Olandria

Olandria
Born
Olandria Lashae Carthen

(1998-05-29) May 29, 1998
Decatur, Alabama
EducationTuskegee University
Occupations
  • Model
  • Influencer
  • Television personality
Years active2025–present

Olandria Lashae Carthen (born May 29, 1998) is an American model,[1][2] influencer,[3][4] and television personality.[5][6] She appeared on the seventh season of Love Island USA in 2025, where she finished in second place.

Early life and education

Olandria[7] was born Olandria Lashae Carthen on May 29, 1998, in Decatur, Alabama.[8][9] She is the eldest sibling of two younger sisters and three younger brothers. She attended Tuskegee University, initially deciding to major in computer science but ultimately graduating with a bachelor's degree in logistics, materials and supply chain management. She worked as a salesperson in the elevator industry post-graduation.[8][10]

Career

On May 29, 2025, Olandria was announced as a contestant on the seventh season of Love Island USA.[11] She finished as the runner-up alongside Nic Vansteenberghe.[12] Olandria received significant attention during the season, for the representation that she brought to the show as a dark-skinned Black woman[13] and for her relationship with Vansteenberghe, referred to by fans as "Nicolandria" and described by CNN as "a cultural phenomenon".[9][14][15]

Following her appearance on Love Island USA, Olandria signed with Digital Brand Architects and later obtained broader representation through United Talent Agency.[5][16] She modeled for brands such as Kulani Kinis, Agua de Kefir, Sweetgreen, and NYX Cosmetics alongside her partner, Vansteenberghe.[17][18] Olandria has also done multiple campaigns and brand partnerships with companies such as Amazon, Visa, Hyundai, Aveeno, Vaseline, Yves Saint Laurent, and Sephora.[19][13][20][21][22][23] She modeled in UGG's 2025 "Fluff Momma" global campaign and Reebok's Angel Reese 1 campaign.[24][25] Ad Age named Olandria one of the top five breakout creators of 2025 and recognized her for "taking a deliberate approach to transforming momentary fame into a sustainable personal brand".[26][27] In October 2025, she was included in Cosmopolitan's Z-Stars Class of 2025.[28]

Styling duo Matthew and Reginald Reisman reached out to Olandria on Instagram while she was a contestant on Love Island USA.[29] After establishing a working relationship with the Reismans and wearing a number of looks curated by the styling duo that were widely circulated online, Olandria made her runway debut at the Sergio Hudson Spring/Summer 2026 show during New York Fashion Week in September 2025.[30][31] She also attended fashion shows by Off-White, Alexander Wang, and Theophilio during the same week.[32][33] Olandria was also recognized by Vogue as one of the best beauty looks following her red carpet debut at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.[34] In November 2025, she attended the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards in a custom Brandon Blackwood dress and also attended the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in a Christian Siriano gown.[35]

Olandria has highlighted higher education and career development at multiple speaking engagements.[26] A first-generation college graduate from Tuskegee University,[36] Olandria partnered with Microsoft Copilot to spotlight the history of her alma mater and the overall importance of HBCUs.[37] In October 2025, she advocated for the importance of higher education at the Her Conference "Butterfly Tour" stop at Texas A&M University[38] and spoke about career longevity at ZCON in Los Angeles.[39] In December 2025, she spoke at Harvard Business School about leadership, authenticity, and her experience in navigating professional spaces as a Black woman.[36] She received the Women in Business Power and Purpose Award at the Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business Annual Gala.[36]

In November 2025, Olandria won the EBONY People's Choice Award at the 2025 EBONY Power 100 Gala, an annual event highlighting influential figures in Black culture. She appeared on the cover of the EBONY 2025 Power Issue alongside the magazine's other honorees.[40][41][42] She was also named to The Root 100[43][4] and included in the Revolt Power List in the Creators category.[44]

Olandria was featured on Glamour's December 2025 holiday cover with Vansteenberghe[45] and appeared on the December 2025 digital cover of Harper's Bazaar Vietnam, marking her first solo magazine cover.[46][47]

Olandria made multiple appearances during the 2026 awards season, including walking the red carpet at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards and attending the Vanity Fair Oscar party.[48][2] She also attended the Bridgerton season four premiere in Paris.[49]

In January 2026, Olandria made her Paris Haute Couture Week debut, attending shows by Rahul Mishra, Valentino, and Robert Wun.[50][51][52] At Mishra's show, she was dressed in a sculptural "Heart of Gold" dress, which was viewed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the French Institute in India.[53][54] She later attended the Grand Dîner du Louvre at the Louvre Museum.[55][56]

In February 2026, Olandria made her Milan Fashion Week debut, appearing at shows by Roberto Cavalli, Blumarine, and GCDS.[57][58]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Notes Refs.
2025 Love Island USA Season 7; runner-up [59]

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Role Result Refs.
2025 EBONY Power 100 People's Choice Award Herself Won [40]
Fortune & Forks Visibility with Vision Award Won [60]
Femme it Forward Give Her FlowHERS: Self-Love Award Won [61]
Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business WIB Power and Purpose Award Won [36]
Model of the Year Awards Content Creator of the Year (Reader's Choice) Won [62]
Hello Beautiful 2025 Beauty of the Year Won [63]

Listicles

Year Publisher Listicle Refs.
2025 Cosmopolitan Z-Stars Class of 2025 [28]
The Root The Root 100 [64]
Cosmopolitan Best New Couple [65]
EBONY Top 25 Moments of 2025 [66]
Ad Age Top 5 Breakout Creators of 2025 [27]
Vanity Fair Best Performances of 2025 [67]
Revolt 26 Best-Dressed Celebrities of 2025 [68]
Revolt 2025 Power List [44]

References

  1. ^ "Olandria Carthen's Gold-Encrusted Couture Look in Paris Is the Definition of Luxe". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Logan, Elizabeth (March 16, 2026). "Olandria Looked Angelic in a White Winged Gown at the 'Vanity Fair' Oscars Party". Glamour. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  3. ^ Jr, Victor Qunnuell Vaughns. "Silence is the Real Scandal in the Influencer Economy". EBONY. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "The Root 100: Gen-Z Honorees We're Celebrating in 2025". www.theroot.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Tinoco, Armando (August 11, 2025). "'Love Island USA's Olandria Carthen Signs With UTA-Owned Digital Brand Architects". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 20, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  6. ^ "Step Into a Confessional Booth and Get FREE McDonald's". Nerdist. March 10, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  7. ^ Nosa, Diana (December 23, 2025). "We're Obsessed With Olandria Carthen's Glowy Glam in Her Latest Photo Drop". Sports Illustrated Lifestyle. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Lindahl, Jennifer. "From Decatur to the Villa: Olandria Carthen joins Love Island USA season 7. What to know". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on November 12, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  9. ^ a b France, Lisa Respers (August 16, 2025). "'Nicolandria' aren't just a cultural phenomenon, they're a beloved part of reality couple history". CNN. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  10. ^ R29 Unbothered. "Olandria Carthen On Her Love Story, Her HBCU Education, & How She's Handling Fame". www.refinery29.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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