“Love Island USA” Season Six star Andrea Carmona was looking forward to her summer romance with Rob Rausch before it was abruptly, and tearfully, cut short.
The 25-year-old personal trainer from Miami entered the villa as a bombshell last week and swiftly caught the attention of Rob, who was seemingly in a strong couple with Leah Kateb at the time.
Rob said in his confessional interviews that he was attracted to Andrea and it would take a lot for him to stray from Leah. But the moment Andrea invited him on a date, it was clear the two had chemistry. They shared a kiss that solidified Rob had essentially moved on.
At the next recoupling, Rob stepped forward and confirmed to his fellow islanders (and viewers) that he wanted to pursue Leah. Amid heated back-and-forth conversations between Leah and Rob, Andrea didn’t involve herself and prioritized her connection with Rob. She and Rob were mostly shown only spending time with each other in the villa.
Despite being inseparable, the two were named as one of the bottom couples in Episode 12.
“When it came down to me and Rob versus Leah and Connor (Newsum), I feel like the fan base probably sympathized more towards Leah and just wanted her to stay on versus Rob and I. I feel like maybe we had some haters,” she tells TODAY.com in an interview.
While the boys decided to save Rob and eliminate Hakeem White, the girls chose to dump Andrea, leaving her devastated. After the girls revealed their decision, Andrea sobbed and repeatedly voiced how much she disagreed with them. Rob initially became emotional as well and announced he would leave the villa. He changed his mind during a private conversation with Andrea, however, and remained on the show as she departed.
Below, Andrea reveals how she feels about Rob opting to stay on the Peacock series without her. She also shares her thoughts on Leah’s “malicious” behavior toward her in the villa.
TODAY.com: You originally chose Aaron and Rob for dates when you came in. What stood out on your date with Rob compared to your date with Aaron?
It sounds like a fairy tale or sounds like a movie made up, but it was just a connection, like a feeling that I had with him. It just felt right. It felt safe. I felt more of, like, a sexual attraction to him than I did with Aaron (Evans). Aaron was fun and bubbly. But I was kind of just like, ‘What is with this boy?’ There was something more to Rob that I wanted to explore and I just felt different about.
TODAY.com: We didn’t see you and Leah interact much. Did you have a lot of conversations with her about the situation with Rob before or after you coupled up with him?
It was after we coupled up. I didn’t speak with Leah before just because during my entrance and when it all happened, I immediately pulled both Rob and Aaron for chats. And I focused on that. And then it was, like, the day was over. Then the next day, I wanted to pull Leah aside and then we got a text that was like, ‘Surprise! Pull two guys for a date.’ So obviously, immediately I went to that. But after the fact, when we got back from the dates, me and Leah did have a chat. It was like, ‘Listen, I know it’s not on you. I don’t have any animosity towards you. It’s just the way that Rob went about things.’ So that was (how) that played out.
I didn’t feel like, in the moment, when I did come in that I had to pull Leah for a conversation because… I didn’t know her yet. And I was really just trying to focus on whatever this was. I didn’t want to tell Leah like, ‘Hey, I really like Rob,’ when maybe I was feeling Aaron. So I (wanted) to deal with that when I made my decision in my head on where I was going with the guys. When I did, I did tell her, like, ‘Listen, I did like him a lot. And I’m sorry that he didn’t vocalize these things to you.’ Because she felt like she was blindsided in that aspect. But she was really sweet about it as far as like, ‘You guys, do you. It’s not a you thing. It’s a him thing.’
TODAY.com: Speaking of your conversations with Leah, she has said in the last two episodes that she never spoke poorly about him to you. Some islanders have questioned that. Do you remember her ever saying anything that would sway you away from him?
