“Do you remember your birth time?”
In less than 10 minutes of speaking with Ally Lewber, the former “Vanderpump Rules” cast member, she has already turned the tables, taking on the role of interviewer.
As we sit at a café in Beverly Hills, both enjoying our caffeinated drinks, our meeting wasn’t intended to discuss my birth chart. However, with Lewber’s passion and expertise in astrology (she is a “spiritual astrologer” and charges $375 for detailed personal readings), I (Virgo sun, Leo rising, Pisces moon) found myself wanting her insights before steering the conversation back. “Oh my God, OK,” she (Capricorn sun, Libra moon, Pisces rising) says. “I’m obsessed.”
This dynamic isn’t new for Lewber. Her interest in astrology has been a significant part of her public image since she was introduced to the Bravo audience as the girlfriend of “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy in 2023. Unlike her somewhat unpredictable DJ boyfriend, Lewber was appreciated from the show’s 10th season for her calm demeanor amidst the drama. Notably, she was the first to question Tom Sandoval and Rachel Leviss’ closeness after witnessing them late at night at the Abbey in West Hollywood. (We all know the outcome of that.)
Since then, Lewber’s life has undergone several changes. She and Kennedy parted ways after Season 11, following his high-profile arrest for domestic violence in late 2024. Reflecting during our conversation, she sees it as a challenge from the universe to make the difficult decision to leave. “It gives me chills right now to just be back in Los Angeles talking about it from a completely different [perspective],” Lewber says. “Now, I feel very much removed from that.”
Her current mindset may also be influenced by her recent 30th birthday, her move from Los Angeles to Charleston, South Carolina, and her trip to Mexico last October to film “Perfect Match” Season 4, Netflix’s dating series that unites singles from various reality shows. With the first episodes now available, this marks Lewber’s return to unscripted TV since 2024. While she initially didn’t plan on joining the show, “Perfect Match” offered a chance to explore dating again and redefine herself as more than just James Kennedy’s girlfriend. “I do definitely think that people will see a different side of me on the show. It’s single Ally on vacation,” Lewber says. “I’m excited to rewrite my own story and narrative that isn’t tied to him.”
Lewber anticipates that her return to reality TV will surprise some. “I’m already expecting comments,” she says with a laugh. But, she explains, discussions about joining the show began during a period of transition in her life. Around this time last year, she and Kennedy had recently ended their relationship. She devoted time to self-care: taking walks to coffee shops, relaxing in baths, and watching movies. “When the public breakup stuff was going on, I definitely wasn’t thinking clearly,” Lewber says. “And then, you know — the days get better.” Despite the circumstances, she remains mostly positive about Kennedy, acknowledging that she “wouldn’t have the opportunities that I do right now without him.”
Dating wasn’t on Lewber’s mind immediately after her breakup with Kennedy. However, the filming schedule for “Perfect Match” allowed her time to mentally prepare to reenter the dating scene in a low-pressure setting. “I was like, oh, October — that could be perfect,” she says. As her departure neared, she felt anxious, but when it was time to start filming, “I was like, ‘This will be fun and good for me.’ And it really was,” says Lewber. “I genuinely did not think I’d be able to form a crush. So it was really fun to just get back out there and remind yourself, yeah, I can do that.” It also provided an opportunity for her to “learn how to literally date,” as she puts it, since she felt she’d always jumped into serious relationships too quickly.
Unlike shows like “The Bachelor” or “Love is Blind,” “Perfect Match” doesn’t require couples to make significant commitments. “It’s literally just fun,” Lewber says, “And if you meet your person, great.” She finds reality TV a more distinctive way to meet someone than through dating apps, which she doesn’t use due to her tendency to overlook her phone, which she attributes to her Pisces placement. “This is my dating app,” she says of “Perfect Match.” Since she’s met previous partners in unconventional ways, she’s open to finding someone in this setting. Without revealing too much, Lewber confirms she achieved her goal of developing a crush while in Mexico. “I had some feelings,” she says with a smile. “I had some feelings for sure.”
During filming, Lewber had already decided to move to Charleston in early 2026, a choice she made gradually after visiting the city often. With no ties left in Los Angeles, she was single, her podcast had concluded (“Astrology is so niche, and I think we put in too much for not enough,” she explains), and her car was stolen. “There were all these little things where I felt like the universe was literally like, ‘This isn’t it for right now. Go try something else,’” she says. “I think James was an element — after a breakup like that, it is nice sometimes to just feel like a reset.” Although she envisions returning to Los Angeles eventually, Charleston suits her for now and aligns with her astrological chart, as it crosses her moon line, enhancing her emotional state.
Contrary to some beliefs, Lewber’s move was not a strategic attempt to join the cast of “Southern Hospitality,” a Bravo spinoff focusing on Leva Bonaparte’s Charleston eateries, especially the club Republic. “I genuinely wanted to move there,” Lewber asserts. “I had this plot in my head for a while. I go to Hilton Head every summer and every Thanksgiving — my family’s there.” She is friends with several “Southern Hospitality” cast members like Maddi Reese and Joe Bradley, explaining why she was seen filming there, although she has fewer connections with the “Southern Charm” cast. “There’s so many filming events,” Lewber notes. “We would film things at Sur and my friends would come, and maybe they’re in the back. That doesn’t mean I’m on contract.”
Lewber understands why fans might speculate, given Charleston’s status as a Bravo hub, which makes it difficult not to encounter such assumptions. However, she questions what would be so problematic if she had moved to join “Southern Hospitality.” Many aspiring reality stars work at Sur to get cast on “Vanderpump Rules,” and relocating for career opportunities is common. While the possibility crossed her mind, Lewber insists it wasn’t the main reason. “At the end of the day, I studied entertainment. I love the industry. It’s fun. And I don’t think people should feel like they can’t do things because…” she trails off. “Reality TV is just interesting, because you kind of can’t win. You know what I mean? And I guess that’s life. Sometimes you just can’t win,” she says, laughing.
Grateful for her TV experiences, Lewber acknowledges, “It opened up so many doors for me to do astrology and really cool things that I’m so grateful and happy with.” She views it as a platform to “spread astrology and connect with people,” her true passion. So, don’t rule out seeing Lewber on your screen again. “I think whatever helps me, honestly, to spread the message of astrology or love and, I know that sounds cheesy, but reality TV is just a platform, and it’s awesome for that,” says Lewber. “But I’m just open to wherever the wind takes me.”
