Love Island fans tuning into Love Island: Beyond the Villa Season 2 were quick to notice something felt off. Three of the most talked-about finalists from season 7—Nic Vansteenberghe, Olandria Carthen and Huda Mustafa—are nowhere to be seen. For a show built around continuing their journeys outside the villa, their absence has sparked major curiosity and debate online.
The new season, which premiered on April 15, follows several Islanders as they navigate relationships, careers and unresolved drama after leaving Fiji. But the missing trio isn’t just any group of contestants. Nic and Olandria were runners-up whose chemistry dominated fan discussions, while Huda remained one of the most visible personalities even after the show ended. Their absence has left fans asking the same question: why skip the spinoff now?
What Nic, Olandria and Huda are doing instead
While none of the three have publicly confirmed a single reason for opting out, their post-show schedules tell a clear story—they’ve been busy building careers beyond Love Island.
Nic has shifted his focus toward music, performing under his DJ name Nic Vans. Alongside that, he has also shown interest in acting and even hinted during a December 2025 appearance that he would prefer exploring new opportunities over returning to the franchise. His ambitions reportedly include trying to land a spot on shows like Dancing with the Stars, signaling a move into mainstream entertainment.
Olandria, meanwhile, has quickly carved out a space in the fashion world. She made her New York Fashion Week debut in September 2025, a major milestone for any emerging model. Since then, she has appeared in campaigns and worked with brands like Reebok and Ugg, while also juggling multiple collaborations. In her own words, she has been “booked up,” suggesting that her calendar may have simply left no room for a reality TV return.
Huda’s journey has been equally eventful, though more complex. Like Olandria, she has also walked at New York Fashion Week and has been teasing new music projects on social media. But she hasn’t stayed limited to fashion and music. Huda is also part of the debut cast of Unwell Winter Games, a reality competition series that launched in April, showing she’s already committed to another major project outside the Love Island universe.
Relationships, drama and life after the villa
Part of the reason fans expected Nic, Olandria and Huda to return is because their personal lives remain closely followed.
Nic and Olandria, often referred to as “Nicolandria” by fans, appear to still be together months after the show. The pair have continued to support each other publicly, attended major events together—including the Super Bowl—and worked on brand collaborations as a couple. Despite facing heavy scrutiny online, they have spoken about maintaining their relationship through regular check-ins and mutual support. Their real-world dynamic seemed like perfect material for a spinoff, making their absence even more surprising.
Huda’s story has taken a different turn. After her breakup with Chris Seeley during the finale, she began dating Too Hot to Handle star Louis Russell shortly after filming ended. The relationship quickly went public, with social media posts confirming they were together. However, more recently, Huda has been involved in legal controversy after being accused of making threats against Russell’s ex-partner. While she has denied the allegations and said she is handling the situation legally, the incident has added another layer of attention to her post-show life.
All of this suggests that while their stories are still unfolding, they may not align with the tone or direction of Beyond the Villa, which focuses on structured relationship follow-ups rather than ongoing outside controversies or independent career moves.
What this means for Beyond the Villa
The absence of three major finalists inevitably shifts the spotlight to the rest of the cast. Season 2 still features several familiar faces, including winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, along with Islanders like Jeremiah Brown, Hannah Fields and Iris Kendall. But it’s hard to ignore that some of the biggest conversation drivers from season 7 are missing.
In reality TV, post-show momentum often decides who returns for spinoffs. Some contestants stay within the franchise to extend their visibility, while others step away to build careers in fashion, music or entertainment. Nic, Olandria and Huda clearly fall into the latter category.
For fans, the situation highlights a bigger truth about Love Island: leaving the villa is just the beginning. Not every popular Islander chooses to continue their journey on the same platform, even if the audience expects it. In fact, stepping away can sometimes be the smarter move, especially when new opportunities are already lined up.
Still, their absence doesn’t mean their stories are over—it just means they’re playing out elsewhere. Whether it’s music, modeling or new reality shows, all three continue to stay relevant, just not within Beyond the Villa.
For more detailed updates on the cast and their post-show journeys, you can check the full report from PEOPLE.
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