Olandria Carthen emerged from the seventh season of Love Island USA as a breakout figure, finishing second and forming the fan‑dubbed couple Nicolandria with Nicolas Vansteenberghe, a pairing CNN described as a cultural phenomenon.
Carthen, born in Decatur, Alabama, graduated from Tuskegee University with a degree in logistics, materials and supply chain management and worked in the elevator industry before joining the show, as reported by Peacock and regional reporting.
Her profile rose quickly after producers announced the season cast on May 29, 2025, and her social accounts swelled, with outlets reporting more than 2.2 million Instagram followers and 1.7 million TikTok followers.
Within months she signed to Digital Brand Architects, a management firm owned by United Talent Agency, and later secured representation with UTA, according to Deadline and Variety.
Brands enlisted Carthen for campaigns and partnerships, including Kulani Kinis, Agua de Kefir, Sweetgreen, a sold‑out NYX “Nicolandria” lip kit, and campaigns for UGG and Reebok, as noted by Sports Illustrated Lifestyle and Hypebae.
Ad Age named her among the top five breakout creators of 2025, and Cosmopolitan included her in its Z‑Stars Class of 2025, highlighting her shift from a corporate role to a commercially viable personal brand.
Fashion Appearances Awards And Speaking Engagements
Carthen made a runway debut at Sergio Hudson during New York Fashion Week in September 2025 and appeared at other shows that week, with Fashionista and Teen Vogue documenting her early fashion‑week presence.
She drew attention on red carpets, earning placements on Vogue’s list of best beauty looks for the 2025 MTV VMAs and appearing in high‑profile moments at the CFDA Fashion Awards and Glamour Women of the Year, where outlets noted custom Brandon Blackwood and Christian Siriano gowns.
Her 2025 honors include the EBONY People’s Choice Award at the EBONY Power 100 Gala and the Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business Power and Purpose Award, with coverage by EBONY and campus reporting detailing those appearances.
Carthen also used her platform for advocacy and speaking. She partnered with Microsoft Copilot to highlight Tuskegee and HBCUs, spoke at Harvard Business School on December 5, 2025, and keynoted at the Her Conference Butterfly Tour stop at Texas A&M, as reported by Black Enterprise, AfroTech, and event coverage.
She continued her fashion engagements into 2026, appearing during Paris Haute Couture Week where W Magazine called her “Paris Couture Week’s New Sweetheart,” and she remained on year‑end lists such as The Root 100 and REVOLT’s Power List.
