[This story contains spoilers from Peaco*ck‘s Love Island USA season six finale.]
Talk about a friends-to-lovers trope.
That’s what Serena Page and Kordell Beckham — the Love Island USA season six winners — were giving throughout their time in the villa.
It started as a slow burn when Serena told Kordell, the brother of football star Odell Beckham Jr., during their first week in the Peaco*ck reality TV show’s villa that she just wanted to be friends, then that friendship ultimately grew into something special — and fans were cheering them on along the way.
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Although there were some bumps — namely with Kordell being “disrespectful,” as Serena described it in the show, during his time in Casa Amor; and him testing a romantic connection with another Islander, Daia McGhee, recoupling with her and bringing her back to the main villa, while Serena chose to stay loyal to him — and decided to give him one more chance. And luckily she did, because viewers got to witness more of their funny chats and heartfelt moments up until the finale when fans voted them the winners.
“Obviously, I was very pissed [after Casa Amor], but he fought for me and he let me be upset. He didn’t try to manipulate me. He’s like, ‘Yeah,get on my ass, go ahead, let me have it,'” Serena recalls to The Hollywood Reporter. “So I’m like, I think a fresh start would be great, because I didn’t want anybody else. It was either him or I was going to go home, honestly.”
Overall, this season — the most successful Love Island USA season to date — was one to remember. From iconic bombshells, hilarious challenges, jaw-dropping moments and unforgettable connections, season six, hosted by Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix, had fans on the edge of their seats six days a week since its premiere on June 11.
And the fun isn’t over yet, as it was announced during Sunday night’s finale that the Islanders will return for a reunion episode on Aug. 19 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Peaco*ck.
Below, Serena and Kordell talk with THR about their favorite moments in the villa, how they overcame the Casa Amor betrayal, what makes PPG (iykyk) so special and what’s next for their relationship outside the villa.
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Talk me through your emotions and feelings the moment you were named the winners of season six, as well as finally being out of the villa.
KORDELL BECKHAM As far as emotion-wise, I really don’t think it hit us. We’re just so excited to have this special moment, this alone time, without the cameras, with each other. And as far as outside the villa, we’re definitely going to be exploring a lot of that — going on a lot of dates, the things that we planned, even meeting up with our friends. And I even plan on moving out there to L.A. with her soon so we can be closer together and make this really work, because we’re both interested in seeing how far we can go … more than what it is now.
Looking back at the whole experience, what was your favorite moment together?
SERENA PAGE I really love doing his hair, actually. So maybe one of those moments, or any time that we’re joking and laughing together, because we were joking the whole time with each other.
BECKHAM Us cracking jokes and laughing and dancing with each other, just old school dances we’d be doing. I’d be nice. It was like the jerk and then the little two-step stuff we’d be doing and all of that.
I think America was laughing with you both during those fun moments.
PAGE My laugh has definitely gotten some comments.
BECKHAM I like that laugh so much. That’s what got me.
With you both having a slower start with your connection, Kordell, what made you want to wait and fight for Serena?
BECKHAM She was different. She carried herself differently from all of the other women in the villa. I haven’t met anybody like her, for real. We were so similar. It was weird, and I wanted to see more of that. I wanted to see what we could be, what we can become. And I don’t know, just her presence was nice, very gorgeous and, obviously, funny as hell. We can crack jokes about things that a lot of people wouldn’t be able to crack jokes about. For example, our situation that we’ve been in — we can crack jokes about that and just laugh at it and move on. I really like that. She’s a very, very strong woman. I like that as well. And, she don’t play. I like that. Yeah, there’s a lot I like about her.
Serena, I think there are many fans who appreciate you for going at your own pace when it comes to love, but what made you initially want to go on a show like Love Island USA, knowing how fast everyone moves?
PAGE Honestly, I guess I didn’t realize how much of a slow burn I was until I got there and I saw how fast everybody else was moving. I was like, “Whoa, is that what I’m supposed to be doing?” I was like, “Wait a minute, what did I just sign myself up for?” It was even to a point where I was kind of beating myself up. I was just like, “Why are you not doing all of this?” And I was like, “You know what I did say when I come on here, the one thing I was going to do was be myself.” So I’m like, “bitch, if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it.” If they want to send your ass home because of it, send me home. It was a battle, an internal battle. But I didn’t realize how slow a burn I was until I got there, and I’ve been faster before, but I guess it was before all of my trauma with men. So I came to that villa hating men low key. I was like, “Oh and now I’ve got to be open to these men. Oh, God.” That was another factor. I was not the most fond of men in general going in there. I’m really like, “Serena, what the hell are you doing? Where are you right now?” Like, “Can I couple up with one of these girls?”
