Why Aren't Nic, Olandria and Huda in “Love Island: Beyond the Villa”? Here's What We Know
Why Aren't Nic, Olandria and Huda in “Love Island: Beyond the Villa”? Here's What We Know
Jordana ComiterWed, April 15, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC
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Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen; Huda Mustafa.Credit: Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty; Ben Symons/Peacock -
Love Island: Beyond the Villa returns to Peacock on April 15
Season 2 of the Love Island USA spinoff will follow the season 7 cast of the popular reality dating show
Nic Vansteenberghe, Olandria Carthen and Huda Mustafa will not be part of the cast
Love Island: Beyond the Villa is back, but some season 7 Islanders are notably absent.
The spinoff of the reality dating show first premiered in July 2025, following the beloved Love Island USA season 6 cast members in their lives since leaving the Fiji villa. Now, it's returning to Peacock for a sophomore season, this time spotlighting the Love Island USA season 7 cast who returned home in July 2025.
The show follows the former Islanders as they "test their romantic relationships in the real world, resolve unfinished business with their exes and discover that life outside of the villa comes with its own set of challenges," per its synopsis.
But, when fans tune in, they'll be quick to notice that Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen — the runners-up whose chemistry became an internet debate and got them dubbed "Nicolandria" — as well as Huda Mustafa, will be absent.
So, why aren't Nic, Olandria and Huda in Love Island: Beyond the Villa? Here's everything we know.
Why aren't Nic, Olandria and Huda in Love Island: Beyond the Villa?
Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen; Huda Mustafa.Credit: Jocelyn Prescod/Peacock; Jocelyn Prescod/Peacock via Getty
Neither Nic, Olandria nor Huda have explicitly shared why they aren't participating in Love Island: Beyond the Villa. However, they've been busy with other ventures in recent months.
Nic has been building a career in music under his DJ name, Nic Vans, and dabbling in acting, per Glamour. He shared during a December 2025 appearance on the Roommates Show that he wouldn't go on Love Island USA again, but he was trying to get cast on ABC's Dancing with the Stars next.
Olandria has been pursuing a modeling career, which includes making her New York Fashion Week debut in September 2025 (with Nic in the audience!), appearing in campaigns for brands like Reebok and Ugg and collaborating with a number of brands for partnerships.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm booked up until May, but I don't like to say things prematurely," Olandria told Glamour in December 2025. "I like to pop out when I pop out. But it's some really exciting things that I have coming up within the year."
Meanwhile, Huda also walked down the runway during New York Fashion Week and has been teasing on her Instagram that she might be dropping new music soon.
She is also part of the debut cast of Alex Cooper's new reality competition series, Unwell Winter Games, which premiered on the Unwell YouTube channel on April 6.
Are Nic and Olandria still together?
Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe on 'The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon' on Aug. 14, 2025.Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty
Over eight months after leaving Fiji, Nic and Olandria appear to still be together. During their December 2025 conversation with Glamour, they reflected on facing scrutiny in their relationship, which Olandria called "draining."
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"We always have check-ins, like, 'How's your mental? How are you today? I'm always here,' " she told the outlet. "I wish we didn't have to do that as much as we had to. Thank God we've got each other, because I don't know what we would do without each other, literally, when it comes to that."
The pair have done several brand collaborations and advertisements together since leaving the villa, have been spotted on nights out and also attended the Super Bowl in February 2026.
According to Glamour, Olandria is still living in Houston, while Nic has been a bit of a nomad, though he technically still considers his parents' house in Jacksonville, Fla., his main residence.
Is Huda in a relationship?
Louis Russell and Huda Mustafa at the "Weapons" Premiere on July 31, 2025, in Los Angeles.Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
After a tense breakup from Chris Seeley in the Love Island USA season 7 finale and returning home from Fiji, Huda soon began dating Too Hot to Handle alum Louis Russell.
They went red carpet official less than two weeks after filming wrapped, but when Huda was asked about the status of her dating life during the Love Island USA season 7 reunion in August 2025, she said she couldn't discuss her "relationships outside the villa" due to "legal reasons" pertaining to Netflix. (The finale of The Perfect Match season 3, which Louis was on, hadn't yet aired.)
The pair were public about their relationship on social media over the following months, with Huda sharing a carousel of photos with Louis on Instagram in September 2025, captioned, "off the market."
More recently, Huda was ordered to temporarily stay away from Russell's ex Nicole Olivera and the former couple's son, Luka-Kai, after Huda was accused of making threats against them in March 2026, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE. Huda was required to stay at least 100 yards away from Olivera and her son until the case was heard in court on April 3, but the status of the restraining order is unclear.
In response to the allegations against her, Huda shared a statement on her Instagram Stories, writing, "Im [sic] aware of what's being said and it's not true."
She added, "Im [sic] handling everything the right way by letting legal take care of it. I appreciate everyone who continues to support me."
Who will be in Love Island: Beyond the Villa?
Gracyn Blackmore, Iris Kendall, Andreina Santos, Belle-A Walker and Jeremiah Brown in 'Love Island: Beyond the Villa'Credit: Christine Bartolucci/Peacock
Though Nic, Olandria and Huda will not be on Love Island: Beyond the Villa, there are several other season 7 cast members who are participating, including winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, who confirmed their split just a few days after the reunion aired.
Fellow Islanders Jeremiah Brown, Hannah Fields, Pepe Garcia, Iris Kendall, TJ Palma, Clarke Carraway, Taylor Williams and Belle-A Walker are part of the Love Island: Beyond the Villa season 2 cast, among others.
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