Latest news with #OlandriaCarthen
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Nicolandria' aren't just a cultural phenomenon, they're a beloved part of reality couple history
'Love Island USA' has become an obsession for viewers, with one couple in particular capturing hearts. 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. Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Nicolandria' aren't just a cultural phenomenon, they're a beloved part of reality couple history
Reality entertainment TV shows UKFacebookTweetLink Follow 'Love Island USA' has become an obsession for viewers, with one couple in particular capturing hearts. 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, sponsorship deals 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 cultural conversation, along with the public's obsession. Here are a a few other couples: 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.' 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Olandria Retires Her 'Love Island' Micro-Bikinis for a Skintight Knit Bustier Dress Inspired by Her Final Date Look
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The internet is still mourning the end of Love Island USA Season 7, but thanks to Olandria Carthen, the "acceptance" stage feels just a little bit easier. Sure, the villa now sits empty, but your favorite islanders have been steadily making appearances on TikTok, interviews, and podcasts. Alas, the drama lives on! Most recently, Carthen (alongside her bestie, Chelley Bissainthe) stopped by the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast for an exclusive tell-all. In the villa, Olandria sported itty-bitty bikinis aplenty (the standard Islander uniform), but for Palmer's show, she wore the most full-coverage 'fit we've seen in months. The reality star chose a ribbed sweater dress in ivory with thin spaghetti straps. Through Carthen is squarely back in America, her look's creamy colorway and gold jewelry gave the 'fit a distinctly beachy vibe. Her dress's balconette bodice, meanwhile, was reminiscent of her on-screen ensemble of choice. If you religiously tuned into Love Island, this look is probably bringing you back to one of the most talked-about episodes of the entire season, colloquially known as "Nicolandria Island." In Episode 36, the Alabama native went on her second and final date with Nic Vansteenberghe wearing a one-shoulder white cover-up. The number featured major cut-outs, as well as a loose-knit woven fabric. View Deal Carthen packed many a beachy white dress in her suitcase. Earlier in the season, during Episode 13, Olandria enjoyed a beachside stroll with Jalen in another crocheted number. We've still got a minute until the reunion premieres on Monday, Aug. 25. Until then, you can check her Instagram feed for outfit updates. Shop Dresses Inspired by Olandria View Deal View Deal View Deal View Deal View Deal View Deal
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Love Island USA' Fans Will Be Happy to Know Nic and Olandria Are Taking Their Love Story Outside of the Villa
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Spoilers for all of Love Island USA season 7 ahead. Even if you didn't catch Love Island USA this summer, you probably saw one name all over your feed: Nicolandria. As soon as the season 7 cast arrived in the villa, a subset of the reality TV hit's viewers noticed the surprising chemistry between two of the show's standouts: Alabama native Olandria Carthen, and Florida nurse Nicolas "Nic" Vansteenberghe. Thus, Nicolandria Nation was born; the fandom took over the internet and maybe even the show's producers (and host Ariana Madix) themselves. The two were focused on other people for most of the show, but eventually explored their romantic connection and even made it to the finale, where they came in second to winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales. Now that the Islanders have returned to the real world, fans are clamoring for any news of Nicolandria's future as a couple. Below, read on for a breakdown of everything you need to know about Nic and Olandria's relationship, including whether the pair is still dating post-Love Island. What happened between Nic and Olandria on 'Love Island USA' season 7? On night one in the villa, Olandria Carthen, a 27-year-old elevator/escalator professional from Decatur, Alabama, met Nic Vansteenberghe, a 24-year-old registered nurse from Jacksonville, Florida. During the first-impressions coupling, Olandria chose to kiss both Nic and Taylor Williams before pairing up with Taylor because she liked that he was an Oklahoma cowboy. Though they were in separate couples, the season 7 premiere later ended with a blindfolded kissing challenge, where Nic chose to smooch Olandria, and Olandria picked Nic and Ace Greene (though we can forget about the latter). Though Nicolandria was born in week one, both Olandria and Nic spent the first part of the season building deep bonds with other people. Olandria was very loyal to Taylor from the start, despite their relationship being a very slow burn. She even chose to rekindle her relationship with Taylor after America briefly paired her up with Jalen Brown, a Georgia truck driver and Southern gentleman. Meanwhile, Nic coupled up with Belle-A Walker, but then he instantly formed a connection with bombshell Cierra Ortega. After he chose to couple up with Cierra, the pair remained locked in for several weeks. Then came Casa Amor, the Love Island tradition where the current roster of Islanders are split into two separate villas to meet a whole new set of bombshells. Both Nic and Olandria tried to find a match—Olandria got along with Zak Srakaew, while Nic showed interest in Jaden Duggar—but after 24 hours in Casa, both Olandria and Nic were left single. In very emotional scenes, each of the day ones was "dumped" and said tearful goodbyes to their they were whisked away to a private date! Nic and Olandria were allowed to stay on the show if they coupled up and went back to the main villa. This didn't not feel like pure Nicolandria fan service, but, as Nic pointed out to Olandria, he was attracted to her from the start, before they both explored other connections. The pair even gave their coupling a fair shot, sharing the best kiss of the entire season as they tested