Olandria Carthen

Last updated

Olandria Carthen
Born
Olandria Lashae Carthen

(1998-05-29) May 29, 1998 (age 27)
Decatur, Alabama
Education Tuskegee University
Occupations
  • Model
  • Television personality
  • Influencer
Years active2025–present
Modeling information
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown

Olandria Lashae Carthen (born May 29, 1998) is an American model, influencer, and television personality. She appeared on the seventh season of Love Island USA in 2025, where she finished in second place.

Contents

Early life and education

Olandria Carthen, also known mononymously as Olandria and by the nickname "Bama Barbie", was born on May 29, 1998,[ citation needed ] in Decatur, Alabama. Carthen is the eldest sibling of two younger sisters and three younger brothers. Carthen attended Tuskegee University, initially deciding to major in computer science but ultimately graduating with a Bachelor's degree in logistics, materials and supply chain management. She worked as a salesperson in the elevator industry post-graduation. [1] [2]

Career

On May 29, 2025, Carthen was announced as part of the cast for the seventh season of Love Island USA . [3] Carthen, alongside Nicolas "Nic" Vansteenberghe, went on to place second overall in the finale. [4] Carthen went viral throughout the show for her beauty, the representation that she brought to the season, and for her relationship with Vansteenberghe, which was dubbed "Nicolandria" by fans and named a cultural phenomenon by CNN, which also noted them as "a beloved part of reality couple history". [5] [6] [7]

After her appearance on Love Island USA, Carthen signed with Digital Brand Architects, a management firm owned by United Talent Agency. [8] Carthen modeled for brands such as Kulani Kinis, Agua de Kefir, and Sweetgreen alongside Vansteenberghe and collaborated with NYX Cosmetics for an official "Nicolandria" lip kit, which sold out in minutes. [9] [10] Carthen has worked as a brand partner with companies such as Amazon, Hyundai, Microsoft, Vaseline, Aveeno, Shea Moisture, EOS, Raising Cane's, DoorDash, Shark Beauty, and Liquid I.V. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] Carthen was also featured as a model for UGG's 2025 Fluff Momma global campaign and Reebok's Angel Reese 1 campaign. [18] [19] Ad Age praised Carthen for "taking a deliberate approach to transforming momentary fame into a sustainable personal brand" and named her one of the top 5 breakout creators of 2025. [20] [21] On October 20, 2025, Carthen was honored as a member of Cosmopolitan 's Z-Stars Class of 2025, a carefully-selected list recognizing Gen-Z creators who "define trends, influence millions, and entertain the masses" and play "a vital role in molding our culture". [22]

Styling duo Matthew and Reginald Reisman reached out to Carthen on Instagram while she was a contestant on Love Island USA and discussed with Fashionista how they noticed her appeal on the seventh season of the reality show: "As a fan and watching the show, she, for us, was this standout of grace, integrity and beauty, and she really resonated with us. To us, she really just stood out and separated herself from the rest of the cast." [23] After establishing a working relationship with the Reismans and wearing a number of viral looks curated by the styling duo, Carthen made her runway debut at the Sergio Hudson Spring/Summer 2026 show during New York Fashion Week in September 2025. [24] [25] She was a featured guest at other notable fashion shows in that same week, including the Off-White Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear show, the Alexander Wang Spring 2026 fashion show, and the Theophilio Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show. [26] [27] Carthen was also recognized by Vogue as one of the best beauty looks following her red carpet debut at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. [28] On November 3, 2025, Carthen attended the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History in a custom Brandon Blackwood dress, with Marie Claire declaring it one of the best looks of the night. [29] [30] The designer told InStyle that he wanted to collaborate with Carthen because "she doesn't just wear clothes; she tells a story through them". [31] On November 4, 2025, Carthen attended the Glamour Women of the Year Awards at the Plaza Hotel in a silk taffeta gown designed by Christian Siriano, with Glamour stating that Carthen had "delivered an instantly iconic WOTY style moment". [32]

As a first-generation college graduate from Tuskegee University [33] , Carthen has focused on promoting higher education and uplifting young women. [20] In September 2025, Carthen partnered with Microsoft Copilot and used her campaign to highlight the history of Tuskegee University and the importance of HBCUs. [34] On October 6, 2025, Carthen was the keynote speaker during the Her Conference "Butterfly Tour" stop at Texas A&M University, where she advocated for the importance of higher education. [35] On October 23, 2025, Carthen also spoke at ZCON in Los Angeles, an event focused on conversations with young leaders examining how to build a better digital future. [36] On December 5, 2025, Carthen spoke about leadership, authenticity, and her experience in navigating professional spaces as a Black woman at Harvard Business School. [33] Later that day, she received the Women in Business Power and Purpose Award at the Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business Annual Gala. [33]

