Even if you didn’t binge-watch 'Love Island USA' Season 7 last summer, you’ve probably seen Olandria Carthen pop up on social media.
Though she didn’t win the season, Carthen was the breakout star of the franchise, immediately becoming a fan favorite not just for her style, sparkle, and storyline, but also because of how open and vulnerable she was about representing dark-skinned Black women on reality TV.
When playing TIME’s game of telephone on at Thursday night's TIME100 Creators Party with Julian Shapiro-Barnum, she put it simply, “I broke the standard." See more from the celebration here: https://t.co/q3rbUG5E71
I hope #Olandria knows how much she is loved. It's not just her beauty but the way her genuine spirit shines through. To be as kind and gracious as she has been through so much unnecessary adversity speaks volumes about her unshakable character. She has a fan in me forever.
Need this bad. Not manufactured drama, just the real life hard work, struggles, and success that comes with building this life while juggling love, family, and friends. #thevancarthens
supporting nic & olandria is so fun like she’s in france doing speaking panels at cannes lions, and nic is filming something in between sold out dj shows. i love it here!!! i love my fave couple!!
Olandria stays winning...5min after haters started writing think pieces saying she didn't confirm her relationship, Cosmo dropped that Blind Date interview with her saying she loves that man. Ola is magic and you can't convince me otherwise. #Olandria#OlandriaxCosmopolitan
Olandria sees you speculating about her relationship with Nic Vansteenberghe: “Why does it matter if me and Nic are together? Why are you so invested in people that don’t know you? That part creeps me out. I’m not living for the internet.”
Olandria opens up about why she wants to keep her relationship private here: https://t.co/aEpbQt723G
Olandria continues to elevate herself (and everyone around her). Another reminder that it was always going to be her. I have never been so happy for and proud of a complete stranger, lol. #Olandria
Olandria is headed to Cannes Lions 2026, the world’s largest festival for the creative marketing community! ☀️
Here’s what what we know so far:
• Speaker with United Talent Agency
• A conversation with Willa Bennett, EIC of Cosmopolitan & Seventeen
• A panel with Microsoft