‘Love Island USA’ Stars Nic and Olandria Can’t Wait for the “Messy” Reunion: “It’s Gonna Be a Cinematic Film”

‘Love Island USA’ Stars Nic and Olandria Can’t Wait for the “Messy” Reunion: “It’s Gonna Be a Cinematic Film”

Though Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe may have been “oblivious” to the romantic spark initially, they’re so happy they “ended up being together” in the end.

The two OG Islanders came in second place, following winners Amaya and Bryan, for Love Island USA season seven. However, they were actually exploring other connections for the majority of the time in the villa (Olandria was getting to know Taylor for several weeks, before he later decoupled with Clarke, and Nic was coupled with Cierra, but she left the show a week before the finale after racist posts of hers resurfaced online).

Despite the setbacks, Carthen and Vansteenberghe had at least one thing going for them: America. Since the beginning, many fans have been shipping them together after noticing some chemistry in the first week in the villa.

“We just got pulled into different directions because of our own connection. So it warms my heart that America truly wanted us together since day one and just seeing all the edits and the stories and the tweets and posts, I’m like, oh my gosh, they truly support this,” Carthen tells The Hollywood Reporter.

As they continue to grow their romantic connection outside the villa, revealing that they already have several dates they’re hoping to go on soon, they’re also looking forward to the upcoming reunion on Aug. 25.

While Vansteenberghe says he’s ready “to call people out if there needs to be people called out,” he’s also “excited to grab my popcorn and watch other people call people out.” He predicts that it’s going to be a “cinematic film.”

Below, the season seven runner-ups open up about forming a romantic connection later in the show, the dates they’re hoping to go on outside the villa, what they’re looking forward to the most about the upcoming reunion and more.

I know it’s been only a few days since you left the villa, but have you been able to wrap your heads around all the love and support?

VANSTEENBERGHE I literally think it’s been a couple of days, like two, and combined sleep, I think we’ve had five hours maybe the last two nights, so it’s stressful, but it’s the funnest, most unique thing of our lives. 

CARTHEN It’s been definitely quite the adjustment, just trying to adjust to our new lives and knowing that it would never go back to how it was prior to entering the villa. But honestly, I’ve just been soaking it all in, just enjoying the moment, even if it makes me feel overwhelmed at times. I’m like, you know what, I’m so blessed to be here. I feel like so many people can resonate with me as an individual and us as a unit, so I’m happy. 

What were you thinking when you learned America was rooting for you all as a couple since basically day one in the villa, even though you weren’t together yet?

CARTHEN It’s so crazy because now that we’re on the outside of the villa, I could see why they saw a spark in the beginning. In the moment, I don’t know if we were just oblivious. 

VANSTEENBERGHE There was a lot going on the first two weeks. 

CARTHEN It was was! We just got pulled into different directions because of our own connection. So it warms my heart that America truly wanted us together since day one and just seeing all the edits and the stories and the tweets and posts, I’m like, oh my gosh, they truly support this. I’m so happy we ended up being together and I’m happy that we’re able to give the Nicolandrians a full week of just Nic and I, because I feel like y’all was just bread crumbing it, just taking bits and pieces from challenges, and it just wasn’t giving what the last week gave. 

VANSTEENBERGHE And to the haters, it’s nice to give our story now and they can kind of see what maybe hasn’t been shown.

Nic, why did you wait so long to tell Olandria that you kissed her in the blindfold challenge? And Olandria, did you not wonder who your secret admirer was?

VANSTEENBERGHE I really did apologize to her in my letter at the end, I’m like, “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” But in a way, it was beautiful that we came full circle, and if things had been different, you never know where we could be and so I’m happy where we’re at now. So looking back on it, I’m happy how the process went. 

CARTHEN It makes the edits 10 times better, like leading up to it. I didn’t even realize he looked at me so much when I was doing my own thing. I’m like, “Oh, that’s so cute. You stared at me a lot.” 

VANSTEENBERGHE The “fix your shirt” edit, that’s my favorite (Laughs). 

After both of you shared your first kiss outside of a challenge in “Soul Ties,” the next day, you both agreed that there wasn’t a romantic spark. Now, seeing where you are today, were you all being truthful to yourselves in that moment, or did that romantic connection just take time to develop?

VANSTEENBERGHE A little bit of both. We weren’t being completely honest with ourselves, and at the same time, it did take a little time because my connection was still there and she was coming off of this strong connection. So I think there was just a time to be taken, but at the same time, internally we’re like, “Hm,” but externally we’re like, you know. 

Since both of you were coupled up with completely different people for most of your time in the villa, what does it feel like to leave the villa as a couple and as the runner-ups?

VANSTEENBERGHE For us, it was a blessing to be in second place. I think that the journey we had was so rough and I think when we were considered top four, that was already a win in my book. 

CARTHEN I did not expect to come in second at all. It’s a little weird because when you spend the majority of your experience with someone else because you could see you guys making it all the way. And then when it ended up not playing out like that, I actually felt lost when I lost my connection because I was like, OK, what do I do now? Like I’m gonna continue to build these connections, but that’s all I could do, because at one point I was like, I’m just gonna go home. I don’t feel like love lives here. I don’t feel like anybody that’s supposed to be here for me is here; they’re not in this villa, but I’m so happy that I stayed. I was like, I’m gonna let the island get rid of me, and it just wasn’t meant for me to go. The islands like, “Olandria, we’re not getting rid of you. It’s meant for you to be here.” 

