Love Island Games‘ Isaiah “Zay” Campbell and Lucinda Strafford are telling all about plans for his or her prize money, online backlash and more after winning season 2.
Us Weekly caught up with Zay and Lucinda after the pair’s surprising victory. The underdogs-turned-champions teased their future as a pair — including what they’ll use their $250,000 earnings for and more.
How does it feel to win? Has it sunk in yet?
Zay: I’m at all times going to stay a humble king, so I don’t really think it’s ever really going to hit me, to be honest. Not until the wire hits officially. It’s a tremendous thing, however it’s crazy. It’s actually insane because how many individuals were there in total and it’s just crazy to be the 2 those who won.
It looks like Love Island Games is a likelihood to do things in a different way in comparison with your initial seasons. How did each of you approach this spinoff? What were you possibly hoping to get out of it?
Lucinda: I wasn’t actually pondering that I used to be going to win in any respect. Full stop, I assumed I used to be going to be in there for a number of days or possibly per week. I used to be saying that even when I make it to day five, I’ll be very comfortable. It just kept occurring and on and on. Truthfully, I didn’t really have any strategies whilst I used to be there. I went with the flow.
Zay: For me too, I didn’t really are available in there with any certain strategy. I felt prefer it was going to be just a little bit more much like Love Island. But obviously, I’ve never really handled games before, so I didn’t really think the entire alliance thing — or really having to select a side — was such a giant deal. But obviously that’s what got us to win.
With Love Island Games, it’s about balancing love and competition. Did it feel that method to you?
Lucinda: I’m not going to lie, I didn’t really benefit from the games aspect of things — simply because I’m not likely competitive. It’s not something I might normally do. But I’m comfortable that, obviously, we did well in them. Because the show went on, I used to be trying harder and harder within the games and you possibly can really see that as well. But I used to be definitely there for love.
Zay: It was truthfully type of 50/50 for me since you never need to expect anything or really go into it along with your hopes up. It was very 50/50 for me with the entire love [aspect] after which, obviously, the games.
Would you say Love Island Games works more in your favor by way of finding romance because there’s not as much pressure?
Lucinda: I might say it made it harder. A variety of people would then have a look at people in a way, like, “Are you good for the games? Are you good at competing?” That was as an alternative of just pure romantic connection. In that aspect, it made it harder for myself and other people.
Zay: I might think it made it harder, however it truthfully helps you to get to see [a] different side of individuals. It’s also really useful in that sense as well.
Was there some extent in Love Island Games where you began to comprehend you possibly can win?
Lucinda: My specific moment was when Johnny [Middlebrooks] and Gabby [Allen] got dumped. Literally, it wasn’t up until the very, very end. I used to be like, “OK, we actually could win this.” But after I got told that we were in the ultimate 4, I felt quite calm. I used to be obviously nervous, since it’s scary to enter a mega duel. But I felt prefer it was all going to be OK and we were going to win in a extremely weird way. I felt a way of relief.
Zay: I also thought we were going to win barely earlier — possibly once we got told we were a part of the last 4. But you really never know what’s going to occur on the day.
Did fan voting help ease your nerves?
Lucinda: Once I got saved by America’s vote, I used to be with Tyrique [Hyde] in a friendship couple. That feeling is the nicest feeling ever because, obviously, you don’t know what’s occurring outside. You don’t know anything. It just is a way of relief that you simply’re like, “OK, I can breathe now.” In order that was very nice.
Is a win higher with a partner?
Zay: I might think it makes things more enjoyable to not only make it feel like you could have to separate the cash or you could have to do this stuff, however it definitely comes from more of your heart and it made things more smooth and more calm. It helped with higher teamwork, too. So I feel that’s ultimately what led as much as us winning — and likewise possibly being just a little little bit of underdogs, too. So I don’t really think anyone really expected us to be winning.
Did you mostly plan to separate the cash?
Zay: In my head, you possibly can at all times make that cash elsewhere. To be honest, I feel it’s more of just remaining and keeping your ego to a low, especially when it comes with games. Since it’s a facet where you wish each parties. So you actually can’t win with one person without the opposite.
Lucinda: I’m the identical. Once you’re doing that mega duel, it’s not one person doing it. Even when I used to be in a friendship couple or with someone randomly coupled up, I feel I might still 100% split it. Simply because, obviously, I wouldn’t have been capable of win it without them.
Do you could have plans to your share of the cash?
Zay: Truthfully, I don’t really have an excessive amount of of a plan for it. But obviously, I would like to bring my dad on just a little trip and spoil my family just a little bit. Also invest a few of it. Just knowing that you could have that’s just an awesome feeling to not likely must worry about much in the meanwhile until obviously brands and outreach and other things begin to hit you. It gives you just a little little bit of a break until you could have to go, go, go.
Lucinda: I just bought a house, so this really helps me out, because I principally put every part into this house. I’ll probably just possibly put it toward my house. Also I actually need to spoil my family as well.
Since leaving the villa, have you ever been checking the reactions online?
Zay: Has she been checking her phone? Probably 24/7. Truthfully, I used to be on my phone lots at first, but often I’ve been just type of remaining offline. I’ve tried to step away from the doom scrolling and the entire taking a look at stuff. But I’ve been searching through things and definitely I’m glad America likes us and me. It definitely feels good to come back off that scenario because I didn’t really expect that. It was definitely lots to take care of.
Is there anything that surprised you when seeing what viewers thought?
Zay: Truthfully, quite a lot of the hate for Lucinda. Perhaps it’s just a little bit an excessive amount of to be honest. For my part, I definitely don’t think she deserves that. But obviously, the web goes to be the web, which is just how things go. So I feel she’s handling it thoroughly.
Lucinda: I feel it’s improving. At the top of the day, it’s a TV show. It’s not real. In order that’s all I gotta say to that.
Do you think that there’s anything that folks are misunderstanding?
Lucinda: It is 2 percent of the 100% of our experience. There [were] things that [were] shown within the relationships that were shown in there that weren’t actually how they were in real life.
How do you navigate the negativity?
Zay: They will discuss it in the event that they want. I’ve been telling her, it’s truthfully just gonna provide help to out with reach and content. So truthfully, type of try to consider it as a blessing in disguise.
What are your plans as a pair after this?
Zay: Obviously, Love Island Games is half the length of a standard Love Island and we met midway through. Obviously, I do like her. I enjoy spending time together with her and I do think it’s obviously going to be tough with us being long distance. Nevertheless it’s one flight away.
Have you ever began to make plans?
Lucinda: I would like to come back back for Halloween. I feel I want to go home for at the very least per week. Simply to see my house and see my family. I’ll definitely come to Florida. I’m a little bit of a travel bug anyway, so I don’t really stay at home very long. It actually works quite well on this because I’m at all times away. Sometimes I just go away for months.
It feels like the right opportunity and the right excuse to travel more.
Lucinda: I feel that as well. I like Florida as well. I’ve actually never been to Fort Lauderdale, but I do love Miami. So it would be very nice.
Love Island Games is currently streaming on Peacock.