Olandria Carthen is facing criticism from some fans after pushing back against growing curiosity about her relationship with another “Love Island USA” star Nic Vansteenberghe. The reality star, who became one of the breakout personalities of Season 7, addressed ongoing speculation about her romance during a recent interview, but her response quickly sparked debate online.
When asked about speculation surrounding her relationship status with Vansteenberghe, Olandria made it clear she doesn’t think she owes the public an explanation. “Why is it any of your business? Are your bills being paid? Are you out of touch? Go get a man; go do something with your life,” she told Cosmopolitan.
She went on to question why so many fans remain invested in her personal life. “Why does it matter if me and Nic are together?” she asked. “Even when we were at Coachella, people were saying in the comments, ‘Oh, I just needed proof that they saw each other this week.'”
“Why are you so invested in people who don’t know you? That part scares me a little because I’m never that invested in anyone’s relationship and I don’t live for the internet,” she continued. “I don’t always post what people want me to or always do what people want me to do.”
The comments quickly generated backlash across social media, with some viewers arguing that public interest in her relationship comes with the territory of appearing on a dating reality show. And as criticism continued to spread online, Olandria later addressed the situation directly on X. “Some people are dedicated to misunderstanding me on purpose, and that’s okay. That’s why I push education as much as I do,” she wrote.
Why Olandria and Nic keep their relationship private
Despite the setback, Olandria explained that protecting her relationship has become increasingly important since she left the villa.
“It’s important for our own mental health. These people met you on TV so they want access to you all the time. You want to post normally, but then you see people overanalyzing every little thing and you shut down,” she said. “When it comes to me and Nic, when you really care about something, you hold it very sacred and close to you.”
The reality star also admitted that her perspective on celebrity relationships has changed. “When I was younger, I never understood why people in Hollywood kept their love lives private, and I do now,” she said. “When you post too much, they think you’re making money and fake it. When you don’t post at all, they can’t tell if you’re all together. There’s no gain.”
Olandria Carthen says that embracing her ‘natural body’ became one of her most important messages
Amid her growing popularity after “Love Island USA,” Olandria has also become increasingly vocal about body safety and self-acceptance.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Africathe reality star explained why she feels it’s important to use her platform to challenge unrealistic beauty standards and encourage women to embrace themselves as they are.
“Women are often faced with unrealistic expectations of how they should look, and that pressure can make it difficult to feel comfortable in their own skin,” she said. “Publicly embracing my natural body is a way to show that confidence doesn’t come from fitting a certain standard, it comes from accepting and appreciating yourself as you are.”
The 28-year-old said she hopes her message resonates with fans who may be struggling with their own insecurities. “If sharing that message helps even one person feel more comfortable, worthy, or beautiful without changing themselves, then that’s something I’m proud to stand for,” she continued. “I want people to know that authenticity is powerful and that their natural selves are enough.”
How Olandria learned to embrace herself through all stages of life
Olandria also acknowledged that confidence did not come naturally to her and was something she developed over time.
“People often see confidence as something you’re either born with or not, but my journey has been much more layered than that,” she explained. “Behind the scenes, confidence has come from learning to accept myself at all stages of life, not just when things are going well, but also when I’m faced with uncertainty, rejection or self-doubt.”
Life after ‘Love Island’
Although Olandria finished season 7 as runner-up alongside Vansteenberghe, she has emerged as one of the franchise’s biggest success stories. After her time on the show, she signed with United Talent Agency and quickly built a successful modeling and influencer career.
The Alabama native has since appeared in publications including Glamour, Rolling Stone Africa and Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, while landing partnerships with major brands such as Amazon, Yves Saint Laurent, Visa, Microsoft and Hyundai.
