Who is Olandria and why she is ‘bigger than the program’

The article profiles Love Island USA Season 7 breakout Olandria Carthen, explaining how the 27-year-old from Decatur, Alabama became a viral fan favorite known as “Bama Barbie” for her grace, warmth, Southern charm, and poise as one of only two Black women in the original cast, and how she has used her reality TV fame to amplify her values and purpose beyond the show; a proud Tuskegee University graduate with a degree in logistics and supply chain management, she has taken a thoughtful, intentional post-show path that includes speaking engagements, brand partnerships, fashion industry moments, and advocacy for education and HBCUs, making her cultural impact extend well past Love Island.