‘Nicolandria' aren't just a cultural phenomenon, they're a beloved part of reality couple history
It's been quite the summer for Olandria Carthen, 27, and Nic Vansteenberghe, 24, a couple who met on the show and have been dubbed 'Nicolandria.'
Not only are they objectively (and ridiculously) attractive, the pair have sparked cultural conversations about interracial relationships and the supportive partnership they model.
If you are one of the few still unfamiliar with 'Love Island USA,' the series is the American offshoot of a popular United Kingdom reality dating show in which a group of men and women live together in a villa with the hopes of finding love and winning a cash prize.
As expected, there is also plenty of drama.
'Nicolandria' were the breakout stars this past season, sparking headlines, and fan accounts.
Their fame comes at a divisive time, especially with regard to issues of race in the United States, and their obvious affection has provided summer joy and distraction to 'Love Island's' audience.
Their popularity has meant immense recognition, along with endorsement deals.
Last week, NYX Professional Makeup teased a collaboration with the couple after Vansteenberghe revealed in an interview that he keeps Carthen's lip combo featuring the brand's gloss in his pocket. Vansteenberghe, who had been modeling Australian swimsuit brand Kulani Kinis since 2021, has his own collection on their site now and features Carthen in the campaigns.
Carthen said she isn't just representing 'Love Island' in these campaigns – she's also representing Black women.
'Before we came into this world, Black women already had a label. They're so quick to label us as angry Black women,' Carthen said, describing how she had to put on a 'strong suit' while in the villa during Andy Cohen's recent 'After Show' on 'Watch What Happens: Live.'
But in her relationship with Vansteenberghe, she said she was able to let him take the wheel, where he helped set up two photoshoots for her to model in Europe. 'The support that I have from this guy is unreal. So, it allows me to be the soft woman that I've always wanted to be,' Carthen described.
It's not the first time that a pair who met via reality television have captivated the zeitgeist. Here are a a few other couples:
Pam Ling and Judd Winick from 'The Real World: San Francisco'
Consider them the O.G.'s of this list.
Pam Ling, who is now a doctor, and Judd Winick, a cartoonist, connected in 1994, when they were both cast members on MTV's 'The Real World: San Francisco,' which was the third installment of the then-nascent reality TV show. While they didn't start dating until after they finished filming, fans were thrilled to learn at the season's reunion show in 1995 that they were a couple.
They married in 2001 and are the parents of two children.
In February 2025, Winick posted in celebration of the 31st anniversary of meeting Ling on the first day of 'The Real World' filming.
'It was my 24th birthday. And it is exactly 31 years ago today that we started filming THE REAL WORLD SAN FRANCISCO. My life would change forever in so many ways,' he wrote on social media. 'But the most important by far is that I met Pam Ling. She is my partner. My hero. And the smartest and bravest and most beautiful and best person I know.'
Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter from 'The Bachelorette'
Heartbreak led to love for the former Rehn.
The physical therapist was a contestant on Season 1 of 'The Bachelor' in 2002, and became the first ever lead of 'The Bachelorette' the following year.
As the reality fairytale goes, former professional football player and firefighter Ryan Sutter won her heart. ABC threw the couple a big wedding in 2003 that millions tuned into.
The parents of a son and daughter now live in Colorado.
Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi and Jionni LaValle from 'Jersey Shore'
Gym, tan, laundry and love.
In the midst of all the partying as a cast member of Season 3 of the hit MTV series 'The Jersey Shore,' Polizzi met entrepreneur LaValle during filming in 2011.
They married in 2014 and are now the parents of three.
Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich from 'Survivor: All Stars'
The now-Amber Mariano not only won 'Survivor: All Stars,' she also got a husband out of it.
She met Rob, a.k.a. 'Boston Rob' Mariano, during filming in 2003 in Panama.
They got engaged during the show's live finale in 2004 and married the following year.
The couple are now the parents of four daughters.
Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton from 'Love Is Blind'
The first season of Netflix's 'Love Is Blind' had one of the most joyous meetings ever.
The premise of the reality dating series revolves around contestants talking with – and ideally falling for – each other sight unseen in the hopes of getting married. (It's worked for some, like this pair.)
The moment data scientist Hamilton sprinted towards content creator and entrepreneur Speed, it was literally all love.
They married on the show in 2018, and are currently expecting their first child.
JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes from 'Celebrity Big Brother UK'
This one was a shocker for Siwa's fans.
