Raquel Leviss Puts 'VPR' Exit In Rare View With New Affirmation

Raquel Leviss has exited "Vanderpump Rules," but she is not letting that get her down.

The reality star shared a new affirmation on social media, reminding herself to stay positive and focus on the good things in her life. After the "Scandoval" cheating scandal that has captivated headlines since March, the star took off to embark on a journey of self-discovery, which included a short stint at a facility. 

Embracing a fresh chapter after leaving "Vanderpump Rules," the ex-beauty pageant queen has taken a bold step. Over the weekend, she transformed her Instagram profile, making changes like altering her display name to Rachel, her birth name.

With a follower count surpassing 600,000, her bio now reflects the message, "Becoming a better person… one day at a time." Although it was believed that she was in talks with the show's producers to return, ET confirmed that after deliberation, the 28-year-old would not be partaking in the upcoming season's filming.

This development follows the disclosure earlier this year of Tom Sandoval's infidelity to his longtime partner, Ariana Madix, involving Leviss—a narrative that unfolded during the previous season. A source told the outlet:

"Rachel will not be returning for season 11 of Vanderpump Rules. There was a possibility up until recently she'd be returning for the new season, but ultimately decided against it. Rachel is focused on her mental health journey and knew going back to the show would open her up to trauma she's been working on healing. Rachel is looking forward to what the future holds for her."

Another person who has confirmed the reality TV star's exit is Lisa Vanderpump. During an interview, she stated that Leviss would not be featured in the upcoming 11th season despite her initial interest.

The 62-year-old also disclosed to the publication that she had explored the idea of filming an exclusive interview with the younger star to explore her personal growth and time spent in a mental health facility following the scandal. She said:

"When she was in the facility, her team texted and emailed us. We wanted to make sure she was in a good place first, and I was going to do a one-on-one with her. She talked about it [coming back]. Her team reached out, but in the end, I think she decided not to." 

The "John Halifax, Gentleman" guest star pointed out that having Leviss rejoin the cast for filming would not have been effective because "most, if not all, of the cast doesn't believe anything that comes out of Rachel's mouth."

Responding to inquiries about the show's success without the former "Miss Sonoma County," the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum remarked, "Hah, it was successful before her. Before she joined and hooked up with James [Kennedy]." She also disregarded Leviss's assertion that Sandoval was offered a producer credit for the 11th season, a claim that a Bravo spokesperson verified as false.

After the infidelity scandal took center stage during the reunion, leading to an explosive confrontation among the cast, Leviss reportedly entered a mental health facility in April for a period.

In the aftermath, it was reported that she was negotiating for improved compensation from the producers of the show. Speculations also arose that she chose to skip filming for the upcoming season and even opted out of joining the cast on a trip to Lake Tahoe. According to a source:

"Rachel has been spending time with her family in Arizona since leaving the mental health facility. Rachel has been receiving letters from people opening up about their own mental health journey and applauding her for taking time away from filming to focus on her mental health. Rachel is in a really good place and has been enjoying a slower pace of life. She's been doing Pilates and often goes hiking."

The insider also mentioned that while Leviss had refrained from filming the current season, the possibility was not entirely ruled out. This is likely due to negotiations regarding her contract and seeking better compensation.