, it’s impossible to stay mad at Traitor Rob Rausch.
Scroll through to see all of Us’ top Reality Stars of the Year and pick up the Reality Stars of the Year issue, on newsstands now.
Maura Higgins: Best Wardrobe
The Traitors isn’t a style competition, but if it were, we tink season 4 contestant Maura Higgins would have taken the top prize. “My wardrobe was everything,” the Irish TV personality tells Us of her killer couture looks (think: tailored power suits, statement hats and skintight latex) on the Peacock reality competition hit. “That’s why I decided to go on the show in the first place,” she adds, noting, “Outside of my wardrobe schedule, I honestly had no idea what was going on in the show day to day!” While she ultimately lost the season 4 prize to Traitor Rob Rausch, he later bought her a Birkin bag to make up for deceiving her all season. “So I think I [actually] won,” she says. Naturally, her run on season 35 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars has proved just as fashionable. She wore a dramatic black velvet dress and opera gloves for her week 1 foxtrot to “Black Velvet” (of course), a sultry red number for her cha-cha and a glamorous white gown for her quickstep. The custom outfits were “something I was really looking forward to,” Maura, 35, says. “Everyone on the costume team is so sweet and talented, and I love sitting with them every week to help bring my ideas to life.”
Alicia Carmody: Most Quotable
“I was in shock,” The Real Housewives of Rhode Island star Alicia Carmody tells Us of going viral over the summer thanks to her endearingly eccentric personality. (She’s obsessed with her doll collection and pizza chips — tomato sauce on bread — and even claimed to have a “phobia of stairs.”) Oh, and the memorable Aliciaisms: She repeatedly refers to her celebrity idol Jane Fonda as “Jane’s Fonda,” while her Rhode Island-accented pronunciation of “crackers” as “crackahs” quickly became the stuff of Housewives legend. She’s taking her newfound fame in stride, thanks in part to fiancé Billy Kitsilis and daughter Celina. “My family isn’t treating me any differently,” she says. “Our dynamic is the same. They give it to me straight, and I still get in trouble.” (While she hasn’t heard from Fonda, she’s not mad: “I have R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Jane’s Fonda always!”) At the end of the day, Alicia, 41, is just happy to put her beloved birthplace on the map. “I love sharing my state’s traditions with the world,” the Bravo star says. When people approach her on the street, they mostly want to discuss “the crackahs, pizza chips and dolls,” she adds. “Those things have all been a natural part of my life since before I can remember, so seeing everyone enjoy them brings me a lot of joy!”
Carole Radziwill: Best Comeback
After an eight-year absence, Carole Radziwill did not disappoint when she returned to Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City for season 16. “I want to strangle her,” she said in a confessional after Jessel Taank asked whether Radziwill’s late best friend, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, was “a bitch” and then brought up the so-called Kennedy curse. (Carole was married to John F. Kennedy Jr.’s cousin Anthony Radziwill, who died of cancer in 1999.) Later, when Sai de Silva asked whether she’d been to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s island, Carole deadpanned, “You think I’m part of an international sex trafficking ring?” The journalist, 63, credits RHONY viewers with nudging her back into the Bravoverse. “I had no inclination to return,” she tells Us. “I went on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen as the mystery guest, and I assumed fans would be disappointed, but they weren’t. Then BravoCon happened, and the fans sent so much love and good energy into the universe that, honestly, they manifested this.” She says Andy Cohen gave her the best advice before she stepped back in front of the cameras: “He said, ‘Have fun and be yourself,’ and that’s exactly what I did.”
Jenny Slatten & Sumit Singh: Most Resilient Couple
Jenny Slatten and Sumit Singh have been fan favorites since they first appeared on TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way in 2019. (The couple met online in 2013 and wed in 2021.) They’ve overcome plenty of obstacles, including their 30-year age gap and years spent living on different continents. “We work hard at our relationship, but we’re also best friends,” Sumit, 38, tells Us. “I think that’s important because you want to enjoy life with your partner the same way you would with your best friend.” Now, the stars of 90 Day: The Last Resort are facing their biggest challenge yet. In December 2025, Jenny, 68, was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. During the season 3 tell-all, Jenny shared that although she remains “independent and walking,” ALS has significantly affected her speech. Through it all, the beloved couple continue to rely on one another. “Sumit does everything for me, and going through this has made me even more grateful for the life we have together,” Jenny told Us via email. “Our love has become stronger because we’ve had to face things together that we never expected. It’s shown me just how much we can rely on each other.” Adds Sumit, “I really admire how Jenny continues to find joy in life, even during difficult times. Her positivity inspires me every day.”