The now 22-year-old former child star, singer and dancer was in a relationship with Australian actor Kath Ebbs when she joined the UK reality show earlier this year
Siwa is now dating Hughes, with whom she bonded in the 'Big Brother' house.
To bring it all full circle, he is a former cast member of – wait for it – the UK version of 'Love Island.'
CNN's Ramishah Maruf contributed to this report.
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Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump laughs at Zelensky response to journalist, Australia slams 'unjustified' Israel move, children targeted as crackdown rolls on
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His olive green military-style outfit was called out by suit-wearing Trump, and some reporters in the room appeared to share the opinion a more formal outfit was needed. Zelenskiy's garb at that February meeting featured in a disastrous session with Trump in which the two leaders bickered and the Ukrainian president was escorted out of the White House early, without lunch. On Monday, backed by European allies, Zelensky showed up for his talks with Trump wearing more formal attire, with Trump visibly impressed. A reporter who had asked Zelensky in February why he was not wearing a suit complimented the Ukrainian leader on the attire he chose for his latest visit. "You look fabulous in that suit," the reporter said. Trump chimed in: "I said the same thing". Clearly far more comfortable with proceedings, he managed to get a cheeky last response to the journalist. "You're wearing the same suit," he told the reporter, drawing laughter from the room. "I changed." 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It is the heaviest blow to the bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained by the Albanese government's opposition to large-scale civilian suffering in Gaza. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,' Senator Wong said in a statement. 'This is an unjustified reaction, following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine. 'We will continue to work with partners as we contribute international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.' Read more from NewsWire here. Children targeted in e-bike crackdown Children are the target of Queensland Police's latest e-bike crackdown as momentum to get to grips with their illegal use continues to grow nationally. 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So with the latest effort to get to grips with the issue, we're asking you if you think authorities are doing enough when it comes to the illegal use of e-transport. Have your say below. Trump makes big promise to Ukraine Donald Trump has told President Volodymyr Zelensky the US would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal to end Russia's war there, though the extent of any assistance was not immediately clear. Trump made the pledge during an extraordinary summit at the White House, where he hosted Zelensky and a group of European allies days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and months after a disastrous Oval Office meeting that saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticise the Ukrainian leader. A peace deal appeared far from imminent, however. Just before the talks began, Russia's Foreign Ministry ruled out the deployment of troops from NATO countries to help secure a peace deal, adding complications to Trump's offer. 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Zelenskiy's garb at that February meeting featured in a disastrous session with Trump in which the two leaders bickered and the Ukrainian president was escorted out of the White House early, without lunch. On Monday, backed by European allies, Zelensky showed up for his talks with Trump wearing more formal attire, with Trump visibly impressed. A reporter who had asked Zelensky in February why he was not wearing a suit complimented the Ukrainian leader on the attire he chose for his latest visit. "You look fabulous in that suit," the reporter said. Trump chimed in: "I said the same thing". Clearly far more comfortable with proceedings, he managed to get a cheeky last response to the journalist. "You're wearing the same suit," he told the reporter, drawing laughter from the room. "I changed." You can watch the moment below. New wall along footpath causing drama on the Gold Coast Construction in the front yard of a property on one of the Gold Coast's most exclusive streets is causing quite a stir – but council says the owners have done nothing wrong. The property on Hedges Avenue, which runs along the coastline in Mermaid Beach, has undergone extensive changes recently and developers have opted to build a wall right up to its boundary. But that has severely restricted access for pedestrians, and with added fencing while construction occurs, it has forced people into the road. Councillor Nick Marshall ordered an investigation after receiving multiple complaints from the community but it turns out the owners are well within their rights. 'Neither the builder or the owner have actually done anything wrong because the boundary line for the property is just 80cm off the road and, at some point, the road was widened and the path crossed into the boundaries,' he said, the Gold Coat Bulletin reported. Construction in the front yard of a property on one of the Gold Coast's most exclusive streets is causing quite a stir – but council says the owners have done nothing wrong. The property on Hedges Avenue, which runs along the coastline in Mermaid Beach, has undergone extensive changes recently and developers have opted to build a wall right up to its boundary. But that has severely restricted access for pedestrians, and with added fencing while construction occurs, it has forced people into the road. Councillor Nick Marshall ordered an investigation after receiving multiple complaints from the community but it turns out the owners are well within their rights. 