whether they had any non-platonic chemistry. Unfortunately, Olandria still had her mind on Taylor, and it didn't help that she was now back in the same villa with him. The day after the kiss, Olandria told Nic that she didn't feel anything romantic with him, and millions of viewers groaned in frustration. At the end of Casa, Nic had a genuinely emotional reunion with Cierra (complete with a fake-out that he was eliminated). Though Cierra had coupled up with Nic's tether Elan Bibas, she chose to resume their coupling; three days later, Cierra and Nic became the season's first closed-off couple. Meanwhile, Taylor stuck with Clarke Carraway, his new connection from Casa, and Olandria was saved by the Islanders to remain in the villa. At first, Taylor kept things open with Olandria, but he was obviously more smitten with Clarke. During the infamous Stand on Business challenge, Olandria called him out for dumping her for Clarke so easily. This was the final straw for Taylor to go all-in on Clarke and cut off any possibility with Olandria. So, with one week left in the villa, Olandria was essentially single, and Nic was in an exclusive Cierra left the villa due to resurfaced racist tweets. With so little time left, the now-singles quickly coupled up and their friends-to-lovers arc, but a week didn't give much time to progress. Still, they both fully leaned into their attraction after sharing a bed, even sharing more kisses outside of challenges, and they were very adorable during the fake-baby challenge. During Family Day, they finally learned how much America was rooting for them to get together from the start of the season. (Nic's mother and sister are the ambassadors of Nicolandria Nation.) For their final date, Nic and Olandria were dropped off on a deserted beach to pick up heartfelt messages-in-a-bottle from loved ones and well-wishers along the shore. Their declarations of love were similarly emotional, as Nic reminded her that he was her secret admirer all along (remember the blindfold kiss?), and they promised to continue exploring their romantic connection outside the villa. They ended the show as season 7's runners-up, with the promise to visit each other's hometowns as soon as possible. (After all, Nic's mom is waiting!) Are Nic and Olandria still together after 'Love Island USA' season 7? Though Nic and Olandria haven't officially become boyfriend and girlfriend (or "become exclusive," as the term girlfriend seemed to be taboo this season), the pair have been attached at the hip since leaving the villa. There are plenty of Instagram and TikTok Live clips going viral that show how cute and flirty they remain, and fans also spotted them on a group date with fellow Islander couples Chelley and Ace and Taylor and Clarke at Disneyland. Nic also opened up about his time on season 7 in a solo appearance on the "Chicks in the Office" podcast. He confirmed that he and Olandria are going at a comfortable pace, enjoying each other's company, and doing "boyfriend and girlfriend things" without putting pressure on themselves. (Some of their current plans include visits to Decatur and Houston, and college football games.) He also said that Olandria is a bit shy and is slowly getting used to being in the public eye, but has been a huge support system for him since leaving the villa. Nic also addressed the Cierra of it all, admitting that he was lost and confused after she left, and he was only given a vague explanation at the time. (Zak previously revealed on TikTok that the Islanders were told that Cierra had "broken some of the policies in [the show's] guidelines.") Nic also revealed that he had considered leaving after she did, but he changed his mind, telling himself, "If whatever is happening in the outside world is something I don't align with, then [leaving] could be perceived as me supporting that." He added that he's still processing what he's seen about Cierra and hasn't decided whether he'll reach out to her. Meanwhile, Cierra briefly shared her thoughts about Nicolandria on the day of the LIUSA finale, when she shared a tribute post for her time on the show. In a comment, she wrote, "And for the #nicolandrianation…they are two people I care deeply for and absolutely adore. I've always wanted nothing but happiness for each of them in this experience. that has never & will never change ❤️🩹." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena Gomez Wears a Villa-Inspired Cult Gaia Dress to Meet the 'Love Island' Season 7 Cast
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. On August 7, my two worlds collided: Selena Gomez met the cast of Love Island Season 7. Mere hours after Rare Beauty's new perfume hit stores, the founder invited my favorite islanders to a luxe launch party in Santa Monica. The dress code? Coupling ceremony-chic. While chatting with Olandria Carthen and Chelley Bissainthe, Gomez shined in a $2,298 mother-of-pearl gown from Cult Gaia, an islander-beloved brand based in L.A. The shimmery number had all the makings of a villa-ready look, including a halter neck and a plunging open back. The layered fringe cascaded from top to bottom, twinkling as the host made her rounds. Gomez paired the LWD with matching double-strap sandals, also from Cult Gaia, which came fitted with a chromatic, bamboo-inspired heel. Silver hoop earrings complemented the "Same Old Love" singer's $498 shoes. View Deal View Deal Carthen and Bissainthe, meanwhile, didn't go full-on villa-core with their looks. Instead, they embraced elegant red carpet attire. Carthen channeled Gomez, the queen of little black dresses, in a mock-neck LBD. Apart from a few bikinis, she rarely wore black on Season 7. By her side, Bissainthe turned heads in a red shoulder-padded gown. The naked shoe trend upped the drama. Given her affinity for neutrals at the villa, this gown marked a major style shift for Bissainthe. In fact, Gomez's look felt more up her alley. If you watch Love Island religiously, you'll remember she left the villa during Epsiode 34 in a similar halterneck number. At this point, Cult Gaia practically has a recurring role on the dating show. During Season 5, Ariana Madix wore a shortened version of Gomez's dress. It featured the same delicate drapery, but in a vivid turquoise. Manifesting a Selena Gomez Season 8 appearance.