On November 4, 2025, Carthen won the EBONY People's Choice Award at the 2025 EBONY Power 100 Gala, an annual event highlighting influential figures in Black culture. Carthen, who was noted by the magazine as "an influencer on their way to icon status," was nominated for the award amongst other high-profile Black celebrities, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Jasmine Crockett, Audra McDonald, Taylor Townsend, and Elmiene. [37] [38] Carthen appeared on the cover of the EBONY 2025 Power Issue alongside the magazine's other honorees, including Iman, Lonnie G. Bunch III, Teyana Taylor, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Shaquille O'Neal. [39] On November 8, 2025, Carthen was named as an honoree for The Root 100, an annual list recognizing the most influential Black leaders and culture shapers who have made a significant impact in their fields and communities, with other honorees including Kamala Harris, Beyoncé, Denzel Washington, and Kendrick Lamar. [40]

Carthen graced the cover of the Harper's Bazaar Vietnam December 2025 digital issue, marking her first solo magazine cover. [41] In the cover story, which highlighted the Bama Barbie’s journey "from Alabama to the global spotlight", Carthen shared what she wants people to take away from her influence: [41]

"I want anyone who sees a part of themselves in me to know that they can achieve anything, just believe that they were born to do something different. Listen to your intuition and work hard for what you believe is meant for you."

Carthen also appeared on Glamour's December 2025 holiday cover with her partner Vansteenberghe, and in the cover story (titled "The Year of Nicolandria"), the couple reflected on supporting each other and navigating a year of fast fame and fan frenzy. [14]

Filmography

Television
YearTitleNotesRef.
2025 Love Island USA Season 7; runner-up [42] [43] [44]

Awards

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2025 EBONY Power 100People's Choice AwardWon [38]
Fortune & ForksVisibility with Vision AwardWon [45] [46]
Femme it ForwardGive Her FlowHERS: Self-Love AwardWon [47]
Harvard Undergraduate Women in BusinessWIB Power and Purpose AwardWon [33]
Model of the Year AwardsContent Creator of the Year (Reader's Choice)Won [48]
Listicles
YearPublisher Listicle Ref.
2025 Cosmopolitan Z-Stars Class of 2025 [22]
The Root The Root 100 [49]
Cosmopolitan Best New Couple [50]
EBONY Top 25 Moments of 2025 [51]
Ad Age Top 5 Breakout Creators of 2025 [21]
Vanity Fair Best Performances of 2025 [52]

