Raquel Leviss Drops Some Huge News About Her Future: “It’s Official”

Vanderpump Rules' Raquel Leviss took to Instagram over the weekend to share what's next for her in the world of beauty pageants. Raquel has previously competed, and this past weekend, she shared an update about her work in that world.

"Miss California USA hosted a fun-filled volleyball tournament for [Best Buddies]," she wrote. "This is the first event I have attended as Miss Malibu USA!!"

Raquel opened up more about the event in her Instagram Stories. "Miss California is partnering with Best Buddies today to host a volleyball tournament. So I'm super excited to be on my way to that and meet some of the people that are involved in Best Buddies organization," she shared. "Best Buddies is one of my favorite organizations to work with because they support inclusion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, [which is] obviously a cause that I care very much about. So I'm excited to join everybody. We're meeting at Marina del Rey and I have my Miss Malibu sash. So, it's official: We're running for Miss California."

According to the organization's Instagram bio, Best Buddies offers "friendship, jobs, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual [and] developmental disabilities."

Raquel has been competing in beauty pageants for several years, and in an interview with The Daily Dish in 2020, she explained how competing has helped her step out of her comfort zone.

"I always go back and forth between whether or not I’m gonna compete in another pageant. The reason why I go, went into pageantry is also because of my social anxiety. I started doing pageants and now I feel like I have Vanderpump Rules to do that, to challenge me. Pageants are expensive. There’s a lot of time that goes into it. You have a public speaking coach and a walking coach. It’s a lot of time and energy that I just feel like I don’t really need to spend on right now," she said at the time. "And I’d rather just focus on myself. Who knows? I don’t know, maybe this summer I’ll compete in a pageant just like my last one. My last hurrah, who knows?"

In addition to her work in beauty pageants, Raquel has always been open about pursuing a career in occupational therapy. When speaking to The Daily Dish in 2020, she shared, "My plan is to still go to grad school and get my degree in occupational therapy. And that is the direction that, that I still want to go into. Even though it’s taking me longer than expected."

She confirmed that was still the plan at the Vanderpump Rules Season 9 reunion, where she also confirmed her breakup with James Kennedy. "It's hard," she said at the reunion. "I envisioned a life with James, and it was something that I fantasized about a lot, so it's kind of like closing that book and redirecting my energy somewhere else."

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