'Neither the builder or the owner have actually done anything wrong because the boundary line for the property is just 80cm off the road and, at some point, the road was widened and the path crossed into the boundaries,' he said, the Gold Coat Bulletin reported. Grim rain record broken for Sydney Well those in Sydney won't be too surprised to learn that its been the wettest August in 27 years. And while it's been a miserable few years in terms of rain, the past six-year period has actually broken an unwanted record. Analysis from the ABC's meteorologist Tom Saunders shows that the period from January 2020 to now is the wettest six-year stretch seen since records began at Sydney's Observatory Hill in 1858 – and there's still four months to go. Saunders says there has been stronger and more frequent winds from the east, bringing more moisture in from the Tasman Sea, and said it could lead to Sydney and other parts of the east coast shifting to wetter climates over time. Well those in Sydney won't be too surprised to learn that its been the wettest August in 27 years. And while it's been a miserable few years in terms of rain, the past six-year period has actually broken an unwanted record. Analysis from the ABC's meteorologist Tom Saunders shows that the period from January 2020 to now is the wettest six-year stretch seen since records began at Sydney's Observatory Hill in 1858 – and there's still four months to go. Saunders says there has been stronger and more frequent winds from the east, bringing more moisture in from the Tasman Sea, and said it could lead to Sydney and other parts of the east coast shifting to wetter climates over time. Flybuys rolls out checkout savings at Bunnings Those with a Flybuys account will be pleased to learn they can now opt to use their points at the checkout in Bunnings. "Whether it's potting mix, power tools, or prepping for a weekend DIY project, members can unlock value when they shop in-store, with every 2,000 points equivalent to $10 off, applied directly at the checkout," Bunnings and Flybuys announced on Tuesday. The option will commence today across Australia following a successful trial in WA, and mirrors a system successfully rolled out by Coles previously. Those with a Flybuys account will be pleased to learn they can now opt to use their points at the checkout in Bunnings. "Whether it's potting mix, power tools, or prepping for a weekend DIY project, members can unlock value when they shop in-store, with every 2,000 points equivalent to $10 off, applied directly at the checkout," Bunnings and Flybuys announced on Tuesday. The option will commence today across Australia following a successful trial in WA, and mirrors a system successfully rolled out by Coles previously. Tragic details after baby found in drain Police have launched a major investigation after a baby's body was discovered inside a stormwater drain in Perth's northern suburbs. Tradesmen cleaning the drains on La Salle Road made the tragic discovery in Alexander Heights at about 1pm on Monday. The baby was 'just days old' and found wrapped in a sheet, The West Australian has reported. A police spokesman said multiple resources had been sent to the location as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. It is understood ambulance crews were initially called but were stood down. Police also issued an emergency alert on Monday evening to all Perth maternity hospitals with concerns for the welfare of the mother. Detectives remained at the scene late on Monday, after police spent the afternoon doorknocking nearby residents. It has been reported a large portion of the road remained blocked off to the public well into Monday evening. - NewsWire Police have launched a major investigation after a baby's body was discovered inside a stormwater drain in Perth's northern suburbs. Tradesmen cleaning the drains on La Salle Road made the tragic discovery in Alexander Heights at about 1pm on Monday. The baby was 'just days old' and found wrapped in a sheet, The West Australian has reported. A police spokesman said multiple resources had been sent to the location as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. It is understood ambulance crews were initially called but were stood down. Police also issued an emergency alert on Monday evening to all Perth maternity hospitals with concerns for the welfare of the mother. Detectives remained at the scene late on Monday, after police spent the afternoon doorknocking nearby residents. It has been reported a large portion of the road remained blocked off to the public well into Monday evening. - NewsWire Australia slams Israel's 'unjustified' visa move Foreign Minister Penny Wong has slammed Israel's decision to revoke visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority as 'unjustified'. Her counterpart in Israel, Gideon Sa'ar, announced the move overnight in response to Australia cancelling a visa for a far-right Israeli MP. It is the heaviest blow to the bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained by the Albanese government's opposition to large-scale civilian suffering in Gaza. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,' Senator Wong said in a statement. 'This is an unjustified reaction, following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine. 