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It's no secret that the summer season of Love Island, United States was a fan favorite and left viewers stunned until the season six winners, Serena Page and Kordell Beckham, were announced during the July 21 finale.
For six weeks, BravoAriana Madix welcomed an iconic, controversial, passionate and enthusiastic group to Fiji for the dating experience of a lifetime. With no connection to the outside world (no phones), the islanders were instructed to form connections in a controlled, high-pressure environment. And the result was far more entertaining than anyone could have predicted. There were tantrums, unbreakable friendships were forged and betrayal was the order of the day, making every minute of every episode captivating.
As the season became the most-watched reality series this summer and the most-watched streaming series in the second week of July, fans were full of praise for one islander: Leah Kateb, the “Queen” of Calabasas. Though Kateb and fellow finalist Miguel Harichi were voted runners-up for the season, Kateb has seemingly emerged victorious, garnering more than two million followers on Instagram and TikTok.
The 24-year-old Persian who lives in California was celebrated for her brutally honest and terrifyingly relatable quotes during her stay in the villa. Her quotes from the show have gone viral on TikTok, with users mimicking the reality TV icon admitting she needs an interesting man who can “send her to the psych ward.”
However, one of her most notable moments was when she was caught up in a love triangle with snake charmer Robert Rausch and Andrea Carmona. Their intense split led to scattered arguments and emotional conversations for the rest of their life. While it wasn’t the public who supported their toxic relationship, it was their fellow islanders who urged them to rekindle it. Of course, they didn’t, but the thought of each other was always present in their minds.
After Rausch appeared on the Alex Cooper show Call her daddy On July 23, when Kateb appeared on the podcast, fans were wondering if she would have a cameo on the podcast. Cooper had already teased the idea and invited Kateb to record an episode with her that would be released just two days later.
During the conversation, Kateb talked about her past love life, the surprising public reaction to her and Rausch. In the midst of what Kateb considers her time on “Rob Island,” the candid star admitted that she considered leaving the show three times. If it weren’t for Page, her best friend on the show, Kateb would have left without experiencing it.
“I had a really bad time in the villa,” Kateb admits. “There were times when I pulled the production manager aside and said, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore.’”
She continued: “I remember there were three times where I literally said, ‘I’m not having fun anymore. I have to leave. ’ The reason I stayed was Serena. She was the one who convinced me to stay.”
When rumours about her and Rausch continued to spread around the villa, even after they had made peace as friends, Kateb thought she could no longer stand that environment and told the producer she wanted to leave.
Kateb also revealed a little-known detail about the islanders' experience. According to her, production offers contestants “psychological sessions” where they can speak to a certified mental health professional. Kateb was allegedly called to the “psychotherapist” three times in one day to make sure she was okay.
