Nic Vansteenberghe Unveils Surprising New Hair Transformation

Paige Catton Wed, October 7, 2026 at 6:29 PM UTC

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Originally appeared on E! Online

A hot new (blonde) bombshell has entered the villa.

Indeed, two months afterNic Vansteenbergheand fellow Love Island USA season seven runner-up Olandria Carthen’s breakup was confirmed, he underwent a major hair transformation, trading his dark brown curly hair for a cool silver blonde.

“Came to Korea for the ultimate glow-up,” Vansteenberghe wrote in an Oct. 6 TikTok video, which he captioned, “Heard blondes have more fun.”

In the footage, the reality star shared a glimpse at the transformation process at the salon, including him getting his hair lightened and trimmed, beforeVansteenberghe revealed the finished look in the mirror.

And while the 25-year-old appeared to be digging his new ‘do, fans had much to say about his blonde tresses.

Indeed, many noted that they’re already missing his natural dark locks, with one writing, “nic please go back.”

“nooo they fried your curls,” another user wrote alongside crying emojis. “you gotta fix this with proper care. and go black or dark brown.”

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But fans also brought up other suggestions for Vansteenberghe, including a buzzcut look, or a warmer shade of blonde as some argued that the color wasn’t even in the shade range.

As one fan wrote, “Nic this is silver lmao.”

Although it’s unclear what inspired the DJ to change up his look, it comes on the heels of his split from Carthen, with whom he connected on season seven of Love Island USA in 2025.

And while the fan-favorite couple is no longer together, Vansteenberghe shared they remain on good terms.

"We have a lot of love for each other," he exclusively told E! News' Keltie Knight at the 2026 Video Music Awards on Sept. 27. "We're constantly supporting each other."

As he emphasized, “I’ll always be her number one fan.”

In fact, Vansteenberghe is maintaining a positive outlook post-breakup and wants others to do the same.

“Things will always get better,” he shared while at LIV Beach at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Aug. 16, per footage shot by @jpasc24. “It’s rock bottom, but it’s about the climb.”

Keep reading to see which Love Island couples are still together or parted ways after the villa…

Nathan Massey & Cara De La Hoyde: Married

The ultimateLove Islandsuccess story, Nathan and Cara were declared season two's winning pair after meeting in the villa in 2016.Once Cara learned she was pregnant with their first child in May 2017, the couple briefly split before reconciling and welcoming their son,Freddie, in December 2017. Nathan proposed to Cara in July 2018, bringing her back to the place where it all began—the villa, of course—to pop the question.The duo exchanged vows in June 2019 and welcomed their second child, daughterDelilah, in July 2020.Alex Bowen & Olivia Buckland: Married

After coming in second place on UK's second season in 2016, Alex and Olivia got engaged the following year, with Olivia even appearing on an episode ofSay Yes to the Dressto find her dream wedding gown.The season two pair exchanged vows in a September 2018 ceremony, with their wedding process and life as newlyweds being documented for TLC'sOliviaandAlex Said Yesand thenOlivia and Alex: Happily Ever After.Alex and Olivia welcomed their sonAbelin June 2022 and announced in February 2025 they're expecting Baby No. 2. DaughterSiennaarrived that August.Dominic Lever & Jess Rose: Married

Dom and Jess proved to be one of the series' strongest love stories, continuing their relationship after he was voted off the show.UK's season three couple wed in October 2018 and share two children.Camilla Thurlow & Jamie Jewitt: Married

Just when viewers were worried all hope was lost for season three fan-favorite Camilla, Jamie entered late in the game and it was clear who he had shown up for. Swoon.While they ultimately finished in second, Camilla and Jamie have been going strong ever since their first meeting in 2017. The couple married in September 2021 and share three kids:Nell(born in October 2020),Nora(May 2022) andBrodie(May 2024).Ellie Brown & Charlie Brake: Split

TheLove Island UKseason four contestants may have left the villa together in 2018, but their romance fizzled out not long after returning from Mallorca. They have since gone their separate ways.Ellieannouncedin July 2025 that she had gotten engaged to her boyfriend, whose name she has not publicly announced, one year after debuting their relationship.Dani Dyer & Jack Fincham: Split

