My Unfiltered Reactions to Love Island USA Season 7
- Richie Allyn
- Jul 18
- 8 min read
I used to find reality TV shows so exciting, especially when they were more authentic and less scripted. I was a fan of shows like America’s Next Top Model, Flavor of Love, Daisy of Love, I Love New York, My Sweet 16, Fear Factor, and practically anything else. The variety in the 2000s was remarkable, and reality TV truly thrived during that era. The last reality show I was deeply engaged with was Basketball Wives (the one featuring Draya Michelle). In college, my roommate was obsessed with the Housewives series, and with only one TV in our dorm room, I had no choice but to watch. It was no surprise that I got hooked. I craved the authenticity and rawness that scripted TV shows couldn't provide.
Occasionally, I find myself rewatching a reality show from the 2000s to relive that nostalgic feeling. Honestly, I believe many people today are seeking that same nostalgia these shows provided. That's why we were all captivated by Love Island USA this summer. My sisters introduced me to the show a few years back. They were fans of the UK version and would watch every love-themed reality show at the time. I caught a few episodes of Love Island occasionally, but I actually preferred Temptation Island and Too Hot To Handle. It was last year that I truly got hooked on Love Island USA, and honestly, it was the ideal season for binge-watching. It evoked the same emotions as my favorite early 2000s reality shows. What made it even better was the relatable cast. There's a big difference when the cast consists of "normal" people rather than reality stars or social media influencers. You know what I mean?
The cast of season 6 truly defined the show. No one stood out as more favored than the rest, unlike the dynamics in season 7. It was quite clear what the production aimed for in season 7, and anyone who disagrees must have been viewing it differently. The participants in season 6 appeared genuine, and it didn’t seem like they were conscious of the cameras. This wasn’t the case with the season 7 cast.
Season 6 became the most viewed Love Island season to date, featuring numerous unforgettable moments: Serena's reaction to Kordell's Casa Amor behavior, Kaylor's frequent outbursts at Aaron, and Rob's dramatic eye roll. With so many iconic scenes, it was difficult not to enjoy it. Was the season 7 cast looking for their own memorable moments?
Let’s get into what really bothered me with season 7 of Love Island USA:
Olandria: I became a fan the moment she crossed my screen. How could you not be, she’s gorgeous. Beyond her looks, she carries herself with so much poise. Plus she has strong morals and boundaries! I also appreciated how naturally she meshed with the other women islanders. My only issue with her was her determination to find her Black cowboy. She was so focused on this one goal, that she closed herself off to other connections. I believe that being too specific in what we’re looking for, can backfire, which happened in her case. She entered the villa looking for her Black cowboy, and then Taylor arrived. She was very clear what she wanted in a partner, but Taylor couldn’t meet her expectations. The relationship was very one-sided-she felt a romantic connection, he didn’t.
Taylor: I don't have many positive things to say about Taylor, but I can say that he played the game a little too well. I don’t believe that he was romantically attracted to Olandria, which is why he had difficulty even meeting the basic expectations with her. He also seemed to crave the approval from the other men in the villa more than I preferred. Rather than being honest with Olandria and telling her he didn't share her feelings, he led her on for weeks until what he truly wanted arrived in the villa.
Chelley: Chelley is another one of my favorites. I adore beautiful women, especially those who are both pretty and kind. She naturally draws attention, which is why she was so sought after. What I admired most about her was how skillfully she navigated the Love Island game. She explored her options while being honest with everyone involved, and I respected her for that. I also completely agree with how she handled both the heart rate and the postcard challenge. Hear me out: The goal of the heart rate challenge is to see how high you can raise your fellow islander’s heart rate, with nothing off limits. Last year, the islanders completed the challenge individually rather than as couples, so naturally, they targeted those they had strong connections with, keeping it cute and respectful. Production was strategic in having this season's islanders perform the challenge as couples, leading everyone to believe their partners were off limits and to focus on those they had strong connections with. Again, everyone kept it respectful until Huda pulled Ace. Chelley reacted as she did because, in my opinion, she noticed Huda was specifically targeting all of Chelley’s connections and then played innocent. Chelley wanted Huda to show the same courtesy everyone extended to her while she was with Jeremiah, but Huda failed to do so. Instead of apologizing immediately after the challenge, Huda sought validation around the villa. She knew she was in the wrong, and despite everyone urging her to apologize, she avoided Chelley. No one claimed Ace was off limits since he and Chelley weren’t exclusive, but based on what we saw and others' reactions, it was clear Huda crossed a line. To make matters worse, she raised Ace’s heart rate the most and seemed proud of it. All she needed to do was apologize.