Aesha Scott: The Dream Boss
Keeping the vibes high and her crew in line? Aesha Scott has mastered both. As chief stew on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean, she’s done it all — from wearing a pirate suit for charter guests to helping the deck crew — while ensuring her interior team stays on course. It’s no wonder she’s earned a reputation as the kind of boss folks want to work for. “You’ve got to be able to read people well,” Aesha tells Us, noting that emotional intelligence is essential when leading a yacht crew. “If you don’t know how to talk to and manage your staff, no one’s going to respect you.” She credits Captain Sandy Yawn with showing her how to strike the right balance. “She is firm but fair,” Aesha, 34, says. After admitting she was once “too lenient,” Aesha has learned to navigate tough conversations without losing her sunny outlook. This season, everything clicked. “I feel like I’d clocked being a chief stew,” Aesha notes tells Us of what she calls her “happiest” and “most fun” season yet. “I had become an expert, and I’d mastered the craft.”
Rob Rausch: Most Charming Traitor
His baby blues and Southern charm could fool anyone — even a castle full of Faithfuls. Rob Rausch played The Traitors’ most calculated and cutthroat game yet, voting out fellow Traitors, flipping the script on anyone who questioned him and deceiving his closest allies. Fans couldn’t get enough — but maintaining the deception wasn’t easy. “I was surprised at how heavy it felt and how much my emotions were starting to affect my gameplay,” he tells Us. “At first, it’s fun. I’m lying, I’m cheating. But by the end, it’s like, ‘Man, I really like these people.’” His secret to successful scheming? Consistency. The “No. 1 thing” that makes a great Traitor, he says, is staying true to yourself while “simultaneously bending the truth.” The strategy paid off, and Rob, 28, came out the winner with $220,800. “It was surreal,” he says of his run on the Peacock hit. “If you told me a year ago that I was gonna be at a round table with a Housewife, a Drag Race star and a Survivor winner, I’d be like, ‘That’s crazy!’ I think it’s cool.”
Stassi Schroeder: The Disruptor
If anyone knows what makes for gripping reality TV, it’s Vanderpump Rules alum Stassi Schroeder. So it’s no surprise her new series, House of Stassi, shot to No. 1 shortly after it debuted on Hulu in late July. The show follows Stassi, 38, as she juggles her career and motherhood while navigating her friendship with Katie Maloney and relationships with sister Georgi and husband Beau Clark. (The couple experience friction over his role as a stay-at-home dad.) “You’re watching real relationships play out in real time, and that’s what makes it so addictive,” she tells Us of reality TV’s lasting appeal. One reason for House of Stassi’s undeniable success? Stassi’s call, as executive producer, to break the fourth wall: She talks to producers about content during confessionals and openly shares her thoughts about casting and her desire for more onscreen tension throughout the season. “I’ve been doing this a long time, so pretending that cameras don’t exist felt strange to me,” she says. “We had to acknowledge them in order to create the realest show possible. People are smart enough to understand that reality television is still television.”
Madison Marilla & Tyler White: Most Heartwarming Romance
The sweetest love story on reality TV is headed down the aisle! After getting engaged during season 4 of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, Madison Marilla and Tyler White have continued to win over viewers with their easy chemistry, mutual support and unabashed affection for each other. “People say, ‘Hey, we cried watching your engagement,’” Tyler, 29, tells Us. “That really means something. A lot of people say, ‘I hope my autistic son or daughter finds what y’all have.’” Since filming wrapped, the pair have been building a life together around the things they treasure most: country music and shared adventures. Tyler recently whisked Madison away to Disney World for her birthday, while she surprised her cowboy sweetheart with tickets to see his favorite singer, Alan Jackson. “We complement each other in the best ways, and we have shared interests,” Madison, 29, tells Us of what makes their relationship work, noting that communication is key. “You never know how the other person is feeling unless you talk about it.” Tyler adds, “We’re a couple on the autism spectrum that loves and supports each other.” Wedding plans are already underway, with the big day set for November 2027. Will fans get to watch the celebration unfold on Love on the Spectrum? “Yeah, absolutely,” Tyler says. And the nuptials may not be the couple’s last moment in the spotlight. “I would love to do Dancing With the Stars and be the first autistic contestant on the show,” Madison shares with a big smile. Get the Mirrorball ready!
Mia Calabrese: The Ride-Or-Die
Amid the shocking fallout from Amanda Batula’s divorce from Kyle Cooke — and her subsequent relationship with West Wilson, the ex of former BFF Ciara Miller — newbie Mia Calabrese emerged as one of Summer House season 10’s brightest spots. “I love that I can just fully be myself, and I’m not needing to play any character,” the real estate agent, 35, tells Us of her experience on the Bravo show. “To be embraced for being yourself is the coolest thing ever.” Her ride-or-die credentials were on full display during the explosive three-part reunion, when she fiercely defended Ciara. (One pointed dig at Amanda: “You went from being married to being one of West’s side bitches.”) “Being a friend is standing up for your friends when they can’t stand up for themselves,” Mia notes about her mindset going into the heated convo. While she says Ciara had things “under control,” Mia was ready to “give my two cents” when needed — proving that anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner.
For more on Us‘ 2026 Reality Stars of the Year, pick up the new issue, on stands now.
