You probably know him better as "Pepe." When Jose Garcia walked into the villa during Season 7 of Love Island USA, he wasn't just another guy looking for a tan and a 15-minute window of fame. He was a 6'3" former pro basketball player with a Spanish-Cuban background and a vibe that immediately disrupted the status quo.
Honestly, the way he entered as a bombshell on Day 9 felt like a shift in the villa's gravity. He wasn't loud or desperate for attention, but he had this calm confidence that made the other guys visibly nervous. People keep asking what happened to him after the cameras stopped rolling, and the answer is actually way more interesting than the typical "he became an influencer" story.
From the Court to the Villa
Before he was Jose Garcia of Love Island, he was Jose the point guard. He played at Los Alamitos and Cal State Fullerton before taking his game overseas. We're talking professional leagues in Spain and South America. That athlete mindset doesn't just disappear. It’s why he approached the villa like a game—calculating, steady, and occasionally ruthless.
He didn't just stumble into reality TV. He was already a business owner, running Pro Gainz Training out of Los Angeles. Most islanders quit their jobs the second they get the casting call. Jose didn't. He just put the gym on hold.
His journey in the villa was a rollercoaster, and not the fun kind. He started with Hannah Fields after the public voted them together. It looked solid for a minute. Then Hannah got dumped on Day 16, leaving Jose standing alone. Most people thought he was a goner.
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The Casa Amor Survival Guide
Then came Casa Amor. That’s where things got messy. He coupled up with Gracyn Blackmore, and for a second, it looked like they might be the "it" couple of the season. They survived the post-Casa recoupling, but the spark didn't last. In this show, a week is like a year in real life.
By Day 26, Jose jumped ship to Iris Kendall. It was a move that divided fans. Some called it strategic; others thought it was genuine. They made it all the way to the finale on Day 32, finishing in 4th place. Not bad for a bombshell who came in late.
The Post-Show Fallout and the "Blonde" Rumors
Once the finale wrapped, the real world hit. Hard. Jose and Iris didn't last, and the breakup wasn't exactly quiet. Reddit went into a frenzy. Rumors started flying that Jose only dated blonde women—a claim he eventually had to address on E! News. He basically told everyone they were reading too much into it.
The drama didn't stop there. People caught him talking to TMZ about how "hard" dating is after the show. Fans weren't sympathetic. When you're a 6-foot-plus athlete who was just on national TV, people don't really buy the "I'm lonely" bit.
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Then came the cheating allegations. Did he cheat on Iris? Some say yes, others say they were never that serious to begin with. The reality is that these "relationships" in the villa are often just high-speed dating experiments. Expecting them to transition perfectly into the real world is a tall order.
Where is Jose Garcia Now?
If you're looking for Jose today, don't look on a red carpet. Look in the gym. He’s doubled down on his fitness business, Pro Gainz Training. While he’s definitely got more Instagram followers now—hovering around 100k+—he isn't just posting tea gummies and fast-fashion ads.
- Business First: He’s focused on customized strength and nutrition programs.
- Beyond the Villa: He was linked to the spin-off Love Island: Beyond the Villa, which keeps the 2025 cast in the spotlight.
- The Basketball Connection: He still plays in high-level pickup leagues in LA, often seen with other former college stars.
Most islanders fade away. They do a few podcasts, maybe a club appearance in Vegas, and then they disappear. Jose seems to be using the platform to actually grow the business he had before he ever met Ariana Madix on that beach.
The Reality Check
Look, Love Island is a machine. It takes regular people and turns them into characters. Jose Garcia was "Pepe," the athletic bombshell with a wandering eye. But in 2026, he’s mostly just a guy in Santa Ana trying to scale a fitness brand.
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He's admitted that the transition back to "normal" life was weird. Being recognized in a grocery store while you're just trying to buy eggs is a trip. But he’s also been vocal about the mental health side of reality TV—the "vitriol," as some fans put it, can be intense.
If you want to follow his journey, keep an eye on his training programs rather than his dating life. That's clearly where his heart is. He’s proof that you can survive the villa without letting it define your entire career.
To stay updated on Jose's latest projects, you can check out his fitness platform or follow his training sessions on social media. If you're looking for his specific workout splits, they are usually published through his Pro Gainz member portal.