‘Love Island USA’ Season 6 Winners From Friends to Lovers and What’s Next

[This story contains spoilers from Peacock‘s Love Island USA season six finale.]

Talk about the friends-to-lovers trope.

That’s what Serena Page and Kordell Beckham – the Love Island USA the winners of the sixth season – they gave all their time in the villa.

It started as a slow burn when Serena told Kordell, brother of football star Odell Beckham Jr., during their first week in the Peacock TV reality house that she wanted to be friends, then a friendship. that grew into something special – and fans were cheering them on along the way.

Although there were problems – namely that Kordell was “disrespectful,” as Serena explained in the program, during his time at Casa Amor; and tried a romantic relationship with another Islander, Daia McGhee, reunited with him and brought him back to the main villa, while Serena chose to remain faithful to him – and decided to give it another chance. And luckily he did, because viewers got to see their funny conversations and heartfelt moments until the end when fans voted them the winners.

“Obviously I was very upset [after Casa Amor], but he stood up for me and let me be frustrated. He didn’t try to cheat me. He’s like, ‘Yeah, ride my ass, go ahead, let me,’ ” Serena recalls. Hollywood Reporter. “So I’m like, I think starting over would be nice, because I didn’t want anybody else. It was him or I was going home, really.”

In general, this time – the most successful Love Island USA time so far – it was one to remember. From unique bombshells, incredible challenges, jaw-dropping moments and unforgettable connections, the sixth season, hosted by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix, had fans on the edge of their seats six days a week since it premiered on June 11.

And the fun isn’t over yet, as it was announced late Sunday night that the Islanders will return for a reunion event on Aug. 19 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on Peacock.

Below, Serena and Kordell talk to THR about their favorite moments in the villa, how they overcame the Casa Amor scam, what makes PPG (iykyk) special and what’s next for their relationship outside the villa.

Tell me about your thoughts and feelings when you were named the winners of season six, and you’re finally out of the villa.

KORDELL BECKHAM In terms of emotional intelligence, I really don’t think it hit us. We are so happy to have this special moment, just this time, without the cameras, together. Outside the villa, we will be exploring a lot – in terms of dates, things we have planned, and even meeting our friends. I’m even planning to move to LA with him soon so we can get closer together and make this work, because we’re both interested in seeing how far we can go… more than there now.

Looking back on the whole experience, what was your favorite time together?

SERENA PAGE I really like to do her hair, actually. So maybe one of those times, or any time we joke and laugh together, because we were joking the whole time.

BECKHAM We joke and laugh and dance with each other, we’ll just be doing old school dances. I would be nice. It was like something we would be doing in two steps and all that.

I think America was laughing with you both in those good times.

PAGE My laugh definitely got a reaction.

BECKHAM I love that laugh so much. That’s what won me over.

You both had a slow start with your relationship, Kordell, what made you want to stand up and fight for Serena?

BECKHAM He was different. She behaved differently from all the other women in the villa. I have never met anyone quite like him. We had a lot in common. It was amazing, and I wanted to see more. I wanted to see what we could be, what we could be. And I don’t know, his presence was great, very nice, and of course, funny as hell. We can make jokes about things that most people wouldn’t be able to make jokes about. For example, a situation we’ve been in – we can make a joke about it and laugh it off and move on. I really like that. She is a very strong woman. I like that too. And, he’s not kidding. I like that. Yes, there are many things I like about him.

Serena, I think there are a lot of fans who appreciate you going at your own pace when it comes to love, but what made you want to go on a show like that in the first place? Love Island USAto know how fast everyone is going?

PAGE Honestly, I don’t think I realized how burned out I was until I got there and saw how fast everyone was walking. I said, “Oh, is that what I’m supposed to do?” I said, “Wait a minute, what did I just sign up for?” It got to the point where I wanted to punch myself. I said, “Why don’t you do all these things?” And I said, “You know what I said when I got here, the only thing I was going to do was be me.” So I’m like, “bitch, if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it.” If they want to send your ass home for it, send me home. It was a war, an internal war. But I didn’t realize how slow I was until I got there, and I was fast before, but I guess that was before all my trauma with men. So I came to that villa, I hate low key men. I said, “Oh, now I have to open up to these men.” Oh, God.” That was another reason. I didn’t like men in general going in there. I said, “Serena, what the hell are you doing? Where are you now?” Like, “Can I marry one of these girls?”