'We will continue to work with partners as we contribute international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.' Read more from NewsWire here. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has slammed Israel's decision to revoke visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority as 'unjustified'. Her counterpart in Israel, Gideon Sa'ar, announced the move overnight in response to Australia cancelling a visa for a far-right Israeli MP. It is the heaviest blow to the bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained by the Albanese government's opposition to large-scale civilian suffering in Gaza. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,' Senator Wong said in a statement. 'This is an unjustified reaction, following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine. 'We will continue to work with partners as we contribute international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.' Read more from NewsWire here. Children targeted in e-bike crackdown Children are the target of Queensland Police's latest e-bike crackdown as momentum to get to grips with their illegal use continues to grow nationally. Police in Brisbane have launched Operation X-ray Stamp this month to target the illegal and dangerous use of e-scooters and e-bikes along the city's popular Kedron Brook Bikeway. "With many offences involving children, the operation strongly focuses on educating both children and their parents about their responsibilities and the consequences of allowing their child's illegal use of these devices," Queensland Police said on Tuesday. 'The main issues we see with e-scooters and e-bikes include unlicensed driving of unregistered vehicles, speeding, dangerous driving such as swerving in and out of pedestrians, and illegal modifications," Senior Sergeant Saskia Toohey said. 'Our focus is on education and engagement, but the QPS will take enforcement action, including issuing fines or confiscating non-compliant devices, if necessary, to stop unsafe behaviour." So with the latest effort to get to grips with the issue, we're asking you if you think authorities are doing enough when it comes to the illegal use of e-transport. Have your say below. Children are the target of Queensland Police's latest e-bike crackdown as momentum to get to grips with their illegal use continues to grow nationally. Police in Brisbane have launched Operation X-ray Stamp this month to target the illegal and dangerous use of e-scooters and e-bikes along the city's popular Kedron Brook Bikeway. "With many offences involving children, the operation strongly focuses on educating both children and their parents about their responsibilities and the consequences of allowing their child's illegal use of these devices," Queensland Police said on Tuesday. 'The main issues we see with e-scooters and e-bikes include unlicensed driving of unregistered vehicles, speeding, dangerous driving such as swerving in and out of pedestrians, and illegal modifications," Senior Sergeant Saskia Toohey said. 'Our focus is on education and engagement, but the QPS will take enforcement action, including issuing fines or confiscating non-compliant devices, if necessary, to stop unsafe behaviour." So with the latest effort to get to grips with the issue, we're asking you if you think authorities are doing enough when it comes to the illegal use of e-transport. Have your say below. Trump makes big promise to Ukraine Donald Trump has told President Volodymyr Zelensky the US would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal to end Russia's war there, though the extent of any assistance was not immediately clear. Trump made the pledge during an extraordinary summit at the White House, where he hosted Zelensky and a group of European allies days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and months after a disastrous Oval Office meeting that saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticise the Ukrainian leader. A peace deal appeared far from imminent, however. Just before the talks began, Russia's Foreign Ministry ruled out the deployment of troops from NATO countries to help secure a peace deal, adding complications to Trump's offer. Both Trump and Zelenskiy said they hoped Monday's gathering would eventually lead to three-way talks with Putin. The Kremlin has not yet publicly accepted such a meeting, and it remains to be seen whether Putin, whose forces have been slowly grinding forward in eastern Ukraine, is prepared to sit down with Zelenskiy or make meaningful concessions. Read more here. Donald Trump has told President Volodymyr Zelensky the US would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal to end Russia's war there, though the extent of any assistance was not immediately clear. Trump made the pledge during an extraordinary summit at the White House, where he hosted Zelensky and a group of European allies days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and months after a disastrous Oval Office meeting that saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticise the Ukrainian leader. A peace deal appeared far from imminent, however. Just before the talks began, Russia's Foreign Ministry ruled out the deployment of troops from NATO countries to help secure a peace deal, adding complications to Trump's offer. Both Trump and Zelenskiy said they hoped Monday's gathering would eventually lead to three-way talks with Putin. The Kremlin has not yet publicly accepted such a meeting, and it remains to be seen whether Putin, whose forces have been slowly grinding forward in eastern Ukraine, is prepared to sit down with Zelenskiy or make meaningful concessions. Read more here.
