The season seven contestants, now 24 and 27 respectively, shared their first kiss on day one of filming before coupling with other islanders. Their connection simmered through multiple recouplings, secret kisses during challenges, and the show’s signature Casa Amor twist.
“Nic and I have always had a thing for each other since day one. I kissed him on day one,” Olandria told Variety in July. “Just because I didn’t choose to go with him does not mean that spark wasn’t there. It took us some time to get to this point. But that’s what makes this connection so special.”
Their path to coupling proved messy. During a blindfolded challenge, Nic secretly kissed Olandria while she was partnered with Taylor Williams and he was with Bell-A Walker. Olandria only learned Nic was behind the kiss at the end of their villa stay.
“I don’t know exactly what it would be, but every decision we’ve made has led us to here, and I wouldn’t change anything about that,” Nic told TODAY.com.
The turning point came in episode 30 when Nic’s partner Cierra Ortega left the villa after old social media posts surfaced showing her using racial slurs. With Nic finally single, Olandria chose him during recoupling.
“I would like to couple up with this boy because he’s always expressed how much he’s valued me as a person, valued our bond,” she told fellow islanders. “He has a crazy quirky personality. I’ve loved him from the moment I met him.”
The duo finished as runners-up to Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, who have since split.
Now maintaining a long-distance relationship between Houston and Jacksonville, both have landed modeling gigs and brand partnerships. Olandria appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in August, praising Nic’s supportive approach.
“I’m so happy that I was blessed with this guy who allows me to bask in my femininity,” she said. “He takes the wheel. Usually I’m a control freak, I let him do everything. The support that I have from this guy is unreal.”
At the Golden Globes in January, Olandria addressed skeptics questioning whether their relationship was performative. “I really feel like that’s why we’re so successful. We continue to prioritize our solo careers as well as our relationship.”
Their success stands out in a genre where most couples split within months of filming. The foundation, Olandria says, comes from genuine friendship built without pressure.
“I really think the foundation to a great relationship is always friendship when there is no expectations and no pressure, just two individuals learning each other over time,” she said during the season finale.
