While “Love Island USA” may be over for the summer, the romantic relationships for the finale couples have not ended.
In an interview with the winners, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, the couple confirmed the status of their relationship, and what the future holds for them outside of the villa.
“I want to meet other members of his family, especially his mommy,” Espinal told Variety over Zoom on Wednesday. “He needs to meet my siblings. Small things that are very impactful and sentimental to both of us, like going on dates or having movie nights in each other’s houses. We want to enjoy each other’s company now that cameras and mics are off.”
But Espinal and Arenales weren’t the only contestants who’ve decided to explore their romantic connection after the show. Unlike the winning couple, Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen were both original islanders who entered the show together. However, their love story didn’t begin until the final episodes of the season.
The couple’s fans, who gave the pair the ship name “Nicolandria,” claimed to recognize their spark from the start of the season. Although they had chemistry during challenges, both were preoccupied with prioritizing their other connections, as Carthen was with Taylor Williams and Vansteenberghe with Cierra Ortega.
At one point in the season, Vansteenberghe and Carthen were at risk of being dumped from the island after being left single during Casa Amor. However, their time on the show didn’t end there, as they were both saved and given an ultimatum: leave the island single or return as a couple. The pair chose the latter, and shared a passionate kiss that altered the trajectory of their connection from friends to lovers. After Williams decided to recouple with Clarke Carraway and Ortega’s abrupt exit, the path was clear for Vansteenberghe and Carthen to explore their brewing romance freely.
After leaving the show, the couple spoke with Variety about dating outside of the villa, navigating online hate and what they plan to address at the reunion.
Nicolandria stans have said they saw the chemistry from the start. How has it been getting your phones back and seeing all the support for your relationship?
Olandria Carthen: All the support is so surreal. Nicolandria stans overshadow anything that’s negative, and I appreciate them. When I’m feeling down, I go back to the tweets and videos that uplift us. I appreciate the people that’s behind us. It’s been helping me navigate my new reality since I left the villa.
Nicolas Vansteenberghe: The support feels good. When you’re inside the villa, you don’t hear too much from the outside world. On our flight home, we were watching 10 hours straight of Nicolandria edits. All we do in our free time is watch them. When we’re feeling down, Nicolandria stands behind us. It’s cool to watch those TikToks and reels. They truly lift our spirits.
On the other hand, some viewers aren’t convinced about how real your connection is. What’s your response to the people who doubt the legitimacy of your relationship?
Nic: We know what the connection we have, and so does our family.
Olandria: They have to understand that whatever’s being put out is one hour of 24 hours. You won’t see every single thing. Nic and I have always had a thing for each other since day one. I kissed him on day one. Just because I didn’t choose to go with him does not mean that spark wasn’t there. It took us some time to get to this point. But that’s what makes this connection so special. We’ve been building up to this point.
We have to talk about the kiss in Soul Ties. It was a big moment for fans.
Nic: Fans call it the kiss that can be heard around the world.
Olandria: In that moment, Nic and I were in two different spaces. Our connections at the time were still open. I was still trying to make amends with Taylor. Nic felt like he owed Cierra so much. In that moment, we didn’t allow ourselves to feel that spark. It could have been there, but we were trying to convince ourselves that it wasn’t because we felt like we owed our people so much. In a sense, I felt guilty with Cierra because I knew in Casa how much she missed Nic. So I felt like, “Oh my gosh, what am I doing?” That was the reason Nic and I had that conversation afterwards, like, “Oh, did you feel something? No. OK. I didn’t either.”
Looking back, was that the moment things shifted from friendship to something more or did that realization come from another moment?
Nic: There was a shift in some feelings, but we didn’t verbally express it. We shut it down because of those strong connections that we had. Internally, another step was taken in what our relationship is now.
Olandria: Before that kiss, all the other kisses we shared were in challenges. That was the only kiss we shared outside of a challenge. So I’m like, “OK, why did that kind of feel good?” But I feel guilty for even saying that. It was just a weird spot that both of us were put in. Once those connections were officially closed, that’s when we could finally return to that initial spark where we felt something and enjoy being together without feeling like we owed anybody anything.
What does continuing this relationship look like for you two now that you’re outside of the villa?
Nic: Continuing this relationship outside of the villa is going on dates. Last night, we went to Disneyland, and that was our first real date outside of the villa. We have more dates lined up, including some travel plans as well.
How was it stepping into the real world together at Disneyland yesterday?
Olandria: We were soaking it all. Nic will be there jumping around and taking pictures. I’m more of the reserved one. When people come up, I’m squeezing Nic’s hand like I’m scared. It’s new for me. I’m just getting used to it.
Nic: It’s unique. It’s something we’re both not used to. I approach it at a different level. I’m more outgoing. I love jumping up and down and screaming with them. I feel like I scream louder than they do.
