Olandria Lashae Carthen — known to millions of fans simply as “Olandria” — became one of the breakout stars of Love Island USA Season 7 in 2025. One of the most searched details about her is the Olandria Love Island age, since fans want to know exactly how old the “Bama Barbie” was when she entered the villa. Olandria was born on May 29, 1998, in Decatur, Alabama, which made her 27 years old during her Love Island USA run and one of the older Islanders in her season’s cast.
Understanding the Olandria Love Island age timeline also helps explain her career path — from a corporate sales role to reality TV runner-up to in-demand fashion model — since so much of her public story has unfolded within just a couple of years. This article breaks down her early life, education, career, relationships, finances, and more, all through the lens of the Olandria Love Island age milestone that first put her on the map.
Early Life and Family
Olandria’s story resonates with fans partly because of where she came from, and her age often comes up alongside discussions of her upbringing.
- Birthplace and roots: Olandria was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama, and has often spoken about her pride in her Southern roots — a big part of why fans nicknamed her the “Bama Barbie.”
- First-generation graduate: She has publicly identified as a first-generation college graduate, meaning she was the first in her immediate family to earn a college degree.
- Family size: Some outlets covering her Love Island USA run have reported that she is the eldest of several siblings, though the exact number and their names have not been confirmed through official or primary sources.
- Parents: Olandria has referenced her mother publicly — including sharing that her mother told her, “Do what you got to do. Don’t disappoint me,” before she left for the villa — but her parents’ full names and professions have not been officially disclosed, so we won’t speculate on those details here.
- Cultural influences: Growing up in Alabama shaped her Southern hospitality, direct communication style, and strong sense of community, all of which came through during her season of the show.
- Challenges: Olandria has spoken about working hard to build her career from the ground up, and being open on television about her values and priorities — themes that resonate with viewers regardless of the exact Olandria Love Island age she was when she shared them.
Because so much of her personal family history isn’t independently verified, the table below sticks to what’s been confirmed through reliable reporting.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full birth name | Olandria Lashae Carthen |
| Date of birth | May 29, 1998 |
| Birthplace | Decatur, Alabama, USA |
| Nickname | “Bama Barbie” |
| Family background | Described as eldest of several siblings in some reports (unconfirmed by primary sources) |
| Parents’ identities | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cultural identity | African American, Southern upbringing |
Education
Olandria’s educational background is a point of pride for her, and it also plays into conversations about the Olandria Love Island age timeline, since she’d already built a career before appearing on the show.
- University: Olandria attended Tuskegee University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Alabama.
- Change in major: She initially studied computer science before switching paths.
- Degree earned: She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in logistics, materials, and supply chain management.
- Graduation timing: Reports place her graduation around 2022, meaning she would have been in her early twenties at the time — a few years before her Love Island USA run and the widely discussed Olandria Love Island age of 27.
- First-generation pride: She has spoken about the significance of being the first in her family to graduate college, framing it as a defining personal achievement.
- HBCU representation: Her time at Tuskegee has also made her a visible example of HBCU pride within pop culture conversations, especially after she gained a national platform.
Career
Olandria’s career arc — from corporate sales to reality television to high fashion — is one of the more dramatic transformations to come out of recent reality TV, and it’s closely tied to conversations about the Olandria Love Island age she was at each stage.
- Pre-fame career: Before television, Olandria worked in the elevator and escalator industry, most notably as a sales associate at Otis Elevator Co., reportedly based in Houston, Texas, where she supported modernization projects.
- Love Island USA debut: She joined Love Island USA Season 7 in June 2025 as one of the original Day 1 Islanders, entering at the widely reported Olandria Love Island age of 27.
- Casa Amor twist: She and fellow original Islander Nic Vansteenberghe were both left single and eliminated during a Casa Amor twist, a moment that shocked much of the fanbase.
- Runner-up finish: Olandria ultimately returned to the villa and finished the season as a runner-up alongside Nic Vansteenberghe, with the pair becoming known to fans as “Nicolandria.”
- Post-show representation: After the show, she signed with a talent and brand-management team (reported as United Talent Agency’s Digital Brand Architects division), positioning her for modeling and influencer work.
- Fashion breakout: She made her runway debut at the Sergio Hudson Spring/Summer 2026 show during New York Fashion Week in September 2025, later walking in Rahul Mishra’s Paris Haute Couture Week show and appearing at other major fashion events, plus a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit feature.
- Recognition: Ad Age named her one of its top breakout creators, and Cosmopolitan included her in its “Z-Stars” list, both signaling how quickly her profile grew after her season aired.
| Year | Milestone | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 (approx.) | College graduation | Earned bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University in logistics, materials, and supply chain management |
| Pre-2025 | Corporate career | Worked as a sales associate at Otis Elevator Co. |
| June 2025 | Love Island USA debut | Entered the villa on Season 7 as an original Day 1 Islander |
| June 2025 | Casa Amor elimination | Left single alongside Nic Vansteenberghe during a Casa Amor twist |
| Summer 2025 | Runner-up finish | Returned to finish the season as runner-up with Nic Vansteenberghe |
| August 2025 | Talent representation | Signed with a talent/brand management agency |
| September 2025 | Runway debut | Walked in the Sergio Hudson show at New York Fashion Week |
| Late 2025–2026 | Modeling deals & campaigns | Landed brand collaborations and magazine features |
| 2026 | International runway | Walked in Paris Haute Couture Week and appeared during awards season |
Relationships and Controversies
Fans following the Olandria Love Island age storyline have also closely tracked her romantic journey, both on and off the show.