Months after Dani and Jack were crowned the champions ofLove Islandseason four, theyannounced their breakup."Jack and I have sadly decided to part ways," Dani wrote on Instagram in December 2018. "It's been an incredible six months, and we will always have a place in our hearts for each other, but we've sadly come to the realisation that it's not meant to be long term. We both plan to stay friends.”They ended up being more than friends and soon rekindled their romance. But by early 2019,they’d split again—with Jack noting on Instagram "sometimes things aren’t meant to be.""We will always care a lot for each other and have love for each other," he added in an April 2019 post, "and I mean that from the bottom of my heart and I wish her nothing but happiness."Jack noted he and Dani “really did try to make it work but it unfortunately didn’t and that is life.” Years later, he shared his battle with addiction contributed to their split."I have blown more than a million pounds thanks to drugs, booze and gambling," Jack toldThe Sunin February 2025. "Drugs helped my relationship with Dani fail. I was absent, my priorities were wrong, I wasn’t a great boyfriend. I am determined to change my future."Meanwhile, Dani has found love with soccer playerJarrod Bowen, whom she wed in May 2025. Together, they share twin girlsSummerandStar, who were born in May 2023. Dani is also mom toSanti, the son she welcomed with exSammy Kimmencein January 2021.Lucie Donlan & Joe Garratt: Split

Lucie and Joe first paired up on day one of season five. But when he was voted out of the villa, she quickly moved on by dating multiple other men (and admitting to having serious feelings for a taken Tommy). So it was quite the surprise for fans when they revealed they were dating after their season ended.But just like their initial romance, the surfer and the sandwich maker's second attempt fizzled out, with the couple splitting in early December 2019.And while Lucie is now engaged to season six's Luke, Joe (despite shooting his shot onAll Starsin 2024) seems to be enjoying the single life.Amber Gill & Greg O'Shea: Split

Sigh, this one stung. Don't you just hate it when the winning couple is one of the first ones to split? After getting together just weeks before the finale, with Greg being one of the last Islanders to join the villa, the fan-favorite pair managed to win season five. But they broke up just weeks later.After some mild controversy and back and forth between the couple over how exactly the split went down (apparently Greg, a rugby player based in Ireland, ended it via text), Amber said onLoose Women, "I think the careers and the distance was always a factor. It was always something that we knew about, so I don't know what changed. I kind of wanted to make it work, but it is what it is, really."As for Greg, he defended himself, saying on RTE'sThe Late Late Show, "She lives in the UK, every brand wants to work with her, every event wants her there, of course, she deserves all of it and I decided to come back to Ireland and do my thing here."However, he found a new connection and kicked off 2025 by proposing to his loveJeanni Mulder.Anton Danyluk & Belle Hassan: Split

While they were the second season five couple to call it quits soon after their time in the villa came to an end, Anton and Belle remained friends, though he ruled out any chance of a romantic rekindling."No, definitely not, it's just not that type of relationship," the fitness app creator toldMail Online. "We're so friendly now, it would be like dating your sister, effectively. It's not that kind of relationship anymore."In 2024, Anton appeared onLove Island: All Stars, where he came in fifth withGeorgia Harrison. However, they soon split.Molly-Mae Hague & Tommy Fury: Back Together

After a dramatic start to their romance, the Instagram influencer and the boxer quickly became season five's most solid couple...which was why it was so surprising when they came in second.They got engaged in July 2024—exactly six months after the birth of their daughterBambi—but Molly-Mae dropped a breakup bombshell in August 2024."I’m extremely upset to announce that mine and Tommy’s relationship has come to an end," she shared on Instagram Stories. "I will forever be grateful for the most important thing to me, now and always, my beautiful daughter. Without us, there would be no her. She will always be my priority."But on a May 2025 episode of her Amazon Prime seriesMolly-Mae: Behind It All, she revealed that she and Tommy weregiving their relationship another chance.After announcingshe was expecting their second babyin February 2026, Molly-Mae and Tommy became parents of two in June 2026.Curtis Pritchard & Maura Higgins: Split

