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    Love Island’s Nic Reveals Surprising Update on Cast Friendships

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    Watch: Love Island’s Nic Vansteenberghe Reveals Surprising Update on Cast Friendships

    Nic Vansteenberghe has got a text—but it might not be from who you think.

    The Love Island USA alum revealed that out of his season seven castmates, he’s still close with three friends: Pepe Garcia Gonzalez, Chris Seeley and winnerBryan Arenales,who was recently slammed by ex Amaya Espinal for allegedly dumping her over text after they slept together for the first time.

    And, “obviously,” his girlfriend Olandria Carthen, as Nic quipped during an exclusive interview with E! News’ Erin Lim Rhodes at the CELSIUS Soccer Classic at Skyline Pitch in Los Angeles. 

    Indeed, Nic and Olandria have been dating for nearly a year after meeting on the Peacock dating show. But choosing when to celebrate their first anniversary has become a rather puzzling dilemma, considering they were filming in Fiji without their phones all summer and only coupled up toward the end of the series.

    “I think we count our one year, maybe, the first challenge we’ll count it,” Nic said. “I don’t think we knew what day it was.”

    As the 25-year-old put it, “Maybe we’ll have, like, four one-years.”

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    Love Island: Beyond the Villa Season 2 Cast Photos

    Though Nic is keeping tight-lipped on how they’re celebrating the milestone, he joked of any gifts he’ll be getting for Olandria: “She gets what she wants.”

    While Nic and Olandria were able to find a connection on Love Island, he does have a word of warning for the contestants of season eight, which kicks off June 2.

    “Make sure your family is ready for it—not just yourself,” he told E!. “They’re way more involved than you would think. Also your friends from home.”

    Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for CELSIUS

    Plus, he stressed the importance of prioritizing self-care before heading into the villa, adding, “Get some therapy sessions in. Get some gym sessions in. You’re in for a ride, especially after this last season, so hopefully it’s bigger and better.”

    After all, his success on Love Island has led to new opportunities and brand deals, including his work with CELSIUS as the drink brand launches their new ELECTRIC VIBE, a limited-edition Sparkling Tropical Freeze flavor. And for Nic, the flavor is fitting. As he put it, “I wake up every morning feeling electric.”

    He’s also looking forward to more TV appearances as well. Now that fellow Love Island alum Maura Higgins is joining Dancing With the Stars for season 35, he’s hoping for a phone call from ABC as well.

    “I’m answering yes, yes!” he added. “For sure.”

    Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

    Read on for a check in with more couples from the Love Island franchise.

    Ricky Vigil M/GC Images

    Ellie Brown & Charlie Brake: SplitThe Love Island UK season four contestants may have left the villa together in 2018, but their romance fizzled out not long after returning from Mallorca. They have since gone their separate ways.Ellie announced in July 2025 that she had gotten engaged to her boyfriend, whose name she has not publicly announced, one year after debuting their relationship. 

    Dave Benett/WireImage

    Uma Jammen & Wil Anderson: EngagedThe couple first met on Love Island UK‘s season 11, with Uma leaving on day 37 with Wil when he was dumped from the island after she was chosen by Reuben Collins.In July 2025, one year after leaving together, Uma announced that she and Wil were engaged. She wrote on Instagram with her ring on display, “We’ve been sitting on a bad boy piece of information.”For the reality star, staying on Love Island after Wil’s exit didn’t seem like an option.”There was no question. I didn’t have to think about it at all,” she said of her decision on the Not My Bagg podcast. “I want to be with Wil.””I’ve met someone,” she explained to hosts Lisa Baggs and Joe Baggs. “It takes me so long to get to the position I was with Wil, to be so comfortable with someone. There were two weeks left. What was I gonna do? Just sit there and fake a new connection? I’d rather just be honest.”

    Ben Symons/Peacock

    Amaya Espinal & Bryan Arenales: SplitAmaya and Bryan sparked breakup rumors by unfollowing each other on Instagram hours before the season seven reunion aired in August 2025. Sadly, two days later, the self-proclaimed sensitive gangster confirmed she and Bryan had parted ways.“After leaving the villa, it became very clear that we were on two different journeys,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “Our visions didn’t align and relationships are suppose to be a team sport. You don’t have to drink the whole sea to know it’s salty.”

