‘Love Island USA’ star Liv on her sisterhood with the girls and what happened with Rob after Casa Amor

Olivia “Liv” Walker, the original “Love Island USA” Season Six bombshell, has been dumped from the villa — causing all the islanders, and some viewers, to shed a few tears.

Liv, dubbed the “Australian Barbie” by fans on social media, shook up the villa from the moment her surprise arrival was announced in the premiere. The 21-year-old college student from Sydney, Australia, ensured there was never a dull moment, whether it was flirting with a new bombshell, defending her fellow islanders or delivering hilarious one-liners. 

But Liv’s journey on the show was far from easy. She was in five different couples, and many of them fizzled before they ever began. Still, she remained optimistic about finding love on the show. At one point, it seemed like she and Rob Rausch could rekindle their short-lived romance from the first week. But she reveals to TODAY.com that they had a conversation that wasn’t shown after Casa Amor about keeping their relationship platonic. 

“We are just friends,” she says. “I feel like the time going into Casa, everyone was coupled up. And I think their romance, kind of flirtiness, rubbed off on us, too, probably as being the two singles. And we probably just ran with it. But no, there’s no romantic thing. I think we’re just flirty and friends.”

Her time on the show came to an end in Episode 27 as she was one of three islanders who were dumped from the villa during an emotional recoupling ceremony. Although she didn’t leave with love, Liv gained sisters for life, as she told the girls before leaving. 

While speaking with TODAY.com, Liv opens up her journey in the villa, including her explosive arguments with Leah Kateb. She also reveals how she feels about close friend Kaylor Martin’s relationship with Aaron Evans after seeing fans’ comments on social media. 

You entered the season as the first bombshell. What was it like kicking things off and coming in that first day? 

I was extremely grateful to be the first bombshell. But it was definitely nerve-racking. I know going in as the bombshell, your job is to kind of take someone and stir the pot a little bit. And I feel like I was lucky enough that I went in a bit early. So I had only been there like a day or two. And when I walked in, everyone was so friendly from the get-go. We all got along. I mean, I did have to steal someone’s man. So there was still a little bit of anxiety by everyone. But I had the most warm welcoming. It was really nice. 

You stole Rob Rausch. Why was he the one that you gravitated toward and coupled up with? 

Going into ‘Love Island,’ I wanted to do something that was different to what I do on the outside, because obviously it wasn’t working on the outside. And on the outside, I tend to go for someone who’s very much like me. And I know a lot of people saw some clips of Kendall (Washington) and how we were getting along. But we are so much the same. And then when I was speaking to Rob — I think I got obviously the wrong idea now going back at it — I liked how he was a little bit, and all the girls say this now when they talk to Rob, but he was a bit mysterious. It was a bit hard to read. You’re intrigued to find out what’s there and wanting to get to know him more. Because you’re like, ‘Oh, is he standoffish? Is this his personality? Does he just have dry humor? Like, what’s the goal here?’ So I feel like I was a little bit intrigued. And I wanted to see where that went because I hadn’t really experienced that on the outside.

Do you feel like he gave you two a fair shot at the time?

I think yeah. I’m not going to say he didn’t because obviously at the start everyone’s still really nervous. And it takes a bit of time to get comfortable, one, around complete strangers, and two, in front of the cameras. So, everything happens for a reason. I don’t regret anything, but I wouldn’t say he didn’t. He could have just said to me like, ‘Hell no. No, I’m not talking to you.’ But um, I mean, he did. I feel like we were just two different personalities at the time.

Let’s skip to Casa Amor. Why did you want to couple up with Caine Bacon?

