Shivangi Sinha
Peacock’s ‘Love Island USA’ has cemented itself as a cultural phenomenon and impressed audiences worldwide with its addictive mix of romance, drama, and sun-soaked escapism. Known for its high-stakes recouplings, shocking twists, and viral moments, the reality series continues to draw in millions of viewers season after season. Now in its seventh season, the show kicked off with 10 new islanders entering the villa, each bringing their own personalities, flirtations, and intentions. As always, the promise of love, heartbreak, and unexpected alliances loomed large. With fresh faces, fiery connections, and plenty of surprises, this season is shaping up to be one of the most promising yet.
Love Island Season 1 Starts Off With Amazing Chemistry Between Contestants
With all the lingering excitement and apprehension from the sixth season still in the air, the seventh season of ‘Love Island’ kicks off with host Ariana Madix promising even more romance, drama, and surprises. The season begins as Chelley Bissainthe and Olandria Carthen become the first islanders to enter the villa, visibly thrilled to start their journey. One by one, the rest of the contestants arrive, each making an impression as they introduce themselves. They share what they’re looking for in a partner and reveal their hopes for finding love. Chelley even recognizes Ace Greene and reveals they’ve met before but never truly interacted until now.
Ariana tells the islanders that it’s time to couple up for the first time, but with a twist this season. Instead of the usual format, each male contestant stands on a platform while the girls’ names are drawn one by one. Each woman gets the chance to kiss two guys before deciding who she wants to pair up with. Chelley is the first to step forward; she kisses both Austin Shepard and Ace, ultimately choosing the latter. Next, Huda Mustafa selects Jeremiah Brown. Belle-A Walker, who says she never kisses on the first date, gives just a quick peck to two contestants and chooses Nicolas Vansteenberghe. Finally, Olandria Carthen steps up and decides to couple up with Taylor Williams.
When Yulissa Escobar’s name is called, she kisses Ace first and then turns to Jeremiah. The latter, wanting to be respectful to Huda, tells Yulissa he doesn’t want to cross any boundaries and gives her a quick peck on the cheek instead. Ultimately, Yulissa chooses to pair up with Ace, and he picks her right back. This leaves Chelley to team up with Austin, and she shares that since he was one of her original two kisses, it feels meant to be. With excitement in the air, the new couples spend some one-on-one time getting to know each other before heading to bed. While most couples take things slow, Jeremiah and Huda can’t keep their hands off each other and it already feels like the start of a passionate connection.
The Contestants Explore Their Connections and Potential Matches in the Villa
The next morning, the girls and guys gather separately to catch up on the events of the night. Chelley expresses that she completely understands Yulissa exploring a connection with Ace, and the girls all agree that they’re in the villa to make genuine connections and shouldn’t hold themselves back. Meanwhile, the boys question Jeremiah about why he chose not to kiss Yulissa during the coupling. He explains that he doesn’t want to jump from one partner to another and is looking for something solid. He adds that he feels a strong comfort and deep attraction to Huda, so making a move elsewhere wouldn’t feel right. Later, Chelley chats with Austin and while they acknowledge that there’s a friendly rapport between them, she admits she wants to explore more. She expressed interest in Ace and says that she feels it might lead somewhere more meaningful.
Jeremiah pulls Huda aside for a private chat, wanting to get to know her better. As they sit together, he gently asks about her life and what it’s like back home. Huda shares that she has a three-bedroom house, and when he curiously asks what the second bedroom is for, she goes quiet. Though he lightly presses, she holds back. In her confessional, she explains that she isn’t ready to mention her daughter just yet, as it’s something she prefers to reveal gradually when dating someone. Meanwhile, Nicolas opens up about his growing connection with Belle-A. He shares that they spent the entire night cuddling and that she’s clearly taking her time. Still, he’s happy to match her pace and says she’s definitely his top connection in the villa right now. For both pairs, it’s clear that meaningful bonds are beginning to form—some slowly, some with hesitation—but all with sincerity.
The Game of Blindfolds Leaves Everyone Confused But Thrilled
The evening takes an exciting turn when Ariana returns with a flirty new game. She gathers all the Islanders into a circle and hands out blindfolds, setting the tone for a fun and mysterious challenge. She explains that anyone interested in exploring a connection outside of their current pairing should raise their hand. Those who do will get a chance to stand up and secretly kiss another Islander of their choice, and the blindfolds will ensure complete anonymity. As the game begins, Nicolas, Ace, Chelley, and Olandria all raise their hands, ready to stir things up. Nicolas is the first to make a move and he walks across the circle and kisses Olandria. Next, Chelley stands up and shares a kiss with Ace. When it’s Ace’s turn, he returns Chelley’s kiss but then surprises everyone by also kissing Olandria.
Finally, Olandria rises and chooses to kiss Ace. The game leaves everyone buzzing, with curiosity and anticipation building about who kissed whom and what it might mean. While the original contestants are still blindfolded, Ariana makes a sneaky move by bringing in the season’s first two bombshells. Charlie, 27, from the UK, and Cierra, 25, from Arizona, are introduced off-camera and given the mission to kiss every contestant one by one without revealing their identities. The pair delivers, making their rounds with playful confidence.
After their exits, Ariana tells the group that the final round of kisses came from the new arrivals and instructs them to put their blindfolds back on. She then announces that if anyone is curious about connecting with either Charlie or Cierra, they can raise their hands in secret, setting the stage for a shake-up. With curiosity high and the atmosphere charged with tension and excitement, it’s clear the second episode is about to bring even more drama, surprises, and romantic entanglements to the villa. Things are only just beginning to heat up.
Read More: Where is Love Island USA Season 7 Filmed?
