Kristen Doute

Kristen Doute
Born	2/17/1983
Birthplace	Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, clothing designer, entrepreneur, actress, author, podcast host
Known for	Vanderpump Rules, The Valley
Children	1

Kristen Doute (born February 17, 1983) is an American television personality, entrepreneur, clothing designer, actress, author, and podcast host. She first rose to public attention as a series regular on the Bravo reality television series Vanderpump Rules, appearing on the show from its debut in 2013 through its eighth season in 2020. Known during her early television years for volatile on-screen relationships and confrontational behavior that made her one of the show's most polarizing figures, Doute has in more recent years undergone what The New York Times described as a reinvention from "villain to unlikely voice of reason." Beyond television, Doute has pursued ventures in fashion through her apparel brand James Mae, collaborated on a wine label called Witches of WeHo, launched the vegetarian lifestyle website Vegiholic, and authored a book. She currently stars on The Valley, a spin-off of Vanderpump Rules that premiered in 2024.

Early Life

Kristen Doute was born on February 17, 1983, in Dearborn, Michigan. She grew up in the Detroit metropolitan area before eventually relocating to Los Angeles, California, where she pursued careers in acting and the service industry. Prior to her television career, Doute worked as a waitress and server at SUR Restaurant and Lounge in West Hollywood, the establishment owned by Lisa Vanderpump that would later become the setting for Vanderpump Rules.

Doute has described herself as a lifelong vegetarian and animal lover, interests that later informed her lifestyle brand and content creation efforts. Before entering reality television, she pursued acting in Los Angeles, accumulating a number of credits in film and television productions.

Career

Vanderpump Rules (2013–2020)

Doute was cast as a series regular on Vanderpump Rules, a reality television series that premiered on Bravo in January 2013. The show, a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, followed the personal and professional lives of staff members at SUR Restaurant, owned by Lisa Vanderpump. Doute was part of the original cast that included Tom Sandoval, Stassi Schroeder, Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz, Jax Taylor, and Scheana Shay, among others.

During the early seasons of the show, Doute was prominently featured for her tumultuous romantic relationship with fellow cast member Tom Sandoval, with whom she was in a long-term relationship when filming began. Their on-screen breakup, which played out over the course of several seasons and involved allegations of infidelity on both sides, became one of the show's central storylines. Doute became known for her confrontational and often dramatic behavior on the series, which earned her a reputation as one of the show's primary antagonists among viewers.

One of the most memorable moments from Doute's tenure on the show involved a green dress she wore during a particularly dramatic scene in the second season. The garment later became iconic in Vanderpump Rules lore, referred to by fans and media as her "revenge" green dress. More than a decade after the episode aired, in 2026, Doute sold the dress, with the transaction garnering media coverage.

Throughout her time on Vanderpump Rules, Doute formed close friendships with fellow cast members Stassi Schroeder and Katie Maloney, a trio that became known publicly as the "Witches of WeHo" (short for West Hollywood). The three women leveraged this branding into a collaborative wine venture.

In June 2020, Doute and Stassi Schroeder were fired from Vanderpump Rules after former cast member Faith Stowers publicly recounted that the two had called the police on her and falsely reported her for a crime she did not commit. The incident, which Stowers said occurred in 2018, drew significant public backlash in the context of the broader national conversation about racial justice following the murder of George Floyd. Bravo and production company Evolution Media announced the firings, along with those of cast members Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni, who had been found to have posted racially insensitive social media content.

Following her dismissal, the Witches of WeHo wine brand was also discontinued, with reports indicating that the collaboration ended in the wake of the controversy surrounding the racially motivated police report.

In March 2023, it was announced that Doute would return to Vanderpump Rules for a guest appearance during the show's tenth season, marking her first appearance on the series since her firing nearly three years earlier.

The Valley (2024–present)

Doute is a principal cast member on The Valley, a Bravo reality series that premiered in 2024. The show, a spin-off of Vanderpump Rules, follows several former Vanderpump Rules cast members and their partners as they navigate life in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. The series represented a significant next chapter for Doute's television career following her departure from Vanderpump Rules.

By the time The Valley began airing, Doute's on-screen persona had shifted considerably from her earlier years on Vanderpump Rules. A July 2025 profile in The New York Times noted this transformation, describing Doute's evolution from the "villain" of Vanderpump Rules to an "unlikely voice of reason" on The Valley. The article examined how Doute had seemingly reinvented herself as the second season of The Valley drew to a close.

As of early 2026, the show was preparing for its third season, with Doute continuing as a cast member.

