The greatest and most-watched season of "Love Island USA" has come to an end, with host Ariana Madix naming Kordell Beckham and Serena Page as the winning couple at the end of the two-hour finale July 21.
Kordell, 22, and Serena, 24 were the last OG couple standing, having originally coupled up on Day One after arriving in the villa wearing matching lime green outfits. In the final episode, they reflected on their rollercoaster relationship during their romantic drive-in movie date.
The film was a highlight reel of their time on the show. They watched Serena wonder at the start of the experience if she felt a romantic spark with Kordell and later sat in silence seeing him choose to recouple with Daia McGhee after "Casa Amor," leading to some of the most dramatic and tear-filled moments of the season.
But after that low point, their relationship took off, and they both realized they had developed strong feelings for each other.
"I think it actually was pretty essential for our relationship. Now I'm not talking about the down and dirtiness of it. We could've done without some of all of that," Serena says about Casa Amor in an interview with TODAY.com.
Kordell agrees, adding, "I definitely could've done that better."
He put in the effort to regain her trust and she forgave them, making them one of fans' favorite couples.
Serena and Kordell -- along with other finalists Kendall Washington and Nicole Jacky, JaNa Craig and Kenny Rodriguez and Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi -- penned sweet messages to each other explaining how their connection grew over the past six weeks in the finale. Multiple tears were shed before Madix arrived to reveal who viewers chose as the winner.
Kendall and Nicole took fourth place while JaNa and Kenny placed third.
Serena and Kordell seemed convinced runner-ups Leah and Miguel would win up until the moment their names were announced. They celebrated their victory with a kiss and Kordell chose to split the $100,000 prize with Serena.
"I didn't think that we would win," Serena says. "I guess because we haven't had the typical 'Love Island' journey. It's been a little rough. It's been very dramatic."
Kordell tells TODAY.com, "We ain't hit it smoothly like everybody else. Everybody had their instant connection and stuff and ours were built up. I was explaining to her slow and steady wins the race. She won that race to my heart. And I stand by it."
Below, the happy couple open up in a joint interview about the moment they decided to be more than friends, Serena's "PPG" ("Powerpuff Girls") friendship with JaNa and Leah and how they felt hearing some of the boys' comments on their connection.
Serena: It's a lot of fun. It's fun being away from the cameras and having to talk to everybody else. I miss my PPG. But it is good to just have some alone time with my man.
Kordell: That's me! It feels great to have this, like she said, alone time together. I'm just looking forward to it a lot more. A lot of us doing the things that we were saying, going places, amusement parks, seeing family and just making the most of it and seeing how far we can grow. I stay in Texas, she stay in LA, and I even plan on moving out there so we can really make this work. I'm taking it serious. Whatever happens, happens, and I'm ready for it.
Serena: After I had friend-zoned him. That didn't bruise his ego. It didn't hurt his ego. It didn't make him any less of a man. It didn't make him do any less. He still was very much pursuing me. He's like, 'OK, we can be friends. We'll see,' but still respecting my boundaries and I love that. A couple of days later, we ended up cuddling in the bed and stuff. Then I'm sure he was like, 'Hmm, friends don't cuddle, Serena.' I was like, 'Hmm, you're right.'
Kordell: I've never connected with someone like this, off rip, so fast. I just didn't get scared. I was ready. It really opened my eyes knowing that I really felt this connection with her so early. It was so weird for me to even be having these feelings. I was just talking to myself, saying like, 'Wow, this is weird. How am I feeling this way?' I liked it. I knew that this could be something more. I wanted to explore that. I definitely wanted to see that. I can agree with her. It was definitely right after she friend-zoned me. I just seen it instantly afterwards, like how she felt towards me. It was showing even when JaNa peeked it out. She even called her out on it a little bit. So it was nuts, but it was great. That's where it all began. I mean, it began in the beginning. But that's where it really all started.
Serena: I think it actually was pretty essential for our relationship. Now I'm not talking about the down and dirtiness of it. We could've done without some of all of that...
Kordell: I definitely could've done that better.
Serena: But just everything that came with it -- him exploring other connections. Because it was only me exploring other connections. So I really wanted him to get the opportunity to explore. Honestly, as soon as he left the villa, I was like, 'Oh, hell no. Bring my man back right now.' So it was also a wake up call for me for me to be like, 'OK, you actually really, really like him.' Even though I told him before Casa...
Kordell: Yeah, very deep conversation.
Serena: It was just, I guess, the realization. So, coming back, I was like, 'I'm done. I'm not doing this.' But just seeing how worked up and emotional that it made me. The way that he handled himself -- he told me everything down to the little details. And he didn't stop fighting.
Kordell: And not because I had to, but because I wanted to.