References

  1. ↑ Lindahl, Jennifer. "From Decatur to the Villa: Olandria Carthen joins Love Island USA season 7. What to know". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ Unbothered, R29. "Olandria Carthen On Her Love Story, Her HBCU Education, & How She's Handling Fame". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Ng, Philiana (May 29, 2025). "Meet the Love Island USA Season 7 Cast". Peacock.
  4. ↑ "Are Nic and Olandria still together after "Love Island USA"?". Today. July 15, 2025.
  5. ↑ France, Lisa Respers (August 16, 2025). "'Nicolandria' aren't just a cultural phenomenon, they're a beloved part of reality couple history". CNN. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Nic and Olandria on What the 'Love Island' Cameras Missed". New York Times. August 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ Dixon, Delaina. "Olandria Carthen shines after 'Love Island' journey". Ebony Magazine.
  8. ↑ Tinoco, Armando (August 11, 2025). "'Love Island USA's Olandria Carthen Signs With UTA-Owned Digital Brand Architects". Deadline. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Beloved 'Love Island USA' Couple Nicolandria Star in Summery Swimwear Campaign". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. August 7, 2025. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Gets Candid About Beauty Standards". Essence. August 26, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Embraces Chic Simplicity With Two Fall Staple Pieces in New Ad". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. December 11, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ Philogene, Haniyah (November 5, 2025). "Who is Olandria and why she is 'bigger than the program'". TheGrio. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Glitters in Glorious Gold Gown While Looking Back on 'Olavember'". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Colón, Ana (December 18, 2025). "The Year of Nicolandria". Glamour. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ Jr, Victor Qunnuell Vaughns. "Olandria Shines at VMAs with Vaseline's Glisten Gel". EBONY. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Recalls Writing Letters, Sending Transcripts And School Balances To Secure Her HBCU Degree — 'I Would Continue To Push Myself'". AfroTech. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 21, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Fronts UGG's Fluff Momma Campaign". Hypebae. October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Angel Reese and Reebok Tap 'Love Island USA' Star Olandria Carthen for Latest Launch". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. November 14, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "What 'Love Island' alum Olandria Carthen can teach marketers about building influence that lasts". adage.com. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Meet 5 breakout creators of 2025 who turned viral fame into big businesses". adage.com. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Meet Cosmopolitan's 2025 Z-Stars". Cosmopolitan. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  23. ↑ Sessoms, Janelle (October 24, 2025). "How the Reismans Are Positioning Olandria Carthen as Fashion's Next 'It' Girl". Fashionista. Retrieved December 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ↑ Reed, Anika. "'Love Island' star Olandria Carthen stuns in NYFW runway debut at Sergio Hudson". USA TODAY.
  25. ↑ Ishmael, Aiyana (September 26, 2025). "Love Island USA's Olandria Carthen Is Taking The Peakaboo Bra Trend to the Next Level". Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  26. ↑ Nast, Condé. "Love Island's Olandria Carthen Gets Ready for Off-White at NYFW". Vanity Fair.
  27. ↑ Sessoms, Janelle (September 18, 2025). "New York Fashion Week Was Basically a 'Love Island USA' Reunion". Fashionista. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  28. ↑ Noble, Audrey (September 7, 2025). "The Best Beauty Looks at the 2025 MTV VMAs". Vogue. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Lily Allen Takes Revenge Dressing to the CFDAs, in an Underboob-Flaunting Bralette". Marie Claire. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  30. ↑ Avila, Pamela. "Rihanna, Lily Allen, Olandria and more stars shine at 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards in NYC". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Olandria's Custom Brandon Blackwood Dress for the CFDAs Took Over 120 Hours to Make (Exclusive)". InStyle. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  32. ↑ McCarty, Grace (November 5, 2025). "Olandria Carthen Ushers In a Winter 2025 Color Trend at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards". Glamour. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  33. 1 2 3 4 Messier, Catherine. "'Love Island' star Olandria Carthen visits Harvard University". Wicked Local. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  34. ↑ Mullen, Jameelah (September 12, 2025). "'Love Island USA' Star Olandria Carthen Shows Off Her HBCU Pride In Partnership With Microsoft". Black Enterprise. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Recalls Writing Letters, Sending Transcripts And School Balances To Secure Her HBCU Degree — 'I Would Continue To Push Myself'". AfroTech via Yahoo Life. October 8, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  36. ↑ Perelli, Amanda (October 25, 2025). "Inside ZCON, Where Olandria, Auli'i Cravalho, and More Celebrated Gen Z's Power". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  37. ↑ "2025 EBONY Power 100". EBONY. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  38. 1 2 Jackson, Angelique (October 9, 2025). "Teyana Taylor Named Entertainer of the Year, Love Island USA's Olandria Carthen Wins People's Choice Award for Ebony Power 100 Gala (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  39. ↑ Taylor, Savannah M. "The Power Issue". EBONY. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Home". theroot100.com. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  41. 1 2 "Olandria Carthen, mệnh danh là "Bama Barbie" trong thế giới thời trang toàn cầu". Harper's Bazaar Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  42. ↑ Tinoco, Armando (July 14, 2025). "'Love Island USA' Season 7 Crowns Winners On Peacock". Deadline. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  43. ↑ Jean-Philippe, McKenzie (August 26, 2025). "So, Are Nicolandria Actually Together? Their Relationship Update From the Reunion". NBC Insider. NBCUniversal. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  44. ↑ Earl, Kimberly (August 26, 2025). ""Love Island USA" season 7 reunion: Cast addresses bullying allegations and reveals unseen footage". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Jordyn Woods, Olandria Carthen, And Industry Leaders Honored At The Fortune & Forks Foundation Gala". Girls United. November 15, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  46. ↑ Randall, Tiana (November 29, 2025). "Olandria, Jordyn Woods, And More Honored At The Fortune & Forks Gala". Forbes . United States: Integrated Whale Media Investments. Archived from the original on November 30, 2025. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Olandria Carthen Glitters in Glorious Gold Gown While Looking Back on 'Olavember'". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Model of the Year Awards 2025 | models.com MDX". MODELS.com. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Olandria Carthen". theroot100.com. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  50. ↑ "Meet Cosmo's Couples of the Year for 2025". Cosmopolitan. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  51. ↑ Taylor, Savannah M. "25 Black moments that defined this year". EBONY. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  52. ↑ Busis, Hillary (December 9, 2025). "Timothée, Doechii, and More of the 33 Best Performances of 2025". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
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