    Ben Symons/Peacock

    Olandria Carthen & Nic Vansteenberghe: Still TogetherOlandria and Nic were the only pair to both arrive on day one and make it to the finale. However, they kept fans on their toes as they explored other connections and flipped back and forth between being just friends and recoupling.”I really think the foundation to a great relationship is always friendship when there is no expectations and no pressure—just two individuals learning each other over time,” Olandria said during the finale. “I came to realize something: The person who has been standing beside you through it all may actually be the person you were meant to find.”And the runners-up couldn’t help but wonder if they were meant to be all along.”I think the beautiful part of our relationship stemmed from missing these signs,” Nic added. “We began this journey deeply involved with the other connections, but I always was your secret admirer. As time went on, we both were faced with obstacles that neither of us could have predicted. We were lost, confused and even removed from the villa. When you opened the car door while I left the villa a sign finally appeared on the highway we call life. We were given the opportunity to couple up and grow a bond between us that we didn’t know was there yet.”As for what the future holds for #NicOlandria?”We’ve always been believers in taking our time with things and not let outside pressure dictate our relationship,” Nic explained at the reunion. “We’re going on trips together. We have future dates planned.”

    Ben Symons/Peacock

    Iris Kendall & Pepe Garcia Gonzalez: SplitWhile Iris and Pepe’s romantic connection didn’t form until near the end of the season, they expressed how this allowed them to create a relationship built on friendship. “My Love Island journey has been incredible,” Iris said during the finale, “because it started by coming in with you and having you as my closest friend to now leaving here with you as someone I’m excited to continue to get to know in the real world.”And the fourth place finishers were excited to see what’s next, noting at the reunion they were exclusive. But split speculation also spread ahead of the episode after fans noticed Iris and Pepe unfollowed each on Instagram.He confirmed their breakup on Aug. 28. 

    Aliah Anderson/WireImage

    Kordell Beckham & Serena Page: Still TogetherAmong Kordell and Serena’s many long-term goals? Sticking together.And the Love Island USA season six winners are still very much in love.”Happiest of birthdays to the literal man of my dreams,” Serena wrote on Instagram for Kordell’s birthday in May 2025, “almost 1 year later and I cannot believe how obsessed I still am with you. Its so amazing to watch you grow and your dreams come true in real time, I am so so proud of the man you are growing into more and more everyday and cannot wait to spend more birthdays with you!! Thank you for being the best boyfriend, partner, friend, and making me the happiest girl ever.”

    Instagram / Leah Kateb

    Leah Kateb & Miguel Harichi: Still TogetherAnother couple that’s lasted beyond the villas? Love Island USA‘s season six runner-ups Leah and Miguel. And as he put it, “The days just keep getting better.” Needless to say, she agrees.”You feel like a hug of sunshine, all the time every time,” Leah wrote on Instagram for Miguel’s birthday in March 2025. “I will forever be grateful that you came into my life and brought nothing but love, peace, happiness, safety, and pure joy into it. My baby who could even make watching paint dry fun. I couldn’t have dreamt you up better myself, I really thought men like you were extinct lol. Or only in movies. You have the purest soul I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, with the best intentions towards everything and everyone.”

    Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images

    JaNa Craig & Kenny Rodriguez: SplitAfter JaNa and Kenny came in third place on Love Island USA season six in 2024, they had broken up in July 2025 after one year together, a source confirmed to E! News.The news came as a shock to fans, who adored their sweet tributes to one another online.”My Pookie Bear. My Love. My Heart. My Nay Nay,” he wrote on Instagram for her birthday December 2024. “It’s been a blessing to be by your side these last few months and to watch you take on the world.” “Your smile lights up every room that you walk into,” he continued. “No matter how bright the spotlight shines on you, you never fail to make others feel loved, cared for and appreciated. You are just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside and that explains why you always catch me staring and looking so dumbfounded. I am so lucky to have you in my life.”Added Jana for Kenny’s birthday in February 2025, “Youre not just my best friend, youre my safe place. I love doing life with you. Your love gives me the courage to be myself around you and for that, Im forever thankful.”

    Instagram / Joshua Ritchie

    Josh Ritchie & Sophie Piper: Still TogetherBoth Josh and Sophie had tried to find their matches on Love Island before (he came in third place with Lauren Richardson in 2015; she checked into the villas five years later). But the stars seemed to align when they appeared on Love Island: All Stars in 2024, finishing third.”Just the beginning,” she wrote on Instagram that February. “Thank you so much to everyone that has supported us throughout our journey honestly means the world.”And she was correct that it was only the start of their forever journey.”Our first year anniversary,” Josh wrote on Instagram in March 2025. “I don’t know how you have put up with me for this long. You have a life time of this so I hope you no what you have a signed up for. Love you always.”

