The cast of “Love Island” season 8 arrived in Fiji in search of love, and they are leaving the island having found it. After six weeks filled with laughter, tears, arguments, and surprising moments, the latest season has officially concluded. During last night’s finale episode, host Ariana Madix crowned a new pair of winners. So, who took home the $100,000 grand prize? Keep reading to find out!
The finale episode featured the final four couples: Carl Schmidt and Aniya Harvey, Sincere Rhea and Melanie Moreno, Zach Georgiou and Kayda Bosse, and Bryce Dettloff and Trinity Tatum.
Only one couple could take home the $100,000 grand prize, though, and based on America’s votes, that couple was Dettloff and Tatum.
Schmidt and Harvey came in second place, followed by Moreno and Rhea, and then Georgiou and Bosse.
After Madix, who has hosted the series since season 6, crowned Dettloff and Tatum the winners, they shared a loving embrace and big kiss as fireworks shot off around them.
“I’m just so overwhelmed,” Tatum said. “I never would’ve expected in a million years that I’d be in this position right now. … I’m grateful that he chose me to be his partner, inside of here and outside.”
Dettloff shared a similar statement, pledging his love for Tatum and expressing excitement about the life they’ll share together outside of the “Love Island” villa.
How Were The Rest Of The ‘Love Island’ Cast Members Feeling As Season 8 Came To A Close?
Tatum was overcome with emotion during the finale, telling her co-stars that she was shocked by the outcome and hadn’t pictured herself having a fairy-tale ending. “It does happen, but it’s rare. … I’m just really glad that I got to meet Bryce. He really makes me happy and makes me feel seen and heard,” she said.
Her season 8 co-stars felt a wave of similar emotions, specifically Schmidt, who said he was emotional after seeing the pair secure the win. “I’m getting so choked up, just like seeing that, it’s just, you know, that’s why we’re here. They deserve it so much,” he said.
Rhea and Moreno, who had the most dramatic storyline of the season, even pledged their love for one another. “I’m so proud of her, I’m so proud of us,” Rhea said. “We’ve come such a long way in our journey here, and I know it doesn’t stop here.”
This ‘Love Island’ Alum Believed Tatum And Dettloff Would Win The Grand Prize
Season 6 alum Kaylor Martin spoke exclusively with The Blast ahead of the season 8 finale and revealed that she, too, was rooting for Tatum and Dettloff.
“I personally love Trinity and Bryce, just give them the $100,000 now,” she said. “They’re my favorite, and I think the public’s favorite as well; they’re just the cutest. They’ve been in the Villa with each other since the jump, and it was awesome to see them grow.”
Season 8 Didn’t Have A Shortage Of Drama
@tmz “Love Island USA” contestant Alannah Keyser is speaking out after being removed from the Peacock dating series following resurfaced footage and social media posts that sparked major backlash online. 🎥 TikTok/alannahkeyser
While the season ended with smiles, there was no shortage of drama. In the middle of the season, one of the show’s cast members, Alannah Keyser, was removed from the show after a past video showing her using a racial slur was shared online.
She addressed the backlash after she was removed from the villa and revealed that the video was six years old and showed her singing the lyrics to a song. Keyser claimed that she no longer used the racial slur and clarified that she “does not support racism” in any way.
Before that, Vasanna Montgomery, a scheduled OG, was removed from the cast before filming even began due to a similar incident. According to The Blast, old clips of her saying the N-word were shared online after the cast announcement, prompting Peacock and NBCUniversal to spring into action.
Will There Be A ‘Love Island’ Reunion?
Even though the season has officially wrapped, it’s not time to say goodbye to the islanders just yet. At the end of the finale episode, Madix revealed that she and Andy Cohen would reunite once again to host the “Love Island” season 8 reunion on Peacock. The sit-down gathering, which is sure to make a splash, will be available on the streaming giant on August 31 at 9 PM ET.