James Mae

Outside of reality television, Doute founded a clothing and apparel brand called James Mae. The brand, which produces casual and lifestyle-oriented clothing, was covered by publications including Women's Wear Daily and People. In a 2026 MSN article, Doute was identified as the "founder of apparel brand James Mae."

Witches of WeHo Wine

Together with Vanderpump Rules co-stars Stassi Schroeder and Katie Maloney, Doute launched a wine brand called Witches of WeHo. The trio released their first product, a rosé wine, in partnership with Nocking Point Wines. They subsequently released additional products under the "Basic Witch" label, including "Basic Witch Potion No. 1" and "Basic Witch Potion No. 2," both produced through Nocking Point Wines. The launch events for the wine line were held at venues including the Beverly Center in Los Angeles.

The wine brand was discontinued following Doute and Schroeder's firing from Vanderpump Rules in June 2020.

Vegiholic

In 2016, Doute launched Vegiholic, a lifestyle website focused on vegetarian food, recipes, and plant-based living. The site was described by Bustle as "a vegetarian's dream come true," offering content related to meatless cooking and vegetarian-friendly restaurants and products.

Acting

In addition to her reality television work, Doute has pursued acting, with credits listed on IMDb for various film and television projects.

Writing and Podcasting

Doute is also an author and podcast host. Her literary work is represented by the Connor Goldsmith Literary Agency.

Personal Life

Doute's romantic relationships have been a significant part of her public profile, particularly during her time on Vanderpump Rules. Her long-term relationship with Tom Sandoval, a fellow original cast member on the show, and their subsequent breakup was one of the series' major storylines during its early seasons. In November 2025, Sandoval revealed publicly that he had recently encountered Doute and her fiancé, Luke Broderick, and their baby, describing the meeting as a positive step in his relationship with his former partner.

Doute began a relationship with Luke Broderick in 2022, and the couple became engaged. In the summer of 2025, Doute welcomed her first child, a daughter named Kaia Lily Broderick. Doute has shared details about her experience as a new mother, describing the first months of parenthood and her fiancé's support during the delivery process. In January 2026, when Kaia was approximately seven months old, Doute shared photos celebrating the infant's latest milestones.

In August 2025, Doute revealed details about her upcoming wedding to Broderick, including that a cast member from the Bravo series Summer House was serving as her wedding planner. She described having one specific "rule" for the nuptials.

In January 2026, Doute and Broderick publicly mourned the death of their German shepherd, Jill, sharing the news with followers and paying tribute to the pet.

Recognition

Doute's career arc has been the subject of media analysis, particularly regarding her evolution as a public figure across two reality television series spanning more than a decade. In July 2025, The New York Times published a profile of Doute examining her transformation from a polarizing figure on Vanderpump Rules to a more grounded presence on The Valley. The article characterized her as having reinvented herself over the course of the show's second season, shifting from the "villain" archetype she had occupied earlier in her career to an "unlikely voice of reason."

Her fashion and lifestyle ventures have received coverage from major publications. Women's Wear Daily profiled her James Mae clothing brand, People covered her fashion endeavors, and Glamour featured the Witches of WeHo wine collaboration. The Cut published a profile piece on Doute in December 2016, further cementing her presence in mainstream media beyond the confines of reality television.

Doute has also been profiled by Taylor Magazine and other lifestyle publications, reflecting her positioning as a multi-platform personality spanning television, fashion, food, and lifestyle content.

Legacy

Kristen Doute is among the original cast members of Vanderpump Rules, a series that reshaped the landscape of reality television when it debuted in 2013. The show, which followed the interpersonal dynamics of restaurant workers and aspiring entertainers in West Hollywood, became one of Bravo's most popular franchises and spawned significant cultural conversation, particularly during the "Scandoval" era of 2023. Doute was part of the ensemble that helped establish the show's identity during its formative years.

Her firing from the series in 2020, alongside Stassi Schroeder, marked a significant moment in reality television's reckoning with issues of race and accountability. The incident, prompted by revelations from Faith Stowers about a false police report, occurred during a period of heightened scrutiny of racial injustice across American media and entertainment. The dismissals were among the most high-profile cast removals in Bravo's history at the time.

Doute's subsequent return to Bravo on The Valley and her evolution as depicted in that series have been framed in media coverage as a narrative of personal growth and second chances within the reality television genre. The New York Times profile in 2025 positioned her story as illustrative of broader questions about redemption, reinvention, and the long arc of reality television careers.

Her entrepreneurial efforts, including the James Mae clothing line and the Vegiholic lifestyle platform, represent the broader trend of reality television personalities leveraging their public profiles into brand-building opportunities across multiple industries.