Nic, now that you know why Cierra left the villa, do you plan to have a conversation with her in the real world?

VANSTEENBERGHE Today is only my second day outside of the villa, and I’m still taking the time to process everything. Just getting my phone back in itself was like this whole influx of notifications and life and I’m just taking the time to process it all. 

Olandria, I feel like viewers seemed to really appreciate the honest advice you would give your fellow Islanders. Have you always been someone to offer guidance to your friends and loved ones?

CARTHEN I am literally like a therapist to my friends, to my siblings, to my parents, even, because my parents literally had me in the 10th grade, so we kind of grew up together. So being that strong person for all of them is something that came naturally to me. So I knew once I stepped in the villa, I was going to be that nurturing person. People literally were like, she’s the glue to this place. Even the guys, they’ve expressed like, “It’s so easy to talk to Olandria, it’s so easy to be vulnerable with her. She feels so safe for me,” and that’s all I wanted to do. So I’m happy that that was portrayed to you guys because that’s really who I am. I always want to make people feel seen and feel heard and just so they have somebody. 

What does the future look like for you as a couple, especially since Nic, you live in Florida, and Olandria, you live in Alabama?

VANSTEENBERGHE I think I’ll be moving to L.A. soon and I’m really trying hard to convince Olandria to do the same. 

CARTHEN Yeah, he’s trying really hard. I’m a Southern girl, so it’s kind of hard to leave. 

VANSTEENBERGHE I’m an East Coast boy, but it’d be cool to come out here and explore the West Coast. 

Is there anything you’re dying to do as a couple, and have you planned any real-world dates yet?

VANSTEENBERGHE I think last night was a big one. We went to Disneyland together. That was really really fun! But also I wanna go to Universal together, I wanna go skydiving, I wanna go to a restaurant and just eat food. We haven’t even done that (Laughs). Luckily we have a lot of time, but life’s moving so fast right now, we’re trying to keep up. 

Would either of you change anything about your experiences in the villa?

VANSTEENBERGHE I’m just honestly appreciative of where we’ve ended up, and even though I made some mistakes and even though bad things happen, we build from that. I think I’ve grown a lot of resilience and growth from this journey and I’m just appreciative to be where I’m at right now. 

CARTHEN Although my journey was rough and it had me second-guessing if I should even stay on the show, I look back and I’m just so appreciative of those hard moments. I truly felt like I grew a lot when I was in those uncomfortable positions. I don’t like to ever feel stagnant, so wherever I can grow, I truly love that. … And I truly felt like I walked out of the villa a different person, and I walked out with my person. 

VANSTEENBERGHE This guy (Laughs). 

Nic, I’m sure you’ve seen the thousands of memes and AI-created videos of you by now. Do you find them funny, or do any of them sting a bit?

VANSTEENBERGHE Lowkey, I’m eating it up. I feel like my personality, I love to make fun of myself and I think it’s funny as hell, especially the AI videos. I think me, Ace and Taylor — sorry, Daddy Ace and Taylor — it’s so funny to me. Just keep on going. I love it! I’m eating it up. 

Be careful what you ask for.

VANSTEENBERGHE True. 

CARTHEN: I’s so funny because any and everything Nic does make it to Twitter, and I’m a Twitter girly, so I’m always on it. And I’m like, “Nic, what did you do?” 

VANSTEENBERGHE Sometimes I’ll take a selfie of us and she’ll be like, “Did you post that selfie?” And then I’ll be like, “Maybe?” And then she flips her phone and it’s Twitter and it is the selfie. 

CARTHEN They tell everything. I love it! 

VANSTEENBERGHE They tell on me (Laughs). 

What are you all looking forward to the most about the upcoming reunion, and are you planning to call anyone out?

VANSTEENBERGHE I’m excited to call people out if there needs to be people called out, which there might need to be. But I’m also excited to grab my popcorn and watch other people call people out. So I’m just gonna be chilling on the side eating popcorn, like, I’m actually gonna request popcorn. 

CARTHEN That is so messy! 

VANSTEENBERGHE It’s gonna be a cinematic film and it’s all caught in 4K, so it’s beautiful. 

CARTHEN It might have to be multiple parts, to be honest. I don’t think one episode would do this reunion justice, because everyone’s gonna keep holding these things in until the reunion. 

VANSTEENBERGHE I’m hoping it’s another 35 episodes of just reunion (Laughs). 

CARTHEN Absolutely not. I’m not going for that. 

If you got the opportunity, could you see yourself returning to the Love Island franchise, maybe Beyond the Villa?

VANSTEENBERGHE As far as Beyond the Villa, that sounds really fun. 

CARTHEN I would love to be considered. I know the Nicolandrians truly want that. We need more screen time for Nic and Olandria, so I think they will be very appreciative of it. We definitely would. I feel like that last week was so magical for both of us and one of my favorite days by far. 

VANSTEENBERGHE: Outside the villa, that’d be so fun just to see what we’re really like, the interest that we have outside of the villa, outside of challenges, so I think we’re both hoping. It’d be cool to do. 

Love Island USA season seven is currently streaming on Peacock.