She definitely had her choice of words. She definitely did say a lot of negative things about him. I guess to her defense, if we’re getting technical, she never said it directly to me. But she would yell it very loudly in the dressing rooms as we’re all getting ready to gather. So it’s like she was intently saying these negative things about him. Then she’ll run back and be like, ‘Oh, but, you know like, I hope it works out with you,’ or like, ‘I hope he treats you different for your sake.’ Things like that. So it felt like it was kind of malicious in that aspect. And I felt like she was just trying to get into my head. But I told him, I was like, ‘Listen, regardless of what she says, I have thick skin and I’m going to judge my experience off you, based off what we share. That was her experience not mine.’ She had a lot to say about him and I just ignored it. She was emotional. I get it. Her situation was different.
TODAY.com: Do you think those moments of her yelling in the dressing room contradicted what she was saying to you in private?
Definitely. I felt like, ‘You were just so supportive and (told) me to do my own thing and, like, whatever and then now you’re turning around and saying all these negative things.’ I feel like if roles were reversed I would’ve just bit my tongue, been the bigger person and just let it fester. Be like, ‘You know what, that’s his loss that he wasn’t with me,’ and took that route. Versus, I feel like she made it a lot easier on him that he made the right decision moving forward with me because she made it so difficult and was creating so many problems and saying all these things. Versus, he was trying to take the high road. He never even bad mouthed her towards me. Like he would maybe say little things about how she was acting out of character but he never once was disrespectful towards her or said anything about her character, which is what I liked about him.
But on the ladder, she was just saying all these things. Like, calling him like a baby and not a man. I was like, OK, well, maybe you don’t like your men sensitive. I like a little bit of emotion myself.
TODAY.com: You and Rob seemed to be a strong couple. When it was announced that you two were in the bottom the night you were eliminated, were you surprised?
Yes, I was surprised. I thought we would have been in the top. I did have an inclination that probably Leah and Connor were voted in just because I feel like maybe the fan base had felt for Leah in the whole Rob situation. So I felt like it wasn’t necessarily about the couples in that voting. I feel like it was more about favorites people were voting for. Like, obviously Kaylor (Martin) and Aaron are super strong That I saw coming. Liv (Walker) and Miguel (Harich) were (immuned). They just got in here and then Kordell (Beckham) and Serena (Page) had a great friendship going. When it came down to me and Rob versus Leah and Connor, I feel like the fan base probably sympathized more towards Leah and just wanted her to stay on versus Rob and I. I feel like maybe we had some haters. That’s kind of where I felt that voting process went.
TODAY.com: Who did you think they were going to choose to eliminate?
I was really down because I thought they were going to send Nicole (Jacky) home. Reason being was because I knew the girls loved JaNa (Craig) and were not going to let her leave. So I knew they would find a way to keep her on. Then I thought, ‘OK, they see that Rob and I have a strong connection. Let’s keep them.’ I did not want to see Nicole leave. I would have been in shambles both ways if Nicole left. But I thought they were going to choose Nicole for that reason, just because she probably had the weaker connection. I have the strongest and then they were just closest to JaNa. So just going by politics, that’s how I thought things were going to play out.
TODAY.com: When they announced your name, you were very emotional and Rob was, too. Were you surprised by how emotional he became in that moment?
I was just like, ‘OK, it’s not just me.’ A lot of times in relationships, I feel like I give more than what the guy gives. During our relationship in the villa, I was like, ‘OK, maybe I’m giving too much. Or maybe I’m invested too much than he is. He left Leah like it was nothing. So what if he does the same (to) me?’ Seeing how emotional he was and saying how he would leave, I was like, ‘OK, wow. He really felt this as much as I felt it.’ So that was nice and comforting in that aspect of like, ‘OK, this isn’t fake, at least right now.’
TODAY.com: He did initially say he planned to leave before you had a conversation later. How did you feel when he ultimately decided to stay? Do you wish he never mentioned it?
