‘Love Island USA’ stars Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe break up after 1 year of dating

“Love Island USA” fan-favorites Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe have called it quits.

The Season 7 couple “decided to part ways” a year after leaving the villa together, a source told People Wednesday.

“The distance between them and their busy schedules made it challenging to maintain their connection,” the insider said.

“Love Island USA” stars Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe (pictured on the show) have broken up after one year of dating. Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images

“The distance between them and their busy schedules made it challenging to maintain their connection,” an insider told People Wednesday. Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images

“They still remain close friends. They share a deep love and respect for each other and will always support one another whenever possible.”

Page Six has reached out to reps for Carthen and Vansteenberghe for comment, and neither has addressed the split publicly.

The former couple stole the hearts of viewers when a surprise Casa Amor twist gave them a second chance at finding love — by coupling up with each other.

The insider insisted that the former couple (pictured at “WWHL” in August 2025) “still remain close friends.” Charles Sykes/Bravo

They share a deep love and respect for each other and will always support one another whenever possible.” Charles Sykes/Bravo

They each had been eliminated from the show in two dramatic re-couplings, but shocked their fellow islanders by returning to the villa hand-in-hand.

In a previous interview with People, Carthen admitted that she “didn’t allow [herself] to feel that spark” with Vansteenberghe at the beginning, as he had a connection with her friend Cierra Ortega.

However, once Ortega was removed from the show for previously using a racial slur, Carthen told the outlet she was able to “make my own selfish decision” and give in to her chemistry with Vansteenberghe.

She called coupling up with the 25-year-old DJ the “best decision I could have ever made,” and said it “made my whole experience way better.”

The former pair (pictured at the Season 7 reunion) became fan-favorites when they were coupled up in a surprise twist after Casa Amor. Jocelyn Prescod/PEACOCK via Getty Images

The DJ had a connection with one of Carthen’s friends, so she held back from fully pursuing him at first. Jocelyn Prescod/PEACOCK

The two ultimately got second place during the Season 7 finale and left the reality show as a couple.

Last month, the model defended their relationship against social media trolls who didn’t believe it was real.

“Why is it your business? Are your bills getting paid? Are you touch-deprived? Go get a man — go do something with your life,” the 28-year-old told Cosmopolitan on June 18. “Why does it matter if me and Nic are together?

“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?”

By the finale, the two were fully invested in one another and came in second place. Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images

Last month, Carthen (pictured at the 2026 BET Awards) defended their relationship against social media trolls. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / BACKGRID

She continued, “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. I don’t always post what people want me to or always do what people want me to do.”

As for why she and Vansteenberghe mostly kept their relationship out of the spotlight post-“Love Island USA,” the influencer explained that they didn’t want to “monetize” their romance.

“If you genuinely like spending quality time with somebody, it shouldn’t involve a camera every two seconds,” she added. “We enjoy each other’s presence and do what normal people do: go out, have fun, and get to know each other.”

She also hinted that the two were going strong at the time, teasing, “He said that he’s been in love twice and that the third time’s the charm.”

“Why are you so invested in people that don’t know you?” the model (pictured last month) questioned in an interview with Cosmopolitan. Dave Benett/Getty Images for Spotify

Vansteenberghe (seen above in March) also spoke out against the hate him and Carthen received, calling it “overdone.” Getty Images for Snapchat

On Vansteenberghe’s part, he also admitted that the hate over their relationship was “overdone.”

“At this point, the critics and the critiques are just overdone,” he told Us Weekly in April. “I’ve said all I need to say. At this point, it’s just about not giving it any more attention.

“I know the boundaries [I have for] myself and how much to share and what not to share,” he explained about finding a balance on social media. “Lately, not revealing too much about my personal life has been so nice for the both of us.”