    Matt Frost/ITV/Shutterstock

    Millie Court & Liam Reardon: Back TogetherThe 2021 Love Island UK champs brought their love story out of the villa and into the real world in August 2021, after their loyalty was put to the test in Casa Amor during season seven. They announced their breakup on social media in July 2022, but reconciled almost a year later. Today, Millie and Liam continue to provide glimpses into their life together on social media—posting about their travels, workouts and dates—and on their eponymous podcast.

    Instagram / Johnny Middlebrooks

    Cely Vazquez & Johnny Middlebrooks: SplitWhile the pair found love on season two of Love Island USA, which aired in summer 2020, they announced their breakup the following January.

    Instagram/Elizabeth Weber

    Zac Mirabelli & Elizabeth Weber: SplitThe winners of the inaugural season of Love Island USA (who paired up on day one and never parted) dated for several months before calling it quits at the end of 2019. “The breakup was mutual and we have left on amicable terms,” Zac wrote on his Instagram Stories. “We simply wanted different things.”In her own statement, Elizabeth added, “Although I had wished things could’ve turned out differently life doesn’t always work out the way we could’ve hoped sometimes.”However, she found love again—getting engaged to Gianni Settino in December 2024.”For everyone watching Love Island USA right now,” she captioned a July 2024 Instagram post, “yes I have recoupled 5 years later.”

    Instagram/Dylan Curry

    Dylan Curry & Alex Stewart: SplitThe season 1 Love Island USA runners-up dated for several months before calling it quits in late November 2019, posting statements on their respective Instagram Stories. “Alex and I are no longer together,” the lacrosse coach shared. “Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.”Alex explained that “heartbreak is hard,” adding, “Our story was a Fairytale romance for me, but sometimes things just don’t work out.”

    Instagram/Ray Gantt

    Caro Viee & Ray Gantt: SplitWhile they didn’t win, the fan-favorite Love Island USA couple tried making long-distance work, traveling to spend the holidays together. However, Caro publicly announced that she ended the relationship in a July 2020 YouTube video. “I just don’t feel like he was committed to the relationship like I was,” she said. “So that’s why I decided to break up with him.”But in October 2023, Caro dropped an exciting new bombshell: She wed Rene Lacad the month before. And that December, she revealed that she and her new husband were expecting a baby girl. Their daughter Amina arrived in April 2024.”Note to Amina: Thank you for making me your mama,” she wrote on Instagram in a Mother’s Day 2025 post. “Nothing in this life tops that.”

    Instagram/Cashel Barnett

    Kyra Green & Cashel Barnett: SplitThe delivered one of the U.S. version’s most unexpected couplings, with Kyra choosing to leave the show to see if she still had a shot with Cashel after sending him home…only to find out he’d already returned. But, unfortunately, the musically inclined couple split in October 2019.By the end of November, they had reconciled. However, Kyra and Cashel ended their relationship for good in February 2020.”We had a good go,” he said on the #NoFilter podcast. “I think we’re just in different places in our lives…I think she blocked my number, to be honest.”Kyra went on to appear on other shows including Match Me If You Can in 2021, The Challenge: USA in 2022 (which Cashel also competed on) and Love Island Games in 2023. But she ended up finding her match off-camera with dental student and former basektball player Tal Sahar in 2024.In May 2025, Cashel was jailed in Utah on charges of domestic violence and assault, according to online records. The following month, new charges of assault and domestic violence were filed against him.According to NBC News, Cashel denied the allegations, with his attorney Andrew K. Deesing telling the outlet, “My client and his family are enduring an incredibly difficult time, and we hope that his privacy will be respected as we work diligently to defend his name and reputation. Obviously, we’re in the very early stages of this and don’t have any further comment at this time.”

    Instagram/Weston Richey

    Weston Richey & Emily Salch: SplitDespite the other couples in the villa and most of America not fully believing in their future, season one USA pair Weston and Emily managed to date IRL for a bit before going their separate ways.”Weston and I are no longer together,” she confirmed in a May 2020 YouTube video. “I am single. Basically we kind of went through a roller coaster of a journey together…. It was really hard with distance especially because I was in college.”

    Instagram/Jess Harding

    Jess Harding & Sammy Root: SplitThe Love Island UK couple walked away from the villa as winners on season 10, but called it quits just two months later in October 2023.According to Sammy, the breakup came as a “total shock.””We had a private conversation but this was left up in the air as Jess is still away and we haven’t had a chance to speak in person,” he wrote in an Instagram Story at the time. “To be totally clear—I at least wanted to see if our relationship could be saved and felt this would be the respectful way forward.”Sammy added, “Despite how all this has played out today, I think Jess is an amazing woman and genuinely wish her the best.”In early 2025, Sammy appeared on Love Island: All Stars, where he formed a relationship with Elma Pazar. But in June 2025, the two sparked split rumors.