New York Times
26 minutes ago
- New York Times
‘Take a Banana for the Ride' Review: Jeff Ross's Life Makes a Detour
A few weeks after the actor Bob Saget's unexpected death in 2022, a group of his famous friends held a tribute at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Among them was Jim Carrey, who aimed his morbid humor at the insult comic Jeff Ross, one of the evening's hosts. 'The question is, who's next?' Carrey said. 'My money's on Jeff.' Saget died only months after Norm Macdonald. A short while later Gilbert Gottfried died, too. For Ross, then in his mid-50s, that was three pals abruptly gone. His mind turned to mortality, and he made a solo show about it — 'Take a Banana for the Ride,' which opened on Monday night at the Nederlander Theater. Puzzling title, right? It's what Ross's grandfather Jack used to tell him when he was a comic starting out, the two of them living together in New Jersey and Ross heading into Manhattan in the evenings to try to get stage time. 'Pop Jack would always give me a few dollars for the bus and a banana,' Ross says, his affection evident as he mimics his grandfather's gruff, Bronx-inflected voice: ''Champ, take a banana for the ride.'' The logic being, you never know. You might be glad you did. There is plenty of warm reminiscence in this show, and plenty of pain, too, as Ross recounts the sometimes brutal forces that shaped him, including the deaths, in his teens, first of his mother and then of his father. Directed by Stephen Kessler, and with a dramaturgical assist from Seth Barrish, this is a gentle tough-guy show, at once brash and sentimental: soft underbelly exposed, but talons out, too. (If you don't yearn to be insulted, best not to sit in the front row.) For a comedian whose work on Netflix can be found under the categories 'politically incorrect stand-up comedy,' 'raunchy stand-up comedy' and — the pièce de résistance — 'raunchy politically incorrect stand-up comedy,' emotional vulnerability is a departure. But Ross, who performed an earlier iteration of 'Take a Banana' at the New York Comedy Festival in 2023, has seen his life detour recently from its usual course. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
26 minutes ago
- CBS News
Sacramento's historic Crest Theatre navigates canceled shows, frustrated customers
Some people are frustrated and demanding refunds after the shows they had tickets to at the Crest Theatre were abruptly cancelled. The historic theater on K Street in Downtown Sacramento has been running since the 1940s, but owner Bob Emerick says it has been an uphill battle getting things going again since the pandemic. Popular comedians like Lewis Black posted on social media saying they were left scrambling to find a new venue after their show was canceled at the Crest. "Hey we haven't been paid and the people who were supposed to pay us are gone, so they started cancelling shows," said Emerick. Emerick directly responded to Black's post and told CBS News Sacramento that the now former operator, "GD Theatres," was not paying him rent since the fall of 2024. In May 2025, Emerick decided to cut ties with GD Theatres, which left promoters who had booked through GD uncertain if they would be getting paid. So some decided to cancel. Emerick says he lost a lot of money with the operator not paying rent for months. "It's so big, if I think about it, I would get depressed," said Emerick. Emerick has spent over $200,000 over the past few months to make upgrades to the infrastructure at the Crest, including the neon marquee, air conditioning, and sewage issues. He also claimed that GD Theatres went bankrupt. Robert Alvis, VP of GD Theatres, spoke with CBS News Sacramento over the phone and countered that they never went bankrupt. Alvis says that they were majorly in debt and blamed the cost of rent for driving them out. Emerick says they never voiced rent concerns to him and at one time considered buying the theatre from him. Alvis says that the price they were paying for rent was not sustainable. It was a lease that was made during 2019, before the pandemic created major changes. Emerick says that GD Theatres was also trying to operate the restaurant Empress Tavern connected to the Crest Theatre. He believes this may have made it even more difficult for GD, but he claims he did not know the operator was struggling. Alvis says they are doing everything they can to refund people who have tickets to cancelled concerts through Eventbrite. Emerick says he does not have access to Eventbrite since the agreement was with the former operator, GD Theatres. It's why he recommends disputing with your credit card company for a refund for a faster process. Emerick became the owner of the theatre in 2012 and said his children are sixth-generation Sacramentans. His goal is to steward the theatre and restore it to a place where people want to see shows. "My mom used to see movies here for a nickel," Emerick said. Some Sacramentans CBS News Sacramento spoke with are glad to hear the theatre doors are not closing. "It's just great to have more to do around downtown Sac," said Blake Jones, who lives and works in Sacramento. Money problems are creating uncertainty, but Emerick is determined to restore the Crest Theatre to its former glory with operations back in his hands. "We're doing everything we can to keep this historic building alive," said Emerick. "I think we're going to be fine. It's going to take us a while, but I think we're going to be fine." To check to see if a show was cancelled, Emerick recommends going to the Crest Theatre's website. If you still see the show listed on the calendar, it is happening. If not, you can request a refund. Emerick is looking forward to having new acts and shows over the next several months. The attached brick-lined vaulted restaurant, Empress Tavern, is also transitioning into a new business model. Alchemist CDC recently partnered with the Crest to reimagine the space. It is having its grand reopening at the end of September 2025 as an event space where people can host dinners and gatherings.
