From Villa to Viral: How ‘Love Island USA’ Season 7 Created Social Media Superstars

Now that your favorite Islanders have left the villa and Love Island USA Season 7 has officially wrapped, the real drama is just beginning! While we watched couples couple up and break up on screen, the Love Island USA Season 7 cast has been busy building massive social media empires that prove sometimes the biggest winners aren’t the ones who take home the $100K prize. (Cover photo credit: Kim Nunnely/Ben Symons/Peacock)

The Love Island USA cast members are now making their rounds on the online and podcast circuit, spilling all the tea that we didn’t see on TV – and fans are absolutely here for it. From behind-the-scenes villa secrets to post-show relationship updates, these Islanders are serving up the content we’ve all been craving while simultaneously becoming some of social media’s hottest new influencers.

But which Love Island USA Season 7 contestants truly captured America’s hearts (and follows)? A fascinating new study reveals that the most popular Islander on social media didn’t even win the competition, and the results might surprise you. With over 13 million new followers gained collectively by the top 10 contestants, this season created a new generation of social media stars who are proving that authenticity and relatability can be just as powerful as finding love on reality TV.

According to https://www.heepsy.com/, here’s a look at the top 10 Love Island USA 2025 contestants by Instagram follower growth:

Huda Mustafa takes the crown as the Love Island USA season 7 contestant who gained the most with 3.3 million new Instagram followers during the show’s final month. People love the 24-year-old fitness coach from Raleigh, North Carolina’s ability to be authentically herself, her willingness to take accountability for her actions, and her deep relatability with others. Huda recently opened up about past family trauma and how what she experienced and saw growing up affected her, creating an even stronger connection with fans who appreciate her vulnerability and genuine nature. Huda now has 3.7M total followers.

Amaya Espinal ranks second, gaining an incredible 3.2M new followers added during her path to victory. The 25-year-old registered nurse from New York currently has 3.3M total Instagram followers. In addition to massive growth on social media, Amaya also secured $100K in a split prize as a co-winner.

Nicolas Vansteenberghe captures third position, attracting audience interest with his healthcare profile and modeling background. The 24-year-old registered nurse and model from Jacksonville, Florida, added 1.1M new followers. Nicolas now has a strong online presence with 1.3M IG followers.

Jose ‘Pepe’ Garcia lands in fourth place by building a strong international following. The retired professional basketball player and personal trainer added 1.1M new followers during his time on the show. The 27-year-old from Madrid, Spain, has accumulated 1.2M IG followers.

Chelley Bissainthe  secures fifth place in social media growth rankings. The 27-year-old day trader from Orlando, Florida, gained 989,000 new followers during the last month of the show. Chelley now has 1.6M total followers on Instagram.

Olandria Carthen ranks sixth with her blue-collar background and Southern charm resonating strongly with viewers. The 27-year-old from Decatur, Alabama, working in the elevator and escalator industry, attracted 875,000 new followers. With this, Olandria has reached a total of 1.5M Instagram followers.

Ace Greene takes seventh place, having started with the most followers. The dancer and content creator gained 829,000 new followers during the show. The 22-year-old from Los Angeles, California, has now hit 1.7 million total Instagram followers. As the youngest contestant, his dancing background potentially helped him connect with younger audiences.

Iris Kendall holds eighth place with her beauty industry background, which usually appeals to online audiences. The influencer and spray tan artist gained 789,000 new followers during the last few weeks of the show. The 25-year-old from Calabasas, California, now has 1M total IG followers.

Jeremiah Brown comes in ninth place in Instagram follower growth. The model and the caterer attracted 735,000 new followers during his Love Island journey. The 25-year-old from Seattle, Washington, currently has 812,000 total IG followers.

Cierra Ortega completes the 10. The 25-year-old brand partnerships and talent manager from Arizona is now followed by 723,000 more people. The experience in influencer marketing likely helped Cierra in creating engaging content throughout her time on the show. Cierra’s current Instagram fanbase amounts to 882,000.

“The results reveal the social media winners from the Love Island contestants,” says Tabi Vicuña, Founder of Heepsy. “Huda Mustafa gaining more followers than the actual winner proves that being popular online is different from winning the competition. It’s also clear that people are increasingly drawn to influencers with wellness-related jobs like nurses and fitness coaches. The fact that contestants from so many different states made the top 10 also indicates the show appeals to audiences all across America, not just in certain areas.”