    Instagram/Paige Turley

    Finley Tapp & Paige Turley: SplitThe winners of the first-ever winter season of Love Island coupled up almost immediately, staying together despite all of the obstacles the villa presented.They moved in together in 2020, but called it quits three years later. ‘We’re still really good friends,” Paige shared during a June 2023 appearance on Love Island: After Sun. “I think we drifted apart.”But in August 2024, Finley debuted a new romance on Instagram. And while the couple initially kept her identity private, The Sun confirmed in June 2025 he’s dating Jess Hale.

    Instagram/Luke Trotman

    Luke Trotman & Siânnise Fudge: SplitWinter Love Island‘s 2020 runner-ups Siânnise and Luke found love in the villa and went on to date for about a year before breaking up in November 2021.However, he’s since found love again and got engaged to Chelsea Menna less than a year later in 2022.

    Instagram/Callum Jones

    Callum Jones & Molly Smith: SplitThe scaffolder became one of the most hated men in the U.K. when he dumped fan-favorite Shaughna Phillips for Molly during his stay at Casa Amor, with the public eventually voting the pair out of the villa.And while the two stayed together for three years off the island, they went their separate ways in 2023.The following year, they both went on Love Island: All Stars. Molly coupled up with Tom Clare, and they were declared the winners of the season. Meanwhile, Callum formed a romance with Jess Gale and they were the runners-up. And while Callum and Jess split later in 2024 (with him now dating Yasmin Deplidge), Molly and Tom are still going strong.

    Instagram/Nas Majeed

    Nas Majeed & Eva Zapico: SplitWhile he started off season six as a fan-favorite, Nas ended up losing support after breaking things off with Demi Jones to be with Eva post-Casa Amor.Nas and Eva, however, remained together despite being voted off the show, and they made their relationship official in July 2020. Though they sparked engagement rumors in August 2023, when Eva was spotted with a ring on that finger, Nas confirmed in March 2024 that the pair had parted ways.”Unfortunately, Eva and I have decided to end our relationship,” Nas wrote on Instagram Story. “There is no bad blood or wrong doing—it was a mutual and completely amicable decision.”He added, “We tried to work things out over the past couple of months but decided this was for the best, and are both at peace with the situation.”Nas went on to appear on Love Island: All Stars in early 2025, but ultimately left the villas solo.

    Instagram/Luke Abbott

    Luke Mabbott & Demi Jones: SplitOne of the winter season’s most unexpected couples came in third place, though they split a couple of months after leaving the villa.”We’ve completely called it off now. I think it was brought about more from his behalf than mine, but we’re mutual and friendly,” Demi told MailOnline in June 2020. “With lockdown, it drove us apart and we live so far away from each other. I feel like there wasn’t a lot of effort made with communication, so we drifted as a result.”Luke has since coupled up with season five’s blonde bombshell Lucie Donlan, with the pair confirming their romance in July 2020. They got engaged the following year.As for Demi, she appeared on Love Island: All Stars in 2024, where she met Luis Morrison. However, they broke up later that year.

    Instagram/Jessica Gale

    Ched Uzor & Jess Gale: SplitSeason six’s low-key pair came in fourth place, going on to date for several months before breaking up in June 2020. “To confirm, myself and Ched have split, we are still good friends and I wish him all the best x,” Jess informed her Instagram followers. “Thanks for all the support you have given us since the villa.”

    Instagram/Amber Gill

    Amber Gill & Greg O’Shea: SplitSigh, this one stung. Don’t you just hate it when the winning couple is one of the first ones to split? After getting together just weeks before the finale, with Greg being one of the last Islanders to join the villa, the fan-favorite pair managed to win season five. But they broke up just weeks later. After some mild controversy and back and forth between the couple over how exactly the split went down (apparently Greg, a rugby player based in Ireland, ended it via text), Amber said on Loose Women, “I think the careers and the distance was always a factor. It was always something that we knew about, so I don’t know what changed. I kind of wanted to make it work, but it is what it is, really.”As for Greg, he defended himself, saying on RTE’s The Late Late Show, “She lives in the UK, every brand wants to work with her, every event wants her there, of course, she deserves all of it and I decided to come back to Ireland and do my thing here.”However, he found a new connection and kicked off 2025 by proposing to his love Jeanni Mulder.

