Olandria Carthen is facing criticism from some fans after pushing back against growing curiosity surrounding her relationship with fellow “Love Island USA” star Nic Vansteenberghe. The reality star, who became one of the breakout personalities from 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 believe she owes the public an explanation. “Why is it your business? Are your bills getting paid? Are you touch-deprived? Go get a man; go do something with your life,” she told Cosmopolitan.
She continued by questioning 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 in the comments were like, ‘Oh, I just needed proof that they saw each other this week.’”
“Why are you so invested in people that don’t know you? That part kind of creeps me out, because I’m never that invested in someone’s relationship, and I’m not living 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. This is why I push education as much as I do,” she wrote.
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 want access to you all the time. You want to post normally, but then you see people overanalyze every little thing, and you shut down,” she said. “When it comes to me and Nic, when you really care about something, you keep it very sacred and close to you.”
The reality star also admitted her perspective on celebrity relationships has changed. “When I was younger, I never understood why people in Hollywood kept their love life private, and now I do,” she said. “When you post too much, they think you’re monetizing and faking it. When you don’t post at all, they can’t tell if y’all are together. There’s no winning.”
Olandria Carthen Says Embracing Her ‘Natural Body’ Became One Of Her Most Important Messages
Amid her growing popularity following “Love Island USA,” Olandria has also become increasingly vocal about body confidence and self-acceptance.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Africa, the 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 about 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 of showing that confidence doesn’t come from fitting a certain standard, it comes from accepting and valuing 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 Every Stage Of Life
Olandria also acknowledged that confidence didn’t 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 a lot more layered than that,” she explained. “Behind the scenes, confidence has come from learning to accept myself at every stage of life not just when things are going well, but also when I’m facing uncertainty, rejection or self-doubt.”
Life After ‘Love Island’
Although Olandria finished Season 7 as a runner-up alongside Vansteenberghe, she has emerged as one of the franchise’s biggest success stories. Following 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.
