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These Olandria Carthen Looks From 2025 Will Live Rent-Free in Our Minds Well Into 2026

The Alabama native commanded our TV screens this year, and we’re excited to see what’s on the horizon.

Bailey Colon

Olandria Carthen
Olandria Carthen / Jerritt Clark/Getty Images/Femme It Forward

Ever since Olandria Carthen made her Love Island USA Season 7 debut in June, it was as if the world knew that the Alabama native was destined for stardom. A member of the season’s original cast, she made it all the way to the show’s finale with her current partner, Nic Vansteenberghe, and, in the nearly seven months since the season’s conclusion, Carthen has taken the fashion world by storm.

Here are just a few of our favorite looks from the 27-year-old to round out the 2025 year—because if we’ve learned anything about this reality TV star turned social media multihyphenate, she’ll have plenty more standout ‘fits in store for 2026.

A sheer sight at the VMAs

Carthen headed to MTV’s early September award show in a jaw-dropping display, which she deemed the “Freakum dress,” to her now 2.3 million Instagram followers. The ensemble featured a strapless corset-style satin bodysuit, draped with a sheer, cherry-red fabric, and she accessorized with a duo of statement rings, drop earrings, a choker necklace and long gloves of the same red hue.

A magnetic leopard-printed moment

This look on the “Bama Barbie” effortlessly turned heads. She sported a long trench coat adorned with animal print and paired the number with matching micro shorts of the same pattern. However, the spots didn’t stop there. Carthen also repped the print on a pair of sheer black tights tucked into closed-toed heels. The fashionista finished her look with a mesh top, which revealed a black bra, lots of gold jewelry and a duo of statement accessories: a basketball-shaped handbag and skinny black sunnies.

A fierce two-toned look with Femme It Forward

Olandria Carthen
Olandria Carthen / Jerritt Clark/Getty Images/Femme It Forward

In November—deemed as “Olavember” by the Love Island USA alum—Carthen accepted The Self-Love Award at Femme It Forward’s Give Her FlowHERS Gala. For the event, she donned this two-toned display, which, like her VMAs ensemble, featured another corset-style garment and matching gloves. However, for the mid-fall occasion, she opted for baby pink and black hues instead.

Reppin’ Harvard crimson on campus

Carthen earned the inaugural Power & Purpose Award from Harvard’s Undergraduate Women in Business club in early December and accepted the honor in this monochromatic, tailored look. She added a stylish twist to her entirely burgundy pantsuit, which paid tribute to the Ivy League school’s colors with matching leather gloves, a bright pink handbag and a corset around her torso.

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Bailey Colon
BAILEY COLON

Bailey Colón is a writer on the Breaking and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit, Colón worked at the National Basketball Association where she served as a founding member of the ‘Starting 5’ newsletter and led editorial operations for the NBA App and dotcom. Colón is particularly passionate about the impact of athletics on popular culture, fashion and media. The New England native has a bachelor’s degree from Marist College in journalism and political science.

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