Everyone thought they knew how it was going to end. It’s the usual formula, right? Two people meet on Day 1, they weather a single "test" during Casa Amor, and they glide into the finale with a polished, producer-perfect love story. But the Love Island USA Season 5 winner didn't follow that script at all. When Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli were crowned the champions in the Fiji villa, it wasn't just a win for them—it was a weirdly refreshing moment for a franchise that often feels like it's running on autopilot.
They weren't the "underdogs" in the traditional sense, but they also weren't the couple the Twitter (or X, whatever we're calling it now) stans were necessarily rooting for in the beginning. Marco came in hot. He was loud. He had that "I'm here for a good time" energy that usually screams red flag to viewers who want a fairytale. Then Hannah walked in. Everything shifted.
The Reality of How Hannah and Marco Won
So, how does a couple actually secure the $100,000? It’s rarely about who is the most "in love" because, honestly, how can you tell after a few weeks? It’s about consistency. While other couples were imploding—think about the absolute chaos surrounding Kassy, Leo, and "The Soul Tie is Crazy" Anna—Hannah and Marco were just... there. They were solid.
They became the "Mom and Dad" of the villa.
If you look back at the voting trends from that season, the audience was exhausted. Season 5 was arguably one of the messiest iterations of the US show. You had the Bergie saga, which felt like it lasted a decade, and the constant back-and-forth between Leo and Kassy after the Casa Amor betrayal. Amidst that noise, the Love Island USA Season 5 winner needed to be a port in the storm. Hannah and Marco provided that. They stayed closed off. They didn't entertain the bombshells with any real seriousness after they locked in.
Breaking Down the Finale Votes
It wasn't even that close. When the results were read by Sarah Hyland, the breakdown showed a clear preference for stability.
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- Hannah and Marco: The clear winners.
- Kassy and Leo: Runners-up (The "redemption" arc wasn't quite enough to beat the steady couple).
- Taylor and Bergie: Third place (The "nation's sweetheart" vote).
- Carmen and Kenzo: Fourth place (Accusations of them knowing each other before the show definitely hurt their numbers).
People love a mess, but they vote for the couple that makes them feel like love isn't a total disaster. Marco's growth was a huge factor here. He went from a guy who seemed a bit too focused on his "brand" to someone who was visibly crying over Hannah's letters. It felt real because it was messy and loud, much like Marco himself.
Why the Love Island USA Season 5 Winner Still Matters Today
In the world of reality TV, "winning" usually means a six-month contract and a few sponsored Instagram posts for hair gummies. But the Season 5 victory felt different because of the timing. The US version of the show had been struggling to find its footing compared to its UK older brother. Season 5 was the moment the US version finally felt like it had its own identity—grittier, faster, and way more unpredictable.
Hannah and Marco's win validated the "slow and steady" strategy in a season defined by "fast and chaotic."
They also had to deal with the "ex" factor. Remember when Marco's ex, Hannah Ortega, walked into the villa? That was a producer's dream. Most guys would have fumbled that. They would have flirted "just to be polite" or ended up in a three-way argument that lasted three episodes. Marco shut it down. That single move probably won them the game. It showed the viewers at home that he actually respected the woman he was with. In the world of Love Island, that’s a rare commodity.
The Post-Villa Reality Check
Post-show life is the real "Casa Amor." No cameras, no free food, and you actually have to pay for your own flights. After being crowned the Love Island USA Season 5 winner, Hannah and Marco actually tried. They didn't just break up at the airport.
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They did the long-distance thing for a while, with Hannah based in Palm Springs and Marco in Florida. They were constant fixtures on each other's TikTok feeds. They did the podcasts. They talked about the challenges of transitioning from a managed environment where your only job is to tan and talk about your feelings to a world where you have to figure out who is doing the dishes.
However, as is the case with most villa romances, the flame eventually dimmed. In 2024, they officially announced their split. It wasn't a "he cheated" or "she lied" situation—or at least, they didn't play it out that way publicly. It was just the classic "we grew apart" narrative. Does that invalidate their win? Not really. They gave the audience a season of genuine connection in a year where everyone else seemed to be playing a character.
Misconceptions About the Season 5 Finale
A lot of people think Bergie should have won. Let's be real. Bergie was the main character of Season 5, but he wasn't the "Love Island" winner. The show is about the couple. While Taylor and Bergie were sweet, there was always a lingering doubt about the romantic chemistry compared to the intense, palpable connection Hannah and Marco had.
Another big misconception? That the winners are "set for life."
The $100,000 prize, when split two ways and taxed, isn't exactly "never work again" money. It's "buy a nice car and put a down payment on a condo" money. The real value is the platform. Hannah has leveraged her win into a significant social media presence, focusing on beauty and lifestyle. Marco has continued his fitness and modeling career. They used the win exactly how you’re supposed to: as a springboard, not a destination.
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What You Can Learn from the Season 5 Arc
Watching the Love Island USA Season 5 winner journey actually offers a few "real world" insights if you look past the neon lights and the bikinis.
- Communication isn't always pretty: Hannah and Marco didn't have a "quiet" relationship. They argued. They were blunt. But they never left things simmering.
- Loyalty is a currency: In a house full of "options," choosing the same person every day is a power move.
- Ignore the noise: The villa is an echo chamber. The couples that survive—and win—are the ones who focus on the person in front of them rather than what the other Islanders are whispering in the makeup room.
If you're looking to catch up on the legacy of Season 5, the best thing to do is watch the "Reunion" episodes. They offer a much grittier look at the tensions that the main edit skipped over. You'll see that while Hannah and Marco were the victors, the road there was paved with a lot of uncomfortable conversations that didn't make the 60-minute nightly cuts.
The win for Hannah and Marco was a victory for the "middle ground." They weren't the most dramatic, nor were they the most boring. They were just right for a season that needed a bit of heart to balance out the madness. Whether they are still together or not doesn't change the fact that for one summer in Fiji, they ran that villa.
If you're interested in following the current lives of the Season 5 cast, your best bet is to check out their individual YouTube vlogs rather than their Instagram stories. The long-form content usually gives a much more honest look at their lives than the curated "ad" posts you see on your feed. Look for their appearances on the "Chicks in the Office" or "Viall Files" podcasts for the deep-dive interviews where they actually spill the tea on what the producers told them to do during the finale week.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Unseen Bits: To understand why Hannah and Marco won, you have to see their banter in the "Unseen Bits" episodes. It shows their friendship, which was the actual foundation of their win.
- Follow the "Post-Villa" Pattern: If you want to predict future winners, look for the couple that stops getting "screentime" mid-season. It usually means they are stable and drama-free—the exact recipe for a Season 5 style win.
- Check the Social Metrics: Winners aren't always the most followed Islanders. Often, the "villains" get more followers, but the "winners" get the better brand deals because they have higher trust ratings with the audience.