Olandria Carthen is receiving criticism from some fans after resisting growing curiosity about her relationship with her colleague “Love Island USA” star Nic Vansteenberghe. The reality star, who became one of Season 7’s breakout personalities, addressed the 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 that she does not believe she owes the public an explanation. “Why is this your business? Are your bills getting paid? Have you been robbed? Go find a man; go do something with your life,” she shared Cosmopolitan.
She continued by asking why so many fans continue to invest in her personal life. “Why does it matter if me and Nic are together?” she asked. “Even when we were at Coachella, people in the comments were like, ‘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’ve never been 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 do and I don’t always do what people want me to do.”
The comments quickly sparked a backlash on social media, with some viewers claiming that the public interest in her relationship comes with appearing on a dating reality show. And as the criticism continued to spread online, Olandria later addressed the situation directly on
Why Olandria and Nic keep their relationship private
Despite the backlash, Olandria explained that protecting her relationship has become increasingly important since leaving the villa.
“It’s important for our own mental health. These people met you on TV, so they always want to have access to you. 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, if you really care about something, you hold it very sacred and close to you.”
The reality star also admitted that her views on celebrity relationships have changed. “When I was younger, I never understood why people in Hollywood kept their love lives private, and now I do,” she said. “If you post too much, they think you’re monetizing and pretending. If you don’t post at all, they can’t tell if you’re all together. There’s no winning.”
Olandria Carthen says embracing her “natural body” became one of her most important messages
Amid her growing popularity post-Love Island USA, Olandria has also become increasingly vocal about body confidence and self-acceptance.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Africathe reality star explained why she believes 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 about how they should look, and that pressure can make it difficult to feel comfortable in their own skin,” she says. “Publicly embracing my natural body is a way to show that self-confidence does not come from conforming to a certain standard, but from accepting and appreciating yourself for who 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, more worthy or more 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 self is enough.”
How Olandria learned to embrace itself at every stage of life
Olandria also acknowledged that self-confidence did not come naturally to her and was something she developed over time.
“People often think of self-confidence as something you’re either born with or you’re not, but my journey was much more layered than that,” she explained. “Behind the scenes, I have gained self-confidence by learning to accept myself at every stage of life, not only when everything is going well, but also when I face uncertainty, rejection or self-doubt.”
Life after ‘Love Island’
Although Olandria season 7 finished second to Vansteenberghe, she has become 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 such as Glamour, Rolling Stone Africa and Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, while forging partnerships with major brands such as Amazon, Yves Saint Laurent, Visa, Microsoft and Hyundai.
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