I go back and forth on this. I know emotions were heightened during the decision and I would have done the same thing. As far as if the roles were reversed and they voted him, I would’ve been like, ‘Oh, my God. I’m leaving. There’s nothing for me here. Why would I stay?’ So I understood where he was in that moment when he said that. Then taking a step back, I know, ‘OK, it’s only been four days. Like, yes, we feel what we feel, but it’s been such a short amount of time.’ I didn’t want him to have any regrets as far as leaving, because, God forbid, things don’t work out with us. Then he’s like, ‘Damn, I wish I should have stayed on the show.’ So I would have rather him played it out. If anything, if he wanted to leave, I wanted him to be like, ‘I’m leaving because I want to leave.’ Versus like, ‘You tell me what to do.’ Because I wasn’t going to tell him what to do. That’s a decision for him to make. Again, I didn’t want him to have any regrets. I rather him stay on the show, play it out and see that I’m the best option. (Laughs) Just kidding. But I wanted him to play it out and see. Even for me to see if he goes on and finds someone else then clearly what we had wasn’t good enough or wasn’t strong enough as I thought.
I was like, ‘OK, well, next time, don’t make a show and say you’re leaving and then don’t leave.’ But I get it. I work very much on impulse and I would have for sure done the same thing. Then obviously you have your friends in your ear and saying certain things. Aaron didn’t want him to leave so I’m sure he had a lot of people in his ear on what he should do. So I know that played a big part in it. I’m not mad at him for that choice. I know that, at the end of the day, he’s doing what he felt was best for him, as he should. I would have done the same thing probably.
TODAY.com: In the latest episode, there was some discussion about who led the vote to eliminate you. Rob and some other islanders think it was led by Leah to separate you two. Do you believe that is the reason you were sent home?
I think that’s a part of it. I don’t think that’s the sole reason. Like I said, I wasn’t as close to the girls as the other girls were, just because I did spend so much time with Rob. Again, I don’t regret that because I’m happy. I mean, thank God. I would have regretted not spending time with him being voted off so soon. I would’ve been like, ‘Damn, I should have been with him more.’ I feel like that was a decider and I feel like she probably did have a say in that. Because I know for a fact, she still had feelings for him. Because it didn’t end on her point. It ended on his. I know they would have never had a chance to rekindle if I was still there. I can say that 100%. If I was still there, Rob would never give her the time of day. So I know, a part of her was like, ‘Okay, if she’s gone, maybe I can see if there’s something still there.’
TODAY.com: Are you hopeful you could rekindle something with Rob outside of the villa?
I’m not preying on anyone’s downfall. But if I was preying on someone’s downfall — just kidding. I obviously want the best for (him). At the end of the day, if there’s someone in there for him, that’s great because it does me a favor. If he finds someone in there, then OK. Then it wasn’t meant for us to be and I can sit and cope with that and move on. Versus I feel like it’s harder for me now. It’s kind of a waiting game. He’s in there with all these potential connections and I’m back into the real world. Going back home and kind of getting back into my routine. So it’s tough. I don’t think I will be watching. (I’ll) kind of wait for people to let me know what’s going on. Obviously, a part of me would love to rekindle and see if what we had in there was real. I would love to have a conversation with him, regardless, after everything is said and done. What I felt wasn’t made up. Like, I still feel it now.
Right now, I’m in a good headspace. But I know probably when I see him, it’ll all come flushing back again. I’m excited and curious to see where that goes or where it could go or if that’s just the end, and we just end up being really good friends.
TODAY.com: Anything about the experience that you would change? Did anything surprise you?
There’s nothing I would change. I’m a firm believer, like, I don’t regret anything. I do everything with intent. I feel like you can’t regret anything because everything is supposed to happen exactly the way it is. I wouldn’t change anything. I’m happy (with) the decisions I made and the time I spent.
I guess what really shocked me was how I felt. I’ve never for one cried that much in my life, ever. So the fact that I couldn’t even speak—that was insane. I think a lot of it was due to shock and emotions and whatever. I guess my big takeaway was feeling something, what I thought, was genuine. I never felt that with anyone in real life. So that took me aback and it’s exciting. OK, these things can happen. We can all feel this way towards someone. So it was a good thing in that aspect.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
