'Love Island' Exposes Dating Odds Stacked Against Black Women

Olandria Carthen and Michelle ‘Chelley’ Bissainthe are seen on August 13, 2025 in New York City. Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images Reality dating shows are marketed as light entertainment—tanned singles in bikinis, messy triangles, and flame-lit kisses. But for Black women, Love Island: USA has never been just a casual search for romance. Every season functions as a social experiment on desirability: who gets picked, who is overlooked, and what beauty choices are deemed acceptable under the ever-present white and male gaze. Yeah, it’s really like that, as viewers get to watch couples date in real-time. Often, you can watch as some get “pulled for chats” and others may not. Or, as soon as a bombshell enters the villa, an OG might be at risk of getting sent home. Of course, that is the point, to watch these sexy people casually search for their possible significant other, but producers are in charge of casting on compatibility since the islanders go through a rigorous screening process. So, if you’re rooting for #BlackLove, the dating choices and couples to vote for may look different. RELATED CONTENT: ‘Love Island’ Breakup Chaos: JaNa Craig And Castmates Drag ‘Racist’ Kenny Rodriguez For Being A ‘Manipulative Liar’ Black women face stacked odds in dating—both in real life and on reality TV. Pew Research Center states that Black women are 62% more likely to be unpartnered than Black men, and an OkCupid’s analysis shows they receive the lowest response rates of any demographic on dating apps. On Love Island, that imbalance plays out visibly: from the U.K. to the U.S. version, Black women are often picked last or eliminated first, a pattern fans and media have called out repeatedly. Speaking of called out, stay tuned for the Love Island USA 2025 Reunion on Monday night. It will surely be a dramatic scene as these conversations continue post-island adventure in the real world. Whew! According to Teen Vogue, Season 6 winner Serena Page admitted she auditioned with a wig because she feared her braids would keep her from being cast. When she later appeared on set with braids, producers allegedly told her she “looked different,” which left her in tears. That vulnerability shows how, from the start, Black women have to negotiate beauty politics just to secure visibility. A Scandal Beyond Appearance The news of one of Love Island‘s beloved couples from season 6 broke the internet. In Decider, the Beyond the Villa spinoff exposed something darker than a simple breakup. Allegations surfaced that Kenny Rodriguez cheated on Jana Craig and made racist remarks about Black women. Jana herself described the truth as “terrible, disgusting, and disappointing.” Cosmopolitan reports that co-stars quickly rallied around Jana. Serena Page said she had “no respect” left for Kenny, Leah Kateb accused him of being “racist, clout/money hungry and a scammer since Day 1.” Kaylor Martin declared she would “never speak” to him again, calling him “a poor excuse of a man.” According to People, screenshots shared online allegedly revealed Kenny saying, “I don’t like Black women,” and admitting to faking the relationship for clout. For many fans, the scandal highlighted how fragile desirability politics become when the illusion of the villa collapses. This has sparked online conversations around racism and colorism. Having to endure what you thought was a real relationship in front of the world to see is no small feat. How heartbreaking for Black women to go on a show intended for love and find out it was a lie? A lover girl’s fear!