Meet Dara Levitan: The Beauty Boss Bringing Fresh Energy To 'Summer House' Season 10

Dara Levitan, professional makeup artist and viral beauty creator, is one of the newest cast members of Bravo’s “Summer House.” She’s stepping into the spotlight for Season 10 with confidence, candor, and a fresh perspective. 

During an exclusive chat with The Blast, Levitan reflects on her journey from working as a makeup artist to building a booming digital platform, how a chance Hinge date created a little early tension on the show, and what it was like joining a long-established friend group on one of reality TV’s most beloved shows. She opens up about navigating dating and relationships, embracing vulnerability, breaking beauty “rules,” and why authenticity, both on camera and off, is at the core of everything she does as she enters this next chapter.

Levitan, 33, didn’t exactly see her makeup and beauty journey leading her to “Summer House,” but that’s exactly where it took her. She told The Blast that her love for makeup started at an early age thanks to her “glam grandmother.” 

After years of doing makeup, her content creation began to really take off.

“I spent about a year doing both before I closed my makeup books. And then really, my platform took off and I’ve been riding that wave. About the time of maybe 2024, I got that itch for a new adventure, and I never would have thought that it would be ‘Summer House,’” she told The Blast.

“And, you know, off that one random Hinge date that I went on with West Wilson, look at how far we’ve come. But you know, that’s just the nature of a New York City network. You don’t know which friend, or ex situationship or anything of that nature will lead you to the next chapter of your life.” 

Because Levitan had some history with “Summer House” castmate West Wilson, there was a little bit of “anxiety” going into the experience.

“I knew what had gone on between him and Ciara and one of my chief concerns in the process of deciding to come on the show was just that,” she said. “But I am a super ‘what you see if what you get’ kind of person. I lead with honesty and authenticity, and I just figured, there is nothing unsavory about what happened between us and the timelines don’t overlap at all, so ultimately, I felt like it would be fine.” 

She added that while there was a “little bit of initial weirdness,” that quickly ended. 

For fans of “Summer House,” a new season means all new storylines, new faces, and new drama. With Levitan being one of the newbies, she said viewers will see her “dipping my toe in the pool, making friends with the OGs and just sort of adjusting to being part of the friend group.” 

She also shared that viewers will get to see “a little bit of lover girl behavior.” 

“My followers and people who keep up with my platform know me to be someone who enjoys dating. And I spent the bulk of my relationships in my 20s navigating how to be a lover girl in this day and age,” she said. “And it was definitely a whirlwind to experience that in this context so it’ll be fun that everyone sees the way it plays out.” 

Levitan said she felt like although she isn’t much younger than any of the others on the show, she had a “little sister vibe” going on where she really let them take the lead so she could see what they’re doing. 

“There were some really beautiful bonding moments where in those moments of vulnerability, that’s where I find my best connect,” she shared. “There’s that sort of don’t really give any f-cks, but don’t step on any toes vibe, I would say.”

For Levitan, the early days of being part of the show meant stepping out of her comfort zone and learning how to fit in with the rest of the house.

"In the beginning, I was just trying to find a way to advocate for myself and introduce myself in a way that let me be understood. And as you are getting closer and closer, it's kind of like you got to take the reins on it. These people have been friends for a decade now, so they're having conversations about very real things going on in their life," Levitan told The Blast. "And I think that it took me coming out of my shell a little bit to say, 'I am not trying to put my nose in where I am not supposed to be, but I am here for you.' It's important to me to be a friend and I think that just took a little bit of extra confidence, a little bit of extra boldness to be like, 'What's going on in this bedroom.'"

Levitan is excited for fans to watch the new season of "Summer House." She said it's a "momentous accomplishment" to be on Season 10.

"I think that in this season, you see the accumulation of all that love, whether it's good or bad, whether it's drama or leaning on someone for a shoulder to cry on," she said. "I feel like everyone ended up by the end of summer bonded. It felt very gelled and you know that doesn't come without difficulty."

When the topic of dating and red flags entered the chat, Levitan shared the advice she would give her younger self about love and relationships.

"I would say that you can be a lover, but you need to learn how to be a leaver. I spent a lot of time in relationships in my 20s that my gut was saying, this is not it, and this is not the treatment, and this is not the person," she shared. "Entering into institutions that I had always looked up to, like marriage and motherhood and all that stuff, but it just cannot come at the price of self-respect and standards. I think that I could have avoided a lot more hurt if I was brave enough to know when to walk away."

And now, Levitan doesn't ignore red flags. She said she has a top three list of red flags she just won't stand for anymore.

"You got to align on the values. We have to have the same ideas of right and wrong. I think that's very simple," she said. "Beyond that, somebody who is not asking questions early on. A lot of times, I get into situations with men who have sort of decided the fantasy of who I am to them, and they don't really try to get to know me and then end up confused or disappointed when I'm a real person with flaws and strengths and weaknesses and all that goes into that."

And the third red flag she won't ignore - how they treat people in their lives.

When chatting about beauty trends, one rule that she feels is ready to be broken is following trends in general, because everyone's face is different and as a makeup artist, she said she "never did two clients' makeup the same."

Before ending our conversation, we played a fun round of rapid-fire questions.

The Blast: What do you prefer - glam or natural?

Dara Levitan: Natural

TB: "Summer House" drama or dating drama?

DL: "Summer House" drama

TB: Go-to favorite summer drink?

DL: Oooh, a spicy marg, probably. Or a Porn Star Martini, because I love a fruity drink that's a little sweet.

TB: Your current beauty obsession?

DL: I am loving a darker lip for the colder months.

TB: Weekend in the mountains or weekend at the beach?

DL: The beach

TB: One word to describe "Summer House" season 10.

DL: Everything. Literally everything. Drama, love, laugh, crying, hugging, things falling apart, things coming together. Everything is in this season. It's amazing.

When asked for one last thought for fans of "Summer House," Levitan shared, "I feel like the fan base is spanning a lot of years. But I hope people watching remember that you can be a lot of things at once. You can be 33 and still having fun in the Hamptons and then also, have a successful career and be dating. And as a woman, 33 is more than young enough to have everything that you want in life. And I hope that people look at that with less judgment and more inspiration. Whatever you want to do in your life, you can. You can have it all.

"Summer House" season 10 premieres on February 3, 2026.