WHILE Love Island USA appears to be all love and games, it’s not a free-for-all for the contestants in the villa.
Each person who signs on to the show must follow strict rules or face being kicked out and sent home.
Fans have seen multiple stars disappear from the show and be replaced over the years for breaking the hard-and-fast policies put in place.
Most recently, expected newbie Vasana Montgomery was booted from the Season 8 cast just days before the premiere after footage emerged of her using a racial slur.
Two similar incidents happened last season with Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega, although they had made it into the villa before being abruptly pulled when their racism scandals were unearthed.
Love Island USA producers made it clear that they are serious when they promise to fire cast members who don’t follow their set rules, and many might not be ones you’d expect.
No brand logos
One thing that’s absolutely prohibited is wearing clothing or using make-up with visible logos on them.
Season 4 Love Island USA contestant Phoebe Siegel previously revealed in a TikTok that talent managers and producers raided the cast’s luggage in their hotels before entering the villa to ensure that they abide by this rule.
“They do this because you are not to have any clothing ‘brands’ that are visible on the show,” the reality star said in a June 2024 TikTok.
“[The] same thing goes for make-up. All of your make-up gets black tape.”
No access to the outside world
It’s widely known to Love Island fans that the stars aren’t allowed to communicate with anyone outside the villa while on the show.
While the islanders are given flip phones to receive texts from production and to take pictures, their personal phones are confiscated.
Phoebe confirmed this in another June 2024 TikTok, saying, “You can’t Google, you can’t watch TV, you can’t access your socials, you can’t text anybody.”
Alcohol is limited
If you’ve ever wondered why you’ve never seen drunken hook-ups or fights between the islanders, it’s because they’re severely limited to how much alcohol they can consume.
Participants can only drink one alcoholic beverage per night, and that can only be wine, beer, or prosecco.
Samie Elishi from Season 9 of Love Island UK said in an April 2023 YouTube video that “it’s impossible to get drunk on the show.”
She noted that islanders are forbidden from sharing drinks with one another and that they were allowed two drinks on “very rare occasions.”
No smoking in the villa
Although the contestants are allowed to smoke cigarettes, they are restricted to where they can do so.
In January 2023, Metro reported that smoking inside the villa is strictly prohibited and is limited to a “designated smoking area.”
ITV also confirmed that this rule applies to vapers as well.
This wasn’t always the case, as smoking in the villa was common in early seasons of Love Island UK, but after many complaints from viewers, it is now banned.
Islanders cannot come and go as they please
For the most part, the islanders stay in the villa, and there are a few exceptions for when they can go off-site.
They can leave if they’re awarded dates at another location, during Casa Amor episodes, and when participating in challenges happening elsewhere.
Otherwise, they cannot exit the villa unless they are dumped or leave voluntarily.
Contestants must make their beds every morning
Just because the contestants are on a tropical getaway in Fiji doesn’t mean they don’t have chores to get done.
While speaking about her experience in April 2023, Samie, from Love Island UK, revealed that the islanders are required to make their own beds each morning.
She said during her season, the guys generally did that job but would alternate with the ladies during off days.
Islanders must attend mandatory meetings
The contestants don’t only share what they’re feeling during confessional interviews, but they’re also required to report to the producers daily.
Love Island UK Season 8 contestant Jay Younger revealed in a July 2022 post on X that he “hated these mandatory morning debriefs.”
A fan then asked whether producers made them discuss their experience each day, to which he replied, “Yes.”
Islanders have to get ready at a set time
Despite how lengthy their glam sessions may appear on-screen, participants don’t have all day to get themselves camera-ready.
According to Lucinda Strafford, from Love Island UK’s Season 7, the islanders only have a certain window of time to get ready, and it varies each night.
In October 2021, the TV personality said that they were given anywhere from half an hour to 90 minutes for glam.
She also noted that how long they had depended on “whether the producers have something lined up to happen early on that night,” though the islanders were never filled in on what that would be.
Active social media profiles are forbidden while on the show
Along with islanders being unable to speak to anyone on the outside while in the villa, they also can’t have someone else communicate on their behalf on social media.
Incoming Love Island USA Season 8 contestant Sean Refeil‘s sister, Brice Marie, recently revealed that the islanders’ online platforms must go dark during their time on the show.
During previous seasons, contestants would appoint friends or family members to manage their socials for them since they didn’t have access to their phones.
That is no longer allowed to shield islanders and their loved ones from online hate, which aligns with The U.S. Sun’s exclusive report last week that Peacock was taking drastic measures to control how fan criticism reached the contestants.
Islanders have to make their own breakfast
Turns out, there’s a reason why viewers only see the islanders making avocado toast and eggs in the mornings.
This is because they are responsible for making their own breakfast, while lunch and dinner are provided, according to Mille Court, who won Season 7 of Love Island UK.
She also said that there is a catering service that varies each day for other meals, but she “didn’t like the food.”
Contestants have to go to bed at a certain time
Although there are no clocks or a way of knowing what time it is while in the villa, the contestants always know when it’s bedtime.
To accommodate the tight filming schedule, production keeps the islanders on a strict routine.
Mille revealed in June 2022 that participants are told when to go to sleep, even if it’s not when they want to.
She noted that sometimes, bedtime “would be really late” and she’d “be so tired,” but had to power through.
Listening to music is not allowed
Once islanders are in the villa, all leisure activities they enjoy, like reading books or listening to music, are not allowed.
Per Mille’s June 2022 YouTube video, the cast are forbidden from listening to music, though there are a few exceptions.
She revealed that music could be played in the cab when leaving the villa for a date or group activity.
Samie added in an April 2023 video that contestants of the Heart Rate Challenge were also permitted during sultry dances, and guest artists who performed for a party could do a soundcheck.
The Season 8 premiere of Love Island USA, hosted by Ariana Madix, premieres on Tuesday on Peacock at 9:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. PST, with new episodes dropping every day this week.
