Love Island USA S6: How the Cast Turned Love Into Leverage
Breaking down the best post-show pivots from Love Island USA’s most media savvy cast yet
Now that Season 7 is underway, it’s wild to think how much Season 6 shifted the Love Island USA formula. The U.S. version had always lagged behind its UK sibling — hot people, sure, but low cultural impact. Then last summer happened. With Ariana Madix stepping in as host, a cast that actually clicked, and emotional stakes that felt real, the show finally found its groove. But what really made Season 6 stand out was what happened after the villa.
The Islanders didn’t vanish when the credits rolled; they leveled up. At the center were PPG: Serena, JaNa, and Leah, whose ride-or-die bond was the heart of the season. Liv stirred the pot from the jump. Rob had meltdowns that were equal parts chaotic and compelling. Kaylor brought raw, unfiltered emotion. Kendall quietly became a TikTok favorite with perfectly timed reactions, and Kordell stayed calm through the chaos, navigating drama with control and ultimately winning the whole thing alongside Serena. This cast didn’t just deliver drama, they knew how to turn it into something more. And they did just that.
This cast treated Love Island like a launchpad. As Business Insider reported, talent agencies moved quickly to help Season 6 cast members capitalize on their new platforms, with some making tens of thousands within weeks of leaving the villa. It was the franchise’s first cast of fully formed media personalities, not just reality stars, but talent with staying power.
Dunkin’ made it official. In September, the brand reunited Serena and Kordell, JaNa and Kenny, and Leah and Miguel for its $6 Meal Deal. The campaign leaned into the show’s unofficial love language (breakfast, duh) with a promo video and limited-edition merch. The ad racked up over 600K likes in 24 hours, proof that this cast had real pull.
Serena and Kordell moved like a couple with long-term potential, both romantically and commercially. They first appeared in Savage X Fenty’s holiday campaign, then returned for their Valentine’s Day campaign, to model lingerie and loungewear, a high-visibility run that cemented their status as the season’s power couple.
Back in the villa, Kordell said his dream was to be on a Cheez-It box. Post-show, that’s exactly where he ended up, with two flavors packaged together as his signature combo. He followed it up with a Temptations cat treat campaign (alongside his rescue cat, Milo). Serena, meanwhile, is everywhere. She partnered with Beyoncé’s Cécred for a salon feature and landed deals with Sir Davis, Shea Moisture, Neutrogena and more. She also interviewed Coco Jones for Grammys promo, while JaNa sat down with Doechii as part of the same run.
Leah leveraged her villa popularity into beauty influence, her viral TikTok shower routine not only broke the internet, but also led to a fragrance partnership with Kayali. She’s since collaborated with brands like Jose Cuervo, Chipotle, and Poppi. Rob, meanwhile, swerved expectations by landing in Poppi’s 2025 Super Bowl ad alongside Alix Earle and Jake Shane, proving he could translate the Love Island buzz into a spot on advertising’s biggest stage. Kaylor joined the Amazon Influencer Program as a paid spokesperson, while Kendall brought his charisma to a BeatBox collaboration and recently starred alongside Liv in a steamy Boys Lie campaign.
And they’re not done. In April, Peacock announced Love Island: Beyond the Villa, a first-of-its-kind spinoff following the cast as they navigate LA and post-villa dynamics. Kordell and Rob weren’t listed in the initial lineup, but cameos are likely. The message is clear: these Islanders stuck —with each other, with brands and with audiences.
Season 6 didn’t just produce couples. It produced staying power. And right now, it’s the one to beat.