You’ve had quite the journey when you began with Taylor. From a viewer’s perspective, it seemed like he may have been stringing you along. Do you feel like your connection with Taylor was portrayed accurately?
Olandria: I do not think my connection with Taylor was portrayed accurately at all. If I had known from the beginning that Taylor was not physically attracted to me, I would not be going 10 times as hard. I don’t want anybody to force themselves to be attracted to me. We could have just been friends. They never showed what Taylor was doing to make me feel the way I did. He’s a sweet guy. He remembered everyone’s coffee, tea and breakfast orders. He was everyone’s “dream guy.” He was so nice to all of them. Even when Huda was on the chopping block with him, he wiped her tears with his shirt and set aside his feelings and emotions to ensure she felt safe and reassured in that moment. Taylor has so many great qualities that they probably didn’t show. He was cooking for me constantly and making sure I was good. If I’m cold, he would take his jacket off and put it on me. If my heels were hurting, he would help me take my shoes off, carry my heels for me and always hold my hand everywhere. None of that was put out there. So, it looks like I’m chasing after Taylor, and he doesn’t want me. Even if he weren’t physically attracted to me, Taylor would always compliment me on what I was wearing and make sure I knew I was beautiful. If that wasn’t shown, it’s unfortunate because now it looks like I’m just being thirsty. I know my worth. I’m a beautiful woman. I would never chase what doesn’t want me.
You’ve said that you weren’t upset with Taylor for exploring with Clarke, just how he went about it. How do you wish he had handled the situation differently?
Olandria: I’m not upset that Taylor found a genuine connection. I wish he had been more upfront with me. When Clarke was in the villa, Taylor expressed to me that he still wants to explore both of us. He never said he wasn’t feeling our connection anymore or that he didn’t find me physically attractive. None of those words ever came out of his mouth. He kept saying to me and Chelley that he wanted to explore both and was torn on who to choose. If he knew that he was set on Clarke, he should have just said that up front and told me. I could have put my energy elsewhere rather than splitting my time and energy between him. That’s the part that I was upset with Taylor about.
As a viewer and a Black woman who has watched past seasons, “Love Island” has historically been a tough experience for women of color. How have you personally dealt with the microaggressions and racism that has come your way post-show?
Olandria: It’s difficult. I’m not going to lie. I heard it was even a meme of me being George Floyd and Huda being an officer. That’s a very touchy topic for the Black community. It’s disgusting, to say the least. I don’t understand how you take a love show and make such a comment like that. I was even getting death threats. My family was getting death threats. It shouldn’t be like that at all. I just don’t agree with it. It’s very tough and unfortunate as a Black woman. We feel like we can’t truly speak our minds and express our feelings without being perceived as something different. I was everyone’s go-to person, which is why you saw those tears when I was dumped from Casa. They were saying, “She’s the glue to this family. She always makes sure I feel seen, or she always validates my feelings.” But I was not portrayed as that. I was portrayed as a mean girl. I’m like, “How the hell did you paint me in this light?” I hate it, but I do appreciate many of my friends doing damage control and speaking up for my character.
Nic, you developed a close friendship with Jeremiah, which made it surprising when you, Ace and Taylor decided to vote him out. Can you talk about the conversation behind that decision that viewers didn’t get to see?
Nic: We had to make a group decision, but I want to keep the details of it until the reunion. There’s more to that story than what was being said. I have a lot of love for Jeremiah, whether he knows it or not. That’s all I can say about that.
I want to talk about your past connection with Cierra. Do you plan on reaching out to her for closure since she left so abruptly?
Nic: I’m still taking time to process her whole situation and see where that goes. I’m taking time with Olandria to focus on us and this new life that we’re living.
When she left, you two had just closed off. What made you decide to stay and continue your journey after she left?
Nic: Not knowing about the situation, and if I were to leave that villa, it might have seemed like I would be aligning my values with hers. I had no idea. I was left in the dark. By staying, it worked out great. I was able to continue this connection and build with Olandria.
We have the reunion coming up. Is there any situation or person that you each are looking forward to addressing at the reunion?
Olandria: I don’t know yet. I have to wait until people finish these podcasts. My name comes up pretty often. I don’t know what it’s for. Let me finish going through those podcasts and see who I would like to have this conversation with at the reunion. I don’t have a proper answer to that just yet, but I’m doing my homework right now.
Nic: I would like to address Belle-A and Jeremiah. Those are my top two.
What specifically do you want to address with Belle-A?
Nic: Some people are appearing on podcasts and saying things that could be or have been misconstrued. I know the public had something to say about the situation with her and Cierra. I want to explain where I was coming from when deciding to choose Cierra over her.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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