Serena: I feel like that was very apparent as well. So I was like, 'OK like, he's been a man of his word. He's dealt with me being wishy washy and back and forth in the beginning. So I was like, 'I feel like we just need a fresh start.'
Kordell: I just seen a lot in us. I definitely couldn't let that just fade away right there. So, I was willing to fight for her. A lot of people wouldn't do that. They'll feel like, 'Ah, he ain't messing with me. Well, so be it.' But not for me. I seen it. I know where I went wrong. I knew where I messed up, and I admitted to it. I was ready to fight through and whether it may have went good or whether it may go bad, I was still willing to fight for it. I'm glad I did. I mean, I was going to do it regardless. It made us stronger. It made us see how we truly feel towards each other and that we really do want to see this thing go as far as it can go on.
Kordell: I forgot for sure.
Serena: One, Kordell is always in his own world. I'm sure everybody has seen this.
Kordell: I forget there's cameras. Day Two, I forgot we get recorded until I kind of see it.
Serena: I didn't think that we would win. I guess because we haven't had the typical 'Love Island' journey. It's been a little rough. It's been very dramatic.
Kordell: We ain't hit it smoothly like everybody else. Everybody had their instant connection and stuff and ours were built up. I was explaining to her slow and steady wins the race. She won that race to my heart. And I stand by it.
Serena: I think because it was very real and authentic and something that would happen on the outside world. Not just something that will only happen in 'Love Island.' We were both very true to ourselves. I think that was shown, which I'm glad. I think people just resonated with it.
Kordell: Not only that, it was relatable. A lot of people can relate on that. They've been through it before. They've been through that part of the relationship. Just like she said, they see that and they know this is real. This is authentic. This is the most realist representation of how the start of a relationship goes. It's not always easy sailing. It's not always peaches and cream. It's going to be ups and downs. It was just how you got to work through them that really solidifies and makes y'all stronger.
Serena: Obviously, me and JaNa connected as soon as she walked in. It was another Black woman and I was like, 'Oh, my God! Girl, I've been waiting for you.' She was like, 'I've been waiting for you!' That was literally me and hers intro. And then Leah, we're very similar. We say what's on our mind. We don't give a s -- what people think. I feel like we bonded over that.
All three of us, we're all just very genuine and we all bring different things to the table. I give tough love, Leah gives the delusional love and JaNa gives the sweet -- also kind of delusional -- love. But it all just works together.
Serena: I still very much love Kendall. But after certain things and I see people move a certain way and it is a similar pattern -- it's not a one time thing -- I guess I naturally kind of just fall back a little bit. My subconscious takes a step back because it's like, 'OK, I don't want to be too vulnerable and giving him all of this because I don't know what he could be saying behind my back. But I love him down. We're still pretty close. But I think that also happened with Aaron (Evans) as well for me. When we got back from Casa, he was telling me and Daia the exact same things, just being a little wishy washy. So I also subconsciously took a step back from Aaron, as well.
Me and Rob (Rausch) ended up developing a really strong friendship, surprisingly. Surprise, surprise! Then Miguel, (he) was probably the guy I was closest with in there. Then low-key Rob.
I was close with all of them. Kendall, Miguel, Rob Kenny, Aaron -- literally all of us were close. I gave all of them the same energy ... I wouldn't be able to put them in any categories because it's literally all the same. I have a lot of love for them boys and they have a lot of love for me, as well. So everything was reciprocated the same way. I really appreciate them through everything. Even though they had some thoughts, me, I'm a grown man. I think for myself and at the end of the day, I know what I want. I appreciate hearing it from the outside perspective of what other people think. But I'm not easily persuaded -- as crazy as that sounds. No one can make me change my mind. All of the things that they were saying, we're just (them wanting) the best for me in a way. I told them what was best for me, which was this one right here. They understood that and they respected it and they supported it. They supported anything and everything, no matter what. No matter how I was feeling, they'd give their opinion and I'd tell them where I'm at. So I love them boys dearly. Friends for life.
Serena: Six Flags!
Kordell: Because they got the craziest roller coasters. We adrenaline junkies.
Serena: And Universal would be fun. I haven't been.
Kordell: Then we're going to go jet skiing. Then we're going to go parasailing. Then we're going to go dirt bike racing. I'm just playing.
Serena: I'm not playing about none of those.
Kordell: We doing it all. If I could keep going, I'd go down the list. But, everything! We're going to go jump out of a plane. I don't know about that one, though. (Laughs)
Serena: Now we'll just sit back and listen to everyone because we ain't got nothing else to say.
Kordell: We're going to have popcorn. Looking like Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" music video. We don't have anything. We'll just be there supporting everybody.
