If you were watching Love Island USA Season 7 during that chaotic week in June, you probably remember the absolute meltdown on social media. One minute Olandria Carthen is a villa staple, the next, the "Bama Barbie" is literally being told to pack her bags. It felt final. It felt like the season just lost its heart. People were ready to riot on Twitter.
But did Olandria leave Love Island for good?
The answer is both yes and no, which is the kind of reality TV math we’ve come to expect from Peacock. She did get dumped. She did walk out those doors. But as we’ve learned in 2026, looking back at one of the most successful post-show careers in the franchise's history, that "exit" was actually the beginning of her winning.
The Casa Amor Dumping That Wasn't
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of that night because it was wild. During the Casa Amor recoupling, things went south fast for the fan favorite. Zak Srakaew, who Olandria had been vibe-checking, decided to couple up with Amaya Espinal instead.
Since no other bombshells stepped up, Olandria was officially dumped.
It was brutal to watch. She handled it with that Tuskegee-educated poise, but the villa was in literal tears. Then, the twist of the century happened. As Nic Vansteenberghe was also being sent packing from the main villa after Clarke Carraway chose Ace, he walked out to a waiting car.
👉 See also: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
The door opened. Olandria was inside.
The Secret Date and the Big Choice
Basically, they weren't gone. Producers whisked them away to a private spot surrounded by tiki torches for a "secret date." Honestly, it was the best thing that could have happened to them. Away from the cameras and the pressure of the other Islanders, they actually talked.
They were given a choice:
- Leave the island for good as single people.
- Couple up with each other and head back into the villa.
Nic admitted he’d had a crush on Olandria since day one. Olandria, who had been struggling with a slow-burn (and let’s be real, slightly one-sided) situation with Taylor Williams, finally saw a real opening. They chose each other.
They snuck back into the villa in the middle of the night, and the look on Taylor’s face the next morning when he saw them in bed together? Iconic. Pure cinema.
✨ Don't miss: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
Life After the Villa: Where is Olandria Now?
Olandria and Nic didn’t just return; they dominated. They made it all the way to the finale, finishing in second place. While they didn't take home the $100k, they walked away with something way more lucrative: the "Nicolandria" brand.
By late 2025 and moving into 2026, Olandria has transformed from a reality star into a high-fashion powerhouse. Just this month, she was spotted at the 2026 Golden Globes in a semi-sheer gown that basically broke the internet. She’s moved on from selling elevators to walking runways for Sergio Hudson and Alexander Wang.
Are Olandria and Nic still together?
This is the question everyone asks. It's complicated. As of January 2026, they are technically still a couple, but they’ve stepped back from the "content house" lifestyle.
They did a very candid interview with Glamour recently where Olandria explained that the public "nitpicking" was trashing their mental health. People were accusing their relationship of being a PR stunt or obsessed with the fact that they didn't spend Thanksgiving together.
"I don't know how to find a happy medium," she told the magazine. "If we share less, people say we broke up. If we share more, people find flaws."
🔗 Read more: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
Despite the rumors, they’ve been seen together at the Bridgerton Season 4 premiere in Paris. They are playing the long game. Nic is even eyeing a spot on Dancing With the Stars, while Olandria is booked solid with modeling contracts through May.
Why the Olandria Exit Still Matters
The reason people still search for "did Olandria leave Love Island" is that her journey broke the typical reality TV mold. Usually, when a Black woman is "dumped" on these shows, that’s the end of her narrative.
Olandria changed that.
She used the platform to highlight her HBCU roots, spoke at Harvard Business School about authenticity, and became the face of major brands like NYX and Reebok. She didn't just survive the dumping; she used the "exit" to reset her trajectory.
What you should do next:
- Follow her career moves: If you’re a fan of her style, keep an eye on her Instagram (@olandrialashae) for her upcoming Spring/Summer 2026 fashion week appearances.
- Watch the Season 7 Re-runs: If you missed the "car twist" episode, it’s Episode 20 and 21 on Peacock. It’s worth a re-watch just to see the villa’s reaction.
- Support her charity work: She’s been vocal about using her nursing background and platform for diabetes awareness—check out her latest fundraiser links usually found in her bio.
Olandria didn't just leave the island; she outgrew it.