OK, so I’m very big on somebody who likes to be forward. I like someone who can have a laugh. I like someone who doesn’t take things really seriously. And I didn’t really get to know Caine at the first day or two of Casa. But when I started to see his personality, we went for a chat. We had the Fourth of July game (and) I started to see that he not doesn’t care, but (is) such a lighthearted person and likes to have a laugh and our personalities got along. And then we went for a chat just before recoupling, I think. And I love someone who wants to take initiative and he pulled me for a chat and he was saying, ‘I want to get to know you. I really like you. I think we have the same personality. Like, I really enjoy spending time with you. I’d love to see where it goes.’ So then that was the decider.

Do you feel like the initiative he showed in that chat was the same energy he had when you recoupled? 

I feel like the days of recoupling and the days after were very full on. A lot of things were going on. So everyone’s personalities were different. Everyone was taking a step back from their couples to help or be there for a shoulder for the couples that were going through a little bit harder times. But I think it was just … I don’t know. I honestly do not know. I think we just became friends. Yeah, I actually have no idea.

Are you still happy you chose him? Do you wish you would’ve selected a different guy?

I don’t regret anything. And I feel like I felt he was the right one at the time. I definitely wasn’t going to just bring someone in to be safe. Like, I did contemplate coming in single if I didn’t have a connection with someone. Because at the end of the day, I don’t want to force anything. And I’m not here to fake it. So no, I don’t regret anything.

Before Casa, Rob pulled you and said he was interested in getting to know you again. After Casa, we didn’t see you two have a conversation. Did you talk about pursuing something again? 

Not really a conversation about pursuing things. We definitely had a conversation about how both of our Casa experiences were. We are just friends. I feel like the time going into Casa, everyone was coupled up. And I think their romance, kind of flirtiness, rubbed off on us, too, probably as being the two singles. And we probably just ran with it. But no, there’s no romantic thing. I think we’re just flirty and friends.

So when he returned, you both decided immediately to be friends?

Yeah, I feel like we both semi knew. Like, we both find each other obviously attractive. But when we both brought people in from Casa, we were kind of like, ‘It’s fizzled out. We know that.’ Because both of us did say we did contemplate at like the first day or two not bringing someone in. Because you do think like, ‘Oh, do I really have a good strong connection with these guys? Do I have something back there?’ But at the end of the day, we both chose to bring someone back. 

You always stayed optimistic in the villa no matter what was going on with your coupling. You were always willing to see if there was a new connection. What is it like being in the villa and having to continuously meet new people and remain hopeful when other couples might be together from day one? 

It’s not easy. Obviously you see other couples that are staying together, and they’re strengthening their relationship and you’re chopping and changing. And I felt like I knew that at the end of the day, it’s 12 strangers in a room. If I don’t get along with all of them or they’re not my perfect match, it’s not the end of the world. It’s only 12 out of so many people in the world. So I just tried to just be, like, if it doesn’t work here, it’s all good. Someone else will come around. It doesn’t mean that you’ll never be with someone in your life. But it definitely was hard. And I did go through a few couples, but I am someone who just can’t fake it. I really can’t. And I want to have an initial connection with someone and in the villa you have to have that connection really quickly because you don’t know what’s going to happen. And you have to dive really deeply in straightaway. And I’m not particularly used to that on the outside world. I am a little bit of a slow burner because of what has happened in the past. So I think that definitely came into play a little bit. But I just tried to think like, ‘If it’s not this one, it’s someone else.’

You were very close with Kaylor and defended her during ‘Movie Night.’ Now that you are out of the villa and have seen what fans think, how do you view her relationship with Aaron Evans? 