- On-screen connections: During her season, Olandria was linked with a few different Islanders, including Taylor Williams, before her most talked-about connection formed with Nic Vansteenberghe.
- “Nicolandria”: Fans coined the nickname “Nicolandria” for Olandria and Nic, and their relationship became one of the season’s most followed storylines, continuing well after the show ended.
- Relationship status: As of the most recent public reporting, Olandria and Nic Vansteenberghe remain in a relationship, though they are not reported as married.
- Public perception: Olandria has generally been received warmly by fans, who’ve praised her for being level-headed, authentic, and open about her background during her season.
- Representation conversations: Her presence on the show sparked broader public discussion about representation for dark-skinned Black women in reality TV, a topic she has addressed directly in interviews.
- No confirmed major controversies: Unlike some reality personalities, Olandria has not been tied to any widely reported scandal; most of the “drama” associated with her name relates to normal show storylines rather than off-screen controversy.
Net Worth
Net worth figures for reality TV personalities like Olandria vary widely across gossip and fan-tracking sites, and none of the numbers currently circulating come from an official or verified source. Rather than presenting a single made-up figure as fact, here’s an honest breakdown of what’s actually known.
- No official figure: Olandria has not publicly confirmed a net worth, and no financial disclosure or verified filing is available.
- Estimates vary enormously: Various unofficial fan and gossip sites have published wildly different estimates, ranging from roughly $350,000 to as high as several million dollars — a gap that shows these figures are largely speculative.
- Known income sources: Her likely income streams include her former corporate salary (pre-fame), Love Island USA appearance compensation, brand partnerships, sponsored social media content, and modeling/runway work.
- Brand collaborations: She has been associated with campaigns and appearances tied to major fashion and lifestyle brands following her rise in profile, which likely represents a meaningful part of her current income.
- Growth trajectory: Regardless of the exact number, her income potential has clearly grown substantially since her Love Island USA appearance, given her expanding modeling and brand work.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Official net worth | Not publicly disclosed or verified |
| Unofficial estimates | Range widely (roughly $350K to several million, per unverified sources) |
| Primary pre-fame income | Corporate sales salary (Otis Elevator Co.) |
| Post-fame income sources | Brand deals, sponsored content, modeling, appearance fees |
| Notable brand associations | Fashion and lifestyle campaigns following her 2025–2026 modeling breakout |
Other Ventures
Beyond the villa, Olandria has built a growing presence across several platforms and industries.
- Social media growth: She gained millions of followers across Instagram and TikTok following her season, using platforms like Instagram (under a well-known handle) to share style, travel, and day-to-day content.
- Fashion industry entry: Her runway appearances at New York Fashion Week and Paris Haute Couture Week mark a genuine pivot from reality TV personality to working fashion model.
- Magazine features: She has appeared in fashion editorials and has been recognized on red carpets, including notable appearances during awards season.
- Brand partnerships: Her rising profile has opened the door to collaborations with well-known consumer and fashion brands.
- Public speaking/media appearances: Like many Love Island alums, she has done press interviews and media appearances discussing her journey, background, and post-show life.
Charitable Work
Public information about formal philanthropic initiatives tied specifically to Olandria is limited at this time. What is documented is more cultural and community-oriented than tied to a specific charity:
- Representation advocacy: Olandria has used her platform to speak openly about representation for dark-skinned Black women in media and reality television.
- HBCU pride: As a Tuskegee University graduate, she has helped raise visibility for HBCUs and first-generation college students through her public story.
- Community connection: She has spoken about her Alabama roots and Southern community values as an important part of her identity.
- No confirmed formal charity: As of now, there’s no verified report of Olandria founding or being formally affiliated with a specific nonprofit or charitable foundation — if that changes, it would likely be announced through her official social channels.
FAQ Section
How old is Olandria in 2026? Olandria Carthen was born on May 29, 1998, making her 27 years old for most of 2026 and turning 28 on her birthday. The Olandria Love Island age most associated with her Love Island USA run is 27.
Who is Olandria married to / in a relationship with? Olandria is not married. She is reported to still be in a relationship with fellow Love Island USA Season 7 contestant Nic Vansteenberghe, with fans referring to the couple as “Nicolandria.”
What is Olandria’s net worth? There is no officially confirmed net worth for Olandria. Unofficial estimates from fan and entertainment sites vary widely, so any specific figure you see online should be treated as speculation rather than verified fact.
What does Olandria do for a living? Olandria currently works as a model, social media influencer, and television personality. Before her reality TV career, she worked in sales within the elevator and escalator industry.
Does Olandria have any children? No, Olandria does not have any publicly reported children.