Honestly, the way reality TV cycles through couples is enough to give anyone whiplash. One minute we're watching Iris Kendall and Pepe Garcia-Gonzalez celebrate a fourth-place finish on Love Island USA Season 7, and the next, they're unfollowing each other faster than you can say "bombshell."
If you've been scrolling through TikTok lately, you've probably seen the chaos. It’s a lot. People are obsessed with what happened to Iris, the 25-year-old influencer from Los Angeles who basically became the "level-headed baddie" of the villa. She came in late, survived the Huda Mustafa drama, and somehow managed to stay classy while everyone else was shouting.
But the real tea isn't just that she and Pepe split. It’s that she’s officially back with her villa ex, TJ Palma.
What Really Happened With Iris Kendall and Pepe?
So, here is the deal. After leaving Fiji, things looked great for Iris and Pepe. They were doing the whole press circuit, looking cozy on Access Hollywood, and promising they were "exclusive." Pepe even told People that they were just trying to make things "as normal as possible."
Normal didn't last long.
By late August 2025, just before the reunion special, fans noticed the dreaded "mutual unfollow." Iris wiped every trace of Pepe from her Instagram. She then posted a sunset with Fleetwood Mac's Silver Springs playing in the background. If you know Stevie Nicks, you know that song is the universal signal for a messy breakup.
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Pepe eventually confirmed the split to a TMZ camera, swearing he didn't cheat. Iris followed up with a statement to E! News saying the connection had ended and it was a "difficult transition."
But let's be real—the transition was pretty fast.
The TJ Palma Reunion: It’s Not Just a Rumor Anymore
While everyone was busy dissecting the Pepe breakup, Iris was already being spotted in New York City with TJ. You remember TJ, right? The entrepreneur who was dumped from the island way too early, leaving Iris to couple up with Pepe just to survive the game.
They weren't just "grabbing coffee." They were spotted at New York Fashion Week holding hands.
Then came the Malibu photos. On November 24, 2025, Iris finally dropped the bomb on Instagram. She posted a carousel of them sitting on a vintage 1959 Chevy Corvette in front of a Malibu sunset. The caption? "Officially coupled up."
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It turns out their connection in the villa was way deeper than the editors showed us. Iris admitted she actually tried to leave the show when TJ was voted off. She didn't, obviously, but she told Swooon that her first meeting with TJ after the show was supposed to be for "closure."
Clearly, they didn't get much closing done.
Who Is Iris Kendall Outside the Villa?
Before she was a reality star, Iris was a business owner. She ran a spray-tan company called 310 Glo in Beverly Hills. That business seems to be on the back burner now that her influencer career is exploding.
Her background is actually super interesting—she’s Chilean and Ukrainian (and Jewish on her mom’s side). Her mom actually had to jump into the Reddit comments to clarify her heritage because people were arguing about it. Classic Reddit.
Quick Stats on Iris:
- Age: 25
- Hometown: Calabasas/Los Angeles
- Zodiac: Not officially confirmed, but she gives major air or earth sign energy with that calm demeanor.
- Career: Influencer, content creator, and aspiring Victoria’s Secret model.
Why Fans Are Obsessed With Her "Emotional Maturity"
Most people on Love Island are there to start fires. Iris was the one trying to put them out.
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When she first arrived as a bombshell, she had eyes for Jeremiah Brown. This immediately set off Huda Mustafa, which is basically like walking into a hurricane with a toothpick. But instead of screaming back, Iris just... listened? It was weird for reality TV.
Viewers on the Love Island USA subreddit started calling her a "girls' girl." She managed to turn her rivals into friends, eventually becoming close with both Huda and Hannah Fields.
What’s Next for Iris and TJ?
If you want to see how this actually plays out, you don’t have to wait for Season 8. Both Iris and TJ have been cast for Love Island: Beyond the Villa Season 2 on Peacock.
They are filming right now alongside other Season 7 favorites like Amaya (Papaya) Espinal and Jeremiah. It looks like the show will follow them as they navigate a real-world relationship between Florida (where TJ lives) and LA.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Follow the Right Accounts: If you want the unfiltered updates, watch Iris’s TikTok lives. She’s way more candid there than on her curated Instagram feed.
- Watch the Reunion: If you haven’t seen the Season 7 reunion on Peacock yet, go back and watch Iris’s face during the Pepe segments. The "body language experts" on YouTube had a field day with that one.
- Keep an Eye on New York Fashion Week: Iris has made it clear she wants to model for Victoria's Secret. Expect to see her at more high-profile fashion events in 2026.
The era of Iris and Pepe is officially dead. Long live Iris and TJ—the couple that proved sometimes the first spark is the one that actually sticks.