Entertainment
Love Island USA’s Mackenzie Dipman says ‘relationship challenges’ in the villa helped her and Connor Trott become last remaining couple
Love Island USA contestants Mackenzie Dipman and Connor Trott didn’t leave the villa together after a rocky romance, yet the pair are now the only thriving couple from season two.
For fans of the CBS series, this development was a pleasant surprise but as far as Mackenzie is concerned, everything worked out exactly how it was meant to.
Speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, the 24-year-old admitted: ‘People keep asking “Are you sad that, you know, things didn’t turn out differently in the villa? That you guys didn’t figure it out in there.” But honestly, I feel like that’s just what made us stronger is that we left the villa separately but then we chose each other – and we chose each other quickly.
‘I feel like we needed to have that separation, and go through what we went through in the villa in order to get to where we are now. I think that, unfortunately, if things had been smooth sailing and everything had been perfect, and we stayed together from day one to the very end, then we wouldn’t have been so sure once we returned to the real world.’
The college graduate continued: ‘But we’ve had our challenges, and we’ve had those tests already. I think that’s why we can have such confidence in each other, after we went through all of that we still wanted to be together.
‘That is what makes our bond so strong, it’s been tested. People are so afraid of their relationships being tested. But I think it was the best possible thing that could happen for us.’
The reality stars had an instant connection when they met in Las Vegas last summer, but things got all sorts of complicated thanks to recoupling decisions in Casa Amor.
Despite the drama, the pair ended up coming back together after their time on the show, proving that connections made in the villa can still flourish even if people leave as singletons.
While the likes of winners Justine Ndiba and Caleb Corprew ended up splitting just three months after they were crowned victors – one week after runner up couple Cely Vazquez and Johnny Middlebrooks called it quits – Mackenzie and Connor are still going strong.
In fact, there are the only couple from the Love Island USA franchise that are still together.
Mackenzie admitted: ‘I was very sad to see everyone starting to break up because I know how devoted all of us were to the process and to the prospect of finding love.
‘I’ve spoken to at least one person from all of the breakups, the and it’s hard. I don’t think anyone can really understand what it’s like to be in that experience, and to have those feelings and to have those relationships unless you’ve been a part of it.’
She continued: ‘The thing that people don’t realize is you become a part of this group of people that experience something that very few people in this world have ever experienced. You are surrounded by people all the time and then all of a sudden to be thrown out into the world again.
‘Suddenly you don’t have those people around you, and a couple might be long distance so it is really, really difficult. It’s a hard thing to go through alone.’
Looking at how her romance with Connor has managed to flourish in lockdown, Mackenzie gushed: ‘I feel so fortunate Connor and I could lean on each other and we could help each other through it.
‘I always expected us to be one of the long-lasting couples, but I didn’t expect to be the last couple left.’
Love Island USA airs on CBS in the US, and is available on ITV Hub in the UK.
Got A Showbiz Story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Love Island USA renewed for season 3 as series prepares for summer production in Hawaii