    Instagram/Molly-Mae Hague

    Molly-Mae Hague & Tommy Fury: Back TogetherAfter a dramatic start to their romance, the Instagram influencer and the boxer quickly became season five’s most solid couple…which was why it was so surprising when they came in second.They got engaged in July 2024—exactly six months after the birth of their daughter Bambi—but Molly-Mae dropped a breakup bombshell in August 2024.”I’m extremely upset to announce that mine and Tommy’s relationship has come to an end,” she shared on Instagram Stories. “I will forever be grateful for the most important thing to me, now and always, my beautiful daughter. Without us, there would be no her. She will always be my priority.”But on a May 2025 episode of her Amazon Prime series Molly-Mae: Behind It All, she revealed that she and Tommy were giving their relationship another chance.

    Instagram/Curtis Pritchard

    Curtis Pritchard & Maura Higgins: SplitArguably one of season five’s most polarizing pairs after enduring their fair share of drama, the fourth-place finishers proved their doubters wrong by taking their relationship beyond the villas in 2019.”I think trust one another, don’t believe everything you read in the press and one main thing: Don’t let fame get to your head,” Maura said on UK’s This Morning of how they’ve made their relationship work. “You just need to stay grounded.”However, the pair broke up in March 2020. “Curtis and I have made the decision to separate,” Maura wrote in a note posted to her Instagram Stories. “We enjoyed a great experience from our time in the villa and want to thank everyone for supporting our relationship.”But that wasn’t the end of Curtis’ Love Island journey. After a short run on Love Island: Games in 2023, he appeared on Love Island: All Stars two years later, where he and Ekin-Su came in third place. However, the two called it quits a few months later.”I wanted to share that Curtis and I have decided to go our separate ways,” Ekin-Su announced in a May 2025 Instagram post, per People. “It’s been a really tough decision, but one made with a lot of love and respect for one another,” she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories. “He’s an incredible person and I’ll always cherish the memories we made both in and out of the villa.”

    Dave Benett/WireImage

    Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu & Davide Sanclimenti: SplitNearly a year after Ekin-Su and Davide were declared the winners of Love Island season eight in 2022, he announced they’d parted ways.”@ekinsuofficial & I are no longer together,” he wrote on Instagram in June 2023 “I am grateful for the memories and opportunities we shared together and I wish her nothing but the best. I would like for everybody to respect this decision during this difficult time. I will continue to support Ekin in anyway possible.”Not long after, the pair rekindled their romance. However, they ended up calling it quits again.”The last 18-months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, just like every relationship,” Ekin-Su wrote on Instagram in January 2024, per screenshots shared by Cosmopolitan UK. “Davide and I both wanted to make this work as we cared deeply for each other. Unfortunately I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and to go our separate ways. Breakups are never easy. For any couple. And we hope that our privacy will be respected. I enjoyed our time together and the memories we made.”Both opened their hearts up to love again. In the summer of 2024, Davide began dating Iris Au. Meanwhile, Ekin-Su briefly dated Curtis outside the villas after they placed third on Love Island: All Stars in early 2025. However, they split months later.

    Instagram/Ovie Soko

    Ovie Soko & India Reynolds: SplitWhile they got together later than a majority of the couples in the villa (with the fan-favorite Ovie making his debut during the infamous Casa Amor episodes and India joining even later), the pair made it to the finals, coming in third place for season five in 2019.However, the professional basketball player and the model quietly parted ways later that year. “Obviously it’s difficult, but any break up is difficult,” she told the MailOnline. “It’s even more difficult when it’s in front of the rest of the world, but I’ll be fine. I’m lucky I’ve got a really close group of girlfriends, they’ve been really looking after me.”In early 2025, India appeared on Love Island: All Stars but left the show single.

    Instagram/Joe Garratt

    Lucie Donlan & Joe Garratt: SplitLucie and Joe first paired up on day one of season five. But when he was voted out of the villa, she quickly moved on by dating multiple other men (and admitting to having serious feelings for a taken Tommy). So it was quite the surprise for fans when they revealed they were dating after their season ended.But just like their initial romance, the surfer and the sandwich maker’s second attempt fizzled out, with the couple splitting in early December 2019.And while Lucie is now engaged to season six’s Luke, Joe (despite shooting his shot on All Stars in 2024) seems to be enjoying the single life.

    Instagram/Belle Hassan

    Anton Danyluk & Belle Hassan: SplitWhile they were the second season five couple to call it quits soon after their time in the villa came to an end, Anton and Belle remained friends, though he ruled out any chance of a romantic rekindling.”No, definitely not, it’s just not that type of relationship,” the fitness app creator told Mail Online. “We’re so friendly now, it would be like dating your sister, effectively. It’s not that kind of relationship anymore.”In 2024, Anton appeared on Love Island: All Stars, where he came in fifth with Georgia Harrison. However, they soon split.

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    View More Photos From Love Island Relationship Status Check: Which Couples Are Still Together?

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