Ace: I appreciate Ace for Chelley. What I didn't enjoy was the cool guy persona he displayed during the first 20 episodes. In my opinion, it seemed like he wanted Chelley to vie for his attention, just as he was competing for hers with Austin and Chris. Chelley made it clear that her aim wasn't to become the perfect girl for Ace, but simply to be herself. She held her ground, and Ace admired that. They always shared a genuine connection; I just believe they both needed to trust it more. Another point, and some might disagree with me, is that I genuinely think Ace was attracted to Huda but hesitated to admit it because of her connection with Jeremiah. Many seemed to overlook that he kissed Huda during the blindfold challenge and didn't mention it to Jeremiah when everyone revealed who they kissed. He also led the effort to isolate Huda and Jeremiah as a couple. There was too much happening, and Ace focused excessively on Jeremiah and Huda, which made me suspicious. My final point about Ace was his comments on loving a challenge when referring to Chris' interest in Chelley, but then changing his stance once he realized Chelley wanted to continue exploring her connections with both of them. It was odd because he and Chris had discussed and agreed on exploring their connections with Chelley. So, I was confused by his reaction when Chelley kissed someone she clearly stated she had a connection with. Despite all this, I came to like Ace once he and Chelley began concentrating on themselves. The way he asked her to be his girlfriend really won me over. I was disappointed when America sent them home.
Huda: Oh, Miss Huda. I started this season a bit late, and even though my Twitter feed was buzzing with Love Island discussions, I approached this season with an open mind. From the first episode, it was clear that Huda was problematic. She's a beautiful girl, but her insecurities are quite evident. For example, she seemed very insecure about motherhood. I'm not sure if it's a cultural issue; it's 2025, and almost everyone has a child or two or five. There's no shame in that, and if you're on a dating show or dating in real life, being upfront about being a parent should be a priority. I strongly believe in giving people the right to choose, and I think her withholding that information from Jeremiah until she felt she had him under her control was manipulative. The way she conducted conversations was often manipulative: “I’m used to men being obsessed with me. If I was ugly, would that make this better? I’m surprised more men didn’t pull me for a kiss. You made her two pancakes and me one, and gave her a flower, and me none.” I'm not sure how these comments went unnoticed, but I think a significant reason is that her supporters don't view this behavior as problematic. Someone who is secure with themselves doesn't make comments like that. I understand everyone has insecurities, and some hide them better than others, but it bothered me that she was allowed to express herself this way while others faced backlash or were even removed from the island. America showed far too much leniency towards Huda during her connection with Jeremiah, and her fellow islanders did the same, allowing her to constantly portray herself as a victim throughout the season.
Jeremiah: I didn’t like Jeremiah, but I also didn’t not like him. I will say that he had his eyes on the prize until he realized that prize came with some baggage. Him and Huda should have prioritized deeper conversations over superficial ones during their time together. I also think Jeremiah should have been more upfront and honest about his feelings towards Huda once she admitted that she was a mom. It seems he began to pull away after she confided in him, than expressing his uncertainty about parenthood. My last thing, he made a mistake by getting sexually involved with her despite his feelings about her having a child.
Nic: I've been a fan of Nic since his first kiss with Olandria in the opening episode. He has such a vibrant personality, which I absolutely love. However, I believe he could have handled the situation with Belle-A and Cierra a little better. He also should have been more honest with Cierra about being closed off. Initially, they appeared to get along well, but I don't think Nic truly wanted exclusivity as much as Cierra did. One thing I always liked about Nic was despite being coupled up with Cierra, his admiration for Olandria remained strong. He was openly expressive about his admiration for her and I loved it.
Amaya: Amaya entered the villa with confidence, aiming to win over Jeremiah, and I was completely supportive! Her energy was infectious from the moment she arrived. I also appreciated how she respected his connection with Huda and stepped back. I believe she might have been a bit overwhelming for some of the men, and she truly needed someone who accepted her for who she was. Everyone supported Amaya until they realized how intensely she loved (or liked), and then it became an issue: Ace, Austin, and Zack! The change in attitude was surprising, so I fully backed Bryan when he defended her during the postcard challenge. If Nicolandria hadn’t won, Amaya would have been my second choice.
I could really discuss the entire cast if I wanted to because some of them should have been sent home during the first few weeks (sorry Pepe and Iris), but I’ll end it here. I think the goal of this season was to be as problematic as possible. Maybe production was itching for this season to top season 6, I'm not sure. I do know that they purposely painted certain islanders a certain way. Chelley and Olandria don't deserve half the hate they're receiving, especially hate from other Black girls. Now I can see if they were in villa truly being mean girls, which we all know good examples of. The problem is Black women spend so much time nurturing everyone else, that we tend to ignore ourselves in the process. Chelley and Olandria were there for Huda during her crash outs, they supported her, almost coddled her. The moment they decided enough was enough, they were deemed dismissive and rude, when they've been the complete opposite. It really sucks to see the people supporting certain behaviors, yet criticizing others. One thing about me, I'm going to always support my Black girls. That’s first and foremost, especially in today’s society. The society that loves painting Black women in a certain light.
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