Yeah, so coming out, I haven’t seen any episodes. I definitely have seen tweets, comments and stuff like that about Casa and the fact that we didn’t know the worst of it. Which is really upsetting and really hurtful, especially because I saw the pain that Serena (Page) and Kaylor went through. And to find out that that’s not even the worst of it is pretty heartbreaking. In terms of their relationship, at the end of the day I’m not in it so I don’t know how much intimacy (they have) or what they talk about in every single chat. I don’t like how Aaron, though, lied when given the opportunity to say everything of Casa. He lied and he left bits out to Kaylor. I think that is inappropriate. And she is such a beautiful soul who puts people’s emotions above herself. And I think he might have taken that a little bit for granted. And he ran with that and was kind of like, ‘What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.’ When I know that when she comes out and she reads it, it’s probably going to kill her. Like, she’s going to die. But personally, if I was Kaylor, I wouldn’t go back to him. And I do think sometimes he sweet talks her. And seeing the conversation of where he drops in ‘I love you’ and it kind of looks like the heat of the moment. Kind of like, ‘I want to win you back. I love you.’ I’m like, ‘Hmm, do you? Do you really love her or are you just throwing that in?’ And you see people like Kordell (Beckham). He did similar actions in Casa, maybe not as bad, maybe worse, I’m not quite sure. But he accepted his actions. And he put in effort. Serena didn’t want breakfast. He still kept bringing it and bringing it and bringing it. He put his money where his mouth is. And I don’t feel like that was really reciprocated the same with Aaron and Kaylor. I feel like he was more sweet talking to her. So, I don’t love them. But I love her and whatever she likes and whatever she wants to do I support.

We saw you support her and the rest of the girls even if you argued sometimes. You and Leah Kateb would go back and forth from time to time. What was the dynamic like between the two of you in the villa? 

Leah and I are super close and I know a lot of people probably don’t think that. But we’re like sisters, and we always say we’re like evil twin sisters. That we’re the same personality and we’re very forward and we’re very passionate and stand up for what we believe in. So I feel like sometimes we both go head to head, but we make up quicker than we fight. And we’re very mature in the sense that we sit down and talk it out and say, ‘This is how I felt. This is how I felt.’ And we see where both of each other are coming and we make up 10 times more. And obviously I haven’t seen all the shows. But I do know that just because one conversation has shown it doesn’t mean that we still have anger or hate towards each other. Like, I know we definitely got along like a house on fire. And we were very apologetic of both each other’s feelings. I really love that girl.

It was a really sweet moment when you left the villa. You talked about them being your sisters. How did those bonds help you in the villa? Do you all have plans to spend time together after the show?

In the villa, you obviously don’t have your support system there. You don’t have your friends. You don’t have your family. So everyone does become your support system. They become your shoulder to cry on. Maybe sometimes the person just to vent to. The girls this season are so strong and independent and stand up for each other and I definitely couldn’t have gotten through a lot of this season if it wasn’t for them, especially after the tweet challenge. They were always there and had my back and stood up. We all stood up for each other in different ways. And we all brought things to the table and we all improved each other in different ways. Honestly when I say that they’re my sisters for life, they are my sisters for life. We fight like sisters. We make up like sisters. We share clothes like sisters. Everything about them is so beautiful and I feel grateful that I got to meet them and we’re definitely catching up. We’re going to go on a girl’s world tour that we always joke about. And we’re gonna go to Epcot and drink but I will definitely be hanging out with them. And I feel like we’ve always said to each other, like, ‘We’re just going to rock up at your house.’ And just be like, ‘I’m here. Take me in.’ So yeah, love those girls a lot.

I know you are close with all of them. But is there a particular couple that you are rooting for going into the finale on Sunday, July 21?

Oh, my God, I honestly have no idea who’s going to win. And I think all the couples are super strong, especially to me, at this stage. I love them all. But this is who I think is going to win. I want everyone to win, though. But who I think’s going to win will be Kordell and Serena.

Why do you think the public roots for them so much?

I think Serena is definitely someone who’s easy to relate to. She is a slow burner and I feel like I relate to her, too. But on the outside world, you kind of go through their journey and their relationship and you see the ups and downs of it and you see how they can come back and be mature in the sense of rekindling the relationship. They’re also insanely funny. And that is something people love to watch. And they are lighthearted. They love. They stand up for their friends. Serena had all of our backs in there, no matter what or who it was against. So I definitely think that that’s something that people look up to and want to follow so I think they would win.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.