Arguably one of season five's most polarizing pairs after enduring their fair share of drama, the fourth-place finishers proved their doubters wrong by taking their relationship beyond the villas in 2019."I think trust one another, don't believe everything you read in the press and one main thing: Don't let fame get to your head," Maura said on UK'sThis Morningof how they've made their relationship work. "You just need to stay grounded."However, the pair broke up in March 2020."Curtis and I have made the decision to separate," Maura wrote in a note posted to her Instagram Stories. "We enjoyed a great experience from our time in the villa and want to thank everyone for supporting our relationship."But that wasn't the end of Curtis'Love Islandjourney. After a short run onLove Island: Gamesin 2023, he appeared onLove Island: All Starstwo years later, where he and Ekin-Su came in third place. However, the two called it quits a few months later."I wanted to share that Curtis and I have decided to go our separate ways," Ekin-Su announced in a May 2025 Instagram post, perPeople. "It's been a really tough decision, but one made with a lot of love and respect for one another," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories. "He's an incredible person and I'll always cherish the memories we made both in and out of the villa."Ovie Soko & India Reynolds: Split

While they got together later than a majority of the couples in the villa (with the fan-favorite Ovie making his debut during the infamous Casa Amor episodes and India joining even later), the pair made it to the finals, coming in third place for season five in 2019.However, the professional basketball player and the model quietly parted ways later that year."Obviously it's difficult, but any break up is difficult," she toldtheMailOnline. "It's even more difficult when it's in front of the rest of the world, but I'll be fine. I'm lucky I've got a really close group of girlfriends, they've been really looking after me."In early 2025, India appeared onLove Island: All Starsbut left the show single.Finley Tapp & Paige Turley: Split

The winners of the first-ever winter season ofLove Islandcoupled up almost immediately, staying together despite all of the obstacles the villa presented.Theymoved in togetherafter the season ended in February 2020, but called it quits three years later.'We're still really good friends," Paige shared during a June 2023 appearance onLove Island: After Sun. "I think we drifted apart."But in August 2024, Finley debuted a new romance on Instagram. And while the couple initially kept her identity private,The Sunconfirmed in June 2025 he's datingJess Hale. Theywelcomed their sonAustinin January 2026.Luke Mabbott & Demi Jones: Split

One season six's most unexpected couples came in third place during the winter-set run, though they split a couple of months after leaving the villa."We've completely called it off now. I think it was brought about more from his behalf than mine, but we're mutual and friendly," Demi told MailOnline in June 2020. "With lockdown, it drove us apart and we live so far away from each other. I feel like there wasn't a lot of effort made with communication, so we drifted as a result."Luke has since coupled up with season five's blonde bombshellLucie Donlan, with the pair confirming their romance in July 2020. They got engaged the following year.As for Demi, she appeared onLove Island: All Starsin 2024, where she metLuis Morrison. However, they broke up later that year.Ched Uzor & Jess Gale: Split

Season six's low-key pair came in fourth place, going on to date for several months before breaking up in June 2020."To confirm, myself and Ched have split, we are still good friends and I wish him all the best x," Jess informed her Instagram followers. "Thanks for all the support you have given us since the villa."Nas Majeed & Eva Zapico: Split

While he started off season six as a fan-favorite, Nas ended up losing support after breaking things off withDemi Jonesto be with Eva post-Casa Amor.Nas and Eva, however, remained together despite being voted off the show, and theymade their relationship officialin July 2020.Though they sparked engagement rumors in August 2023, when Eva wasspotted with a ring onthatfinger, Nas confirmed in March 2024 that the pair had parted ways."Unfortunately, Eva and I have decided to end our relationship," Nas wrote on Instagram Story. "There is no bad blood or wrong doing—it was a mutual and completely amicable decision."He added, "We tried to work things out over the past couple of months but decided this was for the best, and are both at peace with the situation."Nas went on to appear onLove Island: All Starsin early 2025, but ultimately left the villas solo.Callum Jones & Molly Smith: Split

The scaffolder became one of the most hated men in the U.K. when he dumped fan-favoriteShaughna Phillipsfor Molly during his stay at Casa Amor, with the public eventually voting the pair out of the villa.And while the two stayed together for three years off the island, they went their separate ways in 2023.The following year, they both went onLove Island: All Stars.Molly coupled up withTom Clare, and they were declared the winners of the season. Meanwhile, Callum formed a romance withJess Galeand they were the runners-up. And while Callum and Jess split later in 2024 (with him now datingYasmin Deplidge), Molly and Tom are still going strong.Luke Trotman & Siânnise Fudge: Split

Winter Love Island's 2020 runner-ups Siânnise and Luke found love in the villa and went on to date for about a year before breaking up in November 2021.However, he's since found love again and got engaged toChelsea Mennaless than a year later in 2022.Millie Court & Liam Reardon: Split (Again)

