Tom Schwartz Steps Into The Spotlight On 'The Valley' Without Tom Sandoval

Tom Schwartz Finds His Own Path on 'The Valley'

If you thought Tom Schwartz was just a sidekick, think again! The beloved former star of 'Vanderpump Rules' is making waves at BravoCon 2025 by sharing his experience of filming the third season of 'The Valley' without his longtime friend Tom Sandoval by his side. Schwartz is stepping out from the shadow, and he's not looking back.

During a lively panel discussion in Las Vegas on November 14, Schwartz, 43, expressed his excitement about this new chapter. "It’s been nice," he confessed, referring to filming without Sandoval. "That’s not a dig at Tom," he clarified, "but it's nice to establish my own identity. You know what I mean? I'm not a sidekick. I'm not riding in the sidecar anymore."

"For better or for worse, I love Tom," Schwartz affirmed, underscoring the enduring friendship that remains between him and Sandoval, also 43.

Embracing a New Role and New Love

Stepping into the limelight as a full-time cast member on 'The Valley,' Schwartz is thrilled to be part of the ensemble. "It's been really fun," he shared, feeling warmly accepted by his co-stars. "I feel like everyone here really embraced me. I didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable. You guys took me in like an old rescue dog. That's what we talked about backstage. I feel like an old rescue dog, and I found a new home."

But it's not just his professional life that's blossoming. Schwartz couldn't help but gush about his girlfriend, model Kiana Carroll, during the BravoCon panel. "I feel like I’m under a love spell right now," he admitted. "I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud."

Love: A Double-Edged Sword

After his heartfelt confession, Schwartz jokingly worried about the repercussions of his candor, telling PEOPLE that he didn't intend to call Kiana "the love of my life" on stage. "I'm sorry. It came out wrong. I do love her. She's amazing. And shoutout to Kiana, but I didn't mean to say that. Oh my God. I feel like she's gonna leave me after this," he laughed.

Despite his initial backtrack, Schwartz doubled down on his feelings, acknowledging that Kiana "is" the love of his life, although it's a "kinda scary" thought. "I don't know," he mused. "She is the love of my life. I just felt like I shouldn't have said it on stage, damn it! I don't wanna scare her away."