Your relationship was definitely giving a friends-to-lovers trope.
BECKHAM Especially that dock scene.
PAGE Yeah, that dock scene was definitely giving Lifetime movie. They were waiting for us to just start making out. I’m like, “WHAT!”
I think I can safely say America was feeling for you, Serena, after Casa Amor. What made you decide to give Kordell another chance?
PAGE Just seeing how he took accountability for everything and he told me everything down to the little details, the little comments. He was very open and honest with me, and I really admire those traits in a man. Especially one that you want to lead you, protect you, whatever. So I’m like, “OK, that’s a very good trait.” Obviously, I was very pissed [after Casa Amor], but he fought for me and he let me be upset. He didn’t try to manipulate me. He’s like, “Yeah,get on my ass, go ahead, let me have it.” As dramatic as it was, I was like blacked out with emotion. I was like, “What am I doing right now?” So that’s why I knew I still really like him and it’s still clearly something there, even the way that he was really chasing me around the villa, and he looked really good so that didn’t help. (Laughs.)I definitely feel like I could have done a better job atreassuring him well before Casa, although we had that chat before; I could have been doing that well before and it took me a minute. So I thought a fresh start would be great. I didn’t want anybody else. It was either him or I was going to go home, honestly.
BECKHAM And I definitely could have been more respectful on the things that I did at Casa specifically, because of the tests that we had before we even found out we were going there. I did know where I went wrong. I messed up and I wasn’t afraid to admit that. I wasn’t afraid to take accountability, andactionsspeak louder than my words because my words, I can never really get out the right way. So I was more going to show her, “When I say these things that I mean it and I will fight for you and you’ll see it.” And sure enough, she saw it and it brought us to where we are now and it made us stronger tenfold.
Knowing what you learned in this experience, what advice would you give to others looking for love?
PAGE Do not try to compare yourself to other relationships or compare yourself to someone else’s journey, because every relationship is different. And the one thing that I think will remain the same is the realness and you being authentic and true to yourself. That will always show through no matter if y’all are super bad, super slow, super crazy, super boring — no matter what it is like, just stay true to yourself and it is what it is. The only thing that matters is what you and your man think of it.
Serena, you not only found love but also some amazing friendships, especially with Leah Kateb and JaNa Craig. (They called their trio PPG for Powerpuff Girls.) What was it like knowing you also left the villa with these amazing friendship bonds?
PAGE It was amazing.I watched Love Island, so I wasn’t expecting to go in there and honestly love all the girls. I think all the girls in general had a great bond. However, PPG holds a special place in my heart. We’re all so silly, so unfiltered, just funny. We just laugh together so much and we all are different. That’s why we named ourselves the Powerpuff Girls, because we’re all so different. There’s a super feisty one, there’s a really sweet one and then there’s just the boss bitch one, so I think that fits us very well. We’re like puzzle pieces and we make one PPG puzzle and I love them. It was even amazing hearing my sister bring them up at family day because at that point, I didn’t know what America thought or what clips out of the 24 hours [each day] that they were showing. So the fact that PPG had PPG moments, I’m like, oh period, because we were attached at the hip.
Looking ahead at the future of your relationship, what are you most excited about?
BECKHAM Pursuing the things on the outside world and really getting to know each other more on a different level when it happens, going on our dates that we’ve planned and also me moving out there potentially to L.A., whenever she’s ready. Even hanging out with our friends, like the lifelong friends that we’ve made in the villa, we will be hanging out with them, including Rob [Rausch] and Liv [Walker].
And maybe even watch the season back with each other?
PAGE I’m not watching it back. Maybe he’ll tell me. I was like, I can’t, I can’t watch it back.
BECKHAM This is what me and the boys, we all planned this, right? We’re all going to get together, we’re all going to livestream and every time we see something cringe, we’ll take a shot and I think we’ll probably be out within minutes. (Laughs.)
PAGE I don’t think they’ll even last a full episode. (Laughs.)
Also, a reunion episode was announced during the finale. What are you most looking forward to with that?
BECKHAM Just seeing everybody, to be honest with you, whoever shows up to the reunion.
PAGE It would be a good time to have all of us in one place. And it’s not too far away, so honestly just seeing everybody. We ain’t in no drama unless somebody come for me or PPG, then it’s going to be some sh*t. But other than that, we be chilling.
Season six of Love Island USA is currently streaming on Peaco*ck.
