today, Teen Vogue Public Extensive interviews Associate Editor Aiyana Ishmael and Love Island USA‘s Olandia and cherry. The popular duo chatted about their time in Fiji and was labeled “Mean Girls,” hair maintenance on the island, hopes for the future. See more inside…
Their friendship and timing are everything:
“We are soul sisters for a reason,” Hollandia tells Teen Vogue. “We always say to each other, ‘God knew we needed each other.” As season 7 was the year we were here at the same time, I’m so glad that past seasons didn’t work for us. ”
About being true to yourself in a villa:
“Before I went to the show, I told myself to be myself,” says Cherry. “They don’t want to feel like they’re setting up their façades, whether they like you or not. “Don’t feel that they don’t deserve this opportunity.
To my surprise after being labeled “Mean Girls”:
“It was confusing and very strange because we knew the people in that villa,” says Cherry. “We know how much we have appeared to each and every one of the islands. How well did everyone talk about us? So we leave the villa and see what we mean girls, we say, ‘Where is the average girl?’
“It was tough seeing our fellow islanders involved in the story,” says Hollandria. “You knew us, why would you go out and make America go and get to your head on social media? Many of them played with the story of a girl, a bully in that sense. I said, “It’s okay, this isn’t fair.”
On facing criticism of approaching castmate Whoda about her actions:
“Why don’t you say such things to us, and not to all those who meant the energy of a girl or the moment of a girl that meant that? It goes back all over. [as a Black woman] The moment you acted “from the character”, you were finished, so we didn’t call anyone’s name, we sat here, running up and down the villa screams, screaming, yelling. We just told the truth and put people accountable for their actions. ”
Balancing credibility and fears about public opinion:
“I knew I was going to be on the show, especially as a black woman, but I wasn’t alone in myself,” she says. “The world is always trying to label us as ‘angry black women’. They used moments of weakness and knew that when it came to my emotions as far as we could go, I had to dial it.
“The moment I broke, the moment I was blown away, people recall, ‘I knew that. That’s the real girlfriend,’ she recalls. “I didn’t want to apologise for me, but it seems this world doesn’t allow black women to do that.”
Chelley says she tried to block those pressures. “I still know myself, and I know my truth, so you guys can’t feel so much weight about me.
She adds, “This world can be crazy at times, and that’s what it comes with when you put yourself in this kind of space or place. Ultimately, I think the women Olandia is me are, we are so many black women and represent the common women, so I think I see it to us.”
About their chosen hairstyles at the show:
“On our days off, Cherry and I crochet their hair on the floor and loop the braids [to freshen them up]Olandia says. “No one would braid the hair.”
Cherry adds: “I think one of the biggest things for us is when we both enter the villa and look at each other and think, ‘Yes, we both got a braid.’ ”
“I remember sitting with the producer when I first landed. “By the way, I’m changing my hair.” [Chelley] say. “When I was talking to them, it was in the bread. They said, ‘What does it mean?’ I couldn’t leave it like this. They said, ‘Okay, is this going to go with your appearance yet?’ And I’m like, ‘Of course’. ”
And see the negative comments online about them:
“It was sad to see comments saying, ‘They need hair.’ You see how much of a challenge I am,” says Cherry. “When did you know someone who goes into the water 20 times in the summer, do you get it with slime and this and hair and look fresh?”
Why others feel the need to defeat them:
“I think the majority of that is that we are very confident in ourselves,” says Cherry. “That’s something that we want to defeat us so badly, why? If you see us feeling ourselves and making us happy who we are, why don’t you want to be as happy as well?”
“Because it makes them uncomfortable,” continues Hollandia. “Like a little girl, I’ve always struggled with skin complexion and hair type. I have 4C hair, dark skin and brown eyes. So I felt like I looked like the opposite of the beauty of the black community: bright skin, curly hair, bright eyes.
About future goals:
“I think my biggest goal right now is longevity,” says Cherry. “It’s not just what I want to do. There are so many different things from modeling, working with the brand, hosting.”
“Your girl is happy to fall in love when it comes to my relationship,” she continues. “I’m not completely involved yet. [Ace]you said you wanted to be exclusive, I said, yes. But will you become my girlfriend until you ask? I’m not your girlfriend, are you? “And if anyone knows anything about Ace, he’s going to do it with the most romantic and epic gesture ever. So I’m excited about it because I know that I too know the extra. ”
Similarly, Olandia has turned to multiple passes. “Yes, I don’t want to box it when it comes to certain things, just like I want to model it.
credit:
Photographer: Patience Ojionuka
Photo assistants: Esai Velasquez, Hypatia Sorunke, Zuri Moultrie
Art and Design Director: Emily Gilimis
Senior Designer: Liz Coulbourn
Associate Visual Editor: Bea Oyster
Style Director: Alyssa Hardy
Associate Editor, Style, Beauty: Donya Momenian
Associate Culture Director: Clad Doson
Culture Editor: Kaitlyn McNab
Associate Director of Audience Development and Analytics: Mandy Velez Tatti
Senior Social Media Manager: Honestine Fraser
Senior Social Media Manager: Jillian Selzer
Editorial assistant: Skyli Alvarez
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Source: Talking With Tami – www.talkingwithtami.com
