The “Love Island USA” Season 7 cast is being pulled for one final chat this summer, and if the trailer is any indicator, this reunion special might just be the chat of all chats.
If anyone would know, it’s Ariana Madix, who co-hosted the reunion alongside Andy Cohen. As both are no strangers to the reality TV reunion experience — Cohen, the father of reunion specials on Bravo, and Madix, a former Bravo star — it’s easy to see why they were the perfect people to help the Islanders unpack the season.
Ahead of the “Love Island USA” Season 7 reunion, airing Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, Madix spoke with TODAY.com to give a peek at what viewers can expect.
You and Andy Cohen have participated in plenty of reunions on Bravo, but during those times, you were on the couch while he was in the co-host seat. How was this reunion experience?
It’s a little bit of a full circle moment, because, obviously, all the things that you just mentioned, but I feel like it was really fun because we have known each other for 10 years. And we had a really great chemistry. I feel like as the day went on, that became more and more apparent that we kind of just decided to take the bull by its horns. So as the day went on, we just really leaned into that.
I think that’s when we really hit our groove. And I mean, if we ever want to team up on anything ever again, I’m down! Because we had a great time doing it.
You hosted the reunion solo last year. How was this time different, as far as which of you were leading the questions?
Everything was definitely very even. I think Andy made it clear — he was like, “This is your show, this is not me coming in and taking over.” And I was like, “That’s so nice of you,” because obviously I look up to him and his interview skills for a lot of reasons.
But I think there were a lot of things — when they first came to me with the idea of doing a reunion this season — that I said needed to be different. I said no one is allowed to sit behind me. … I was like, I really want to be able to send in some of my notes so that maybe at some point I can incorporate some of my own questions, which I was able to do here and there. And I think we were all in agreement that we wanted there to be less people out the entire time. So there was a structure, which I think really helped, because that was something (about) last year: I really wish that we were able to talk to them in smaller groups about specific things. And I think that that was something that … really helps to be able to have these deeper conversations that we wanted to have with them.
How do you think the Islanders left this reunion?
I think they left in good spirits. There were a lot of things that I think a lot of them wanted to be able to express to each other — whether that was something that worked toward a resolution either way. Whether, like, we’ll be friends now, or OK, maybe it’s better off as not. I think that was important for them to be able to sit there, have that conversation and be able to move forward from there, and they all seem in great spirits.
They’re all so good at expressing how they feel about difficult topics. And that is something that I admire about them so much, because when I was that age, I don’t think I had that. I even still struggle to have that ability. And I really look up to them in that way. I mean, I think there was a moment where Olandria and Chelley were expressing how they felt about something, and I just was in such awe of their ability to speak about their feelings so beautifully and clearly, and I struggle with that, so I always just find that very admirable.
We did a group interview with some of the Islanders last week, and most said they hadn’t watched the full season back, but saw some clips here and there. What’s your opinion of that, as someone who has had to go into reunion episodes as a cast member before?
Well, in the past with “Vanderpump,” I had seasons where I watched everything, and then there were times where I didn’t. So I see both sides of watching or not watching. I think ultimately you have to do what’s right for yourself. I do think that sometimes there’s something that we’re referencing that would be nice if everybody knew what we were talking about — but I also understand getting to a point where you’re like, “I just lived this whole thing. Do I need to relive it?” So I definitely see both sides of that.
The Islanders also told us what their futures might look like. Some were interested in staying in the media space and maybe doing more reality TV — but what do you see for them?
Oh, my gosh. Well, I think they’re all so different, and I think that’s what’s so cool. Even seeing some of the things that they’ve been doing since then, they all have their own niche. And that’s what’s so great about them. I think that they each bring something unique to the table, so I’m excited to see what they do from here.
I mean, I was asking Olandria if she was going to go back to elevator sales, but I think that she has a very big career in things that are definitely not elevator related. But I think it’s really cool for them to be able to have this platform and realize their dreams with it. I think sometimes people online, they have a weird thing about whether they have a following or whatever. But I just think, you know, go for your dreams, and if this is the path that leads you there, then do it.
I was watching you on “Beyond the Villa” with some of the “Love Island USA” girls from last season. What was it like catching up with that group at your sandwich shop?
It was so great for them to come to the sandwich shop! You know, that’s kind of our vision for the shop when we first had the dream of opening it: Have your girls there for a little kiki, a little girls lunch. I love seeing them — watching them succeed, it just makes me so happy. And I love those girls so much, and I love seeing them just out in this world, taking it by storm. They are stars, but I feel like we knew that at the beginning. I just remember watching all of them walk into the villa that first night and knew right away they were it — they had it.
“Love Island USA” streams on Peacock, which shares TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.