Your relationship really gave off the friends-to-lovers trope.

BECKHAM Especially that port area.

PAGE Yes, that dock scene was actually a Lifetime movie. They were waiting for us to start doing. I’m like, “WHAT!”

I think it’s safe to say that America felt sorry for you, Serena, after Casa Amor. What made you decide to give Kordell another chance?

PAGE Just to see how he took responsibility for everything and told me everything down to the smallest details, the smallest details. He was comfortable and honest with me, and I admire those qualities in a man. Especially the one you want to lead you, protect you, whatever. So I say, “Okay, that’s a great feature.” I was obviously very upset [after Casa Amor], but he stood up for me and let me be frustrated. He didn’t try to cheat me. He’s like, “Yeah, get on my ass, go ahead, let me get it.” Even though it was amazing, I felt like I was blacked out. I was like, “What am I doing now?” That’s why I knew I was still in love with him and obviously it was still there, even with the way he was kicking me out of the villa, and he looked so beautiful that doesn’t help. (Laughter.) I really feel like I could have done a better job of assuring him well before Casa, even though we’ve had that conversation before; I could have been doing that right before and it took me a minute. So I thought a fresh start would be nice. I didn’t want anyone else. It was him or I was going home, really.

BECKHAM And I would have been more respectful of the things I did at the Casa especially, because of the trials we had before we found out we were going there. I knew where I went wrong. I messed up and I wasn’t afraid to admit it. I wasn’t afraid to take responsibility, and actions speak louder than words because my words, I can’t get out the right way. So I was going to show him, “When I say these things I mean it and I will fight for you and you will see.” And of course, you saw it and it brought us to where we are and made us ten times stronger.

Knowing what you learned from this experience, what advice would you give to others looking for love?

PAGE Don’t try to compare yourself to other relationships or someone else’s journey, because every relationship is different. And the one thing that I think will always be the same is the truth and being true to yourself. That will always show no matter if you are too ugly, too slow, too crazy, too boring – no matter what, stay true to yourself and who you are. The only thing that matters is what you and your husband think about it.

Serena, you found not only love but also amazing friendships, especially with Leah Kateb and JaNa Craig. (They named the trio PPG for the Powerpuff Girls.) What was it like to know you also left the villa with these amazing friendship bonds?

PAGE It was amazing. I’m watching Love Island, so I didn’t expect to go in there and honestly love all the girls. I think all the girls in general had a great bond. However, PPG has a special place in my heart. We’re all idiots, no filter, just kidding. We laugh a lot together and we are all different. That’s why we called ourselves the Powerpuff Girls, because we’re all different. There’s one that’s really fun, there’s one that’s really fun, and then there’s a boss hack, so I think it’s a good fit for us. We are like puzzle pieces and we make one PPG game and I love it. It was amazing to even hear my sister bring them up on family day because at that time, I didn’t know what America was thinking or what the 24 hours were. [each day] that they were showing. So the fact that PPG had PPG times, I’m like time, because we were connected at the hip.

When you look to the future of your relationship, what are you most excited about?

BECKHAM Pursuing things in the world outside and really getting to know each other on a different level when it happens, going on our planned dates and me moving to LA as possible, whenever he he is ready. Even when we hang out with our friends, like the lifelong friends we made in the villa, we’ll be chatting with them, including Rob. [Rausch] and Livy [Walker].

And maybe even watch the season return with one?

PAGE I’m not watching it again. Maybe he will tell me. I was like, I can’t, I can’t watch it again.

BECKHAM This is what me and the boys, we all planned for this, right? We’ll all meet, we’ll all live and every time we see something move, we’ll shoot and I think we’ll probably be out in a few minutes. (Laughter.)

PAGE I don’t think they will last a full section. (Laughter.)

Also, the meeting event was announced at the end. What are you most excited about?

BECKHAM Seeing everyone, to be honest with you, anyone who shows up at the meeting.

PAGE It would be a good time for us all to be in the same place. And it’s not too far, I can actually see everyone. Let’s pretend unless someone comes for me or PPG, it’s going to be shit. But other than that, we are getting ready.

The sixth season of Love Island USA is streaming on Peacock.