The season sevenLove Island UKchamps brought their love story out of the villa and into the real world in August 2021, after their loyalty was put to the test in Casa Amor.They announced their breakup on social media in July 2022, but reconciled almost a year later. For a stretch, Millie and Liam continue to provide glimpses into their life together on social media—posting about their travels, workouts and dates—and on their eponymous podcast. But the pair split for a second time in the fall of 2025.Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu & Davide Sanclimenti: Split

Nearly a year after Ekin-Su and Davide were declared the winners ofLove Islandseason eight in 2022, he announced they'd parted ways."@ekinsuofficial & I are no longer together," he wrote on Instagram in June 2023 "I am grateful for the memories and opportunities we shared together and I wish her nothing but the best. I would like for everybody to respect this decision during this difficult time. I will continue to support Ekin in anyway possible."Not long after, the pair rekindled their romance. However, they ended up calling it quits again."The last 18-months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, just like every relationship," Ekin-Su wrote on Instagram in January 2024, per screenshots shared byCosmopolitan UK. "Davide and I both wanted to make this work as we cared deeply for each other. Unfortunately I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and to go our separate ways. Breakups are never easy. For any couple. And we hope that our privacy will be respected. I enjoyed our time together and the memories we made."Both opened their hearts up to love again. In the summer of 2024, Davide began datingIris Au. Meanwhile, Ekin-Su briefly dated Curtis outside the villas after they placed third onLove Island: All Starsin early 2025. However, they split months later.Jess Harding & Sammy Root: Split

TheLove Island UKcouple walked away from the villa as winners on season 10, but called it quits just two months later in October 2023.According to Sammy, the breakup came as a "total shock.""We had a private conversation but this was left up in the air as Jess is still away and we haven't had a chance to speak in person," he wrote in an Instagram Story at the time. "To be totally clear—I at least wanted to see if our relationship could be saved and felt this would be the respectful way forward."Sammy added, "Despite how all this has played out today, I think Jess is an amazing woman and genuinely wish her the best."In early 2025, Sammy appeared onLove Island: All Stars, where he formed a relationship withElma Pazar. But in June 2025, the two sparked split rumors.Uma Jammeh & Wil Anderson: Engaged

The couple first met onLove Island UK's season 11, with Uma leaving on day 37 with Wil when he was dumped from the island after she was chosen byReuben Collins.In July 2025, one year after leaving together, Umaannounced that she and Wil were engaged. She wrote on Instagram with her ring on display, "We've been sitting on a bad boy piece of information."For the reality star, staying onLove Islandafter Wil's exit didn't seem like an option."There was no question. I didn't have to think about it at all," she said of her decision on the Not My Bagg podcast. "I want to be with Wil.""I've met someone," she explained to hosts Lisa Baggs and Joe Baggs. "It takes me so long to get to the position I was with Wil, to be so comfortable with someone. There were two weeks left. What was I gonna do? Just sit there and fake a new connection? I'd rather just be honest."Josh Ritchie & Sophie Piper: Still Together

Both Josh and Sophie had tried to find their matches onLove Islandbefore (he came in third place withLauren Richardsonin 2015; she checked into the villas five years later). But the stars seemed to align when they appeared onLove Island: All Starsin 2024, finishing third."Just the beginning," she wrote onInstagramthat February. "Thank you so much to everyone that has supported us throughout our journey honestly means the world."And she was correct that it was only the start of their forever journey."Our first year anniversary," Josh wrote onInstagramin March 2025. "I don’t know how you have put up with me for this long. You have a life time of this so I hope you no what you have a signed up for. Love you always."Zac Mirabelli & Elizabeth Weber: Split

The winners of the inaugural season ofLove Island USA(who paired up on day one and never parted) dated for several months before calling it quits at the end of 2019. "The breakup was mutual and we have left on amicable terms," Zac wrote on his Instagram Stories. "We simply wanted different things."In her own statement, Elizabeth added, "Although I had wished things could've turned out differently life doesn't always work out the way we could've hoped sometimes."However, she found love again—getting engaged toGianni Settinoin December 2024."For everyone watchingLove Island USAright now," she captioned a July 2024Instagrampost, "yes I have recoupled 5 years later."

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