Ания Харви: от хаоса после Love Island к новым целям и благотворительности

Aniya Harvey needs a moment to catch her breath, and it isn’t difficult to imagine why: The volleyball star and model, now a social media sensation after starring in Love Island USA season 8, has been on a nonstop roller coaster since stepping back into the real world. In the weeks following the show’s July 12 finale, it’s been back-to-back interviews, photo shoots, and group chats—with her fellow “Core Four” villamates, Melanie Moreno, Kayda Bosse, and Trinity Tatum—but she’s making her way through post-villa life with grace after being suddenly thrust into the spotlight. “I got launched straight into chaos after leaving the villa, but week by week, I’m slowly adapting to everything,” she says over Zoom, looking stripped back in a simple white tee and pants, a departure from the vibrant bikinis and figure-hugging gowns of her Fiji wardrobe. “Leaving the experience with a bunch of people who are feeling the same emotions as me makes it easier to navigate that chaos.” Peacock struck gold when Love Island USA, a dating show where single “Islanders” compete to explore connections and test relationships in the hopes of winning a cash prize, returned for its sixth season in 2024. Each installment since has netted the streamer record-breaking viewership, with Harvey and her group of Islanders being watched by fans for nearly 19 billion minutes worldwide. The 23-year-old had already taken a crash course on what to anticipate from her Love Island experience well before making it to her season, describing herself as a devout viewer of both the U.S. and U.K. versions of the show. With that knowledge, she made sure to temper her expectations before making it to the villa. “I went in with an open mind and prayed every day before going in,” she recalls. For Harvey, the reality show offered a chance to find a genuine love match. On paper, it might be hard to understand why she would sign up for the show at all, given her family’s background. Her dad, Donnell Harvey, is a former NBA player with stints on the Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and more, and her mother, Natischa Harvey, is a shoe designer and entrepreneur. She inherited her parents’ ambition, too, earning a spot as a D1 athlete on Florida Atlantic University’s volleyball team and graduating from the school with a degree in business marketing. But her sports achievements—and her dad’s looming legacy—presented challenges when it came to dating. “I feel like some people saw opportunity with me,” she says of her past romantic endeavors. “I used to be more guarded and would shy away from telling people my entire life story in depth because I didn’t know if it would change their viewpoint or perspective on me. That was the whole point of me being on the show—to find someone who I could find an understanding with past material things.” That meant attempting to be as openhearted and vulnerable as possible, a challenge she faced almost immediately when she and Kuman “KC” Chandler were left with no choice but to couple up when neither of them was picked by the Islanders. “It wasn’t a secure click between KC and I at first because we didn’t choose each other initially, but we grew those feelings through being with each other every second of the day. Sometimes a week feels like a month in there,” she says, referring to how she and the rest of the Islanders were completely cut off from the outside world. “I think that’s why it got intense so quickly.” Nor was it an easy road to the finish line: As the weeks inched closer towards Casa Amor, Aniya and KC’s bond started showing major cracks. Then, when new bombshells entered the villa, she struck a connection with Carl Lee Schmidt. She ultimately decided to stay in a couple with KC, but KC returned from Casa Amor with Tierra “Titi” Davis at the recoupling, spawning one of the season’s most dramatic moments: The resulting argument between Aniya and KC was so heated, Davis infamously came to KC’s defense. “I wasn’t hurt that he brought someone back; it just hurts being vulnerable up there after having my doubts about who to pick. KC and I were in a lot of arguments about ideas we didn’t align with, but I just have a really strong sense of loyalty,” she explains. “I honestly was more upset with myself because I didn’t put myself first in that pivotal moment, but it gave me a perspective of ‘I need to have more pride and be a strong woman in here. This opportunity is for myself.’” Through that heartbreak, the seeds of Aniya and Carl’s fairy-tale romance were planted. After the recoupling ceremony, fans voted for Carl’s return to give Aniya a second chance at forging a solid connection. Even production believed in their love story, planning the most epic storybook-inspired date, complete with a scrapbook that detailed every moment of their time together. “When we first read through the scrapbook, I cried because I ended up with a really good guy who makes me feel so special, and it felt like a dream come true,” she says of the fan-favorite “Carlniya” moment. “I went up to a production executive and said, ‘I’m so grateful that you thought to make our book.’ I have the book at home now! I’m adding pictures from the villa, and I want to add even more photos from when we hang out, even photos with my castmates. It’s so cute.” Instead of hitting celebrity hotspots like some of their season 8 co-stars, the couple set their sights on the East Coast for a restorative post-villa trip to Nantucket to see Carl’s relatives amid their “extremely busy” schedules. It hasn’t been easy making the time, but Aniya takes pride in how strong their communication is. “We talk to each other every day. We’ll text, we’ll FaceTime, we’ve currently been with each other the past couple of weeks because we’ve been working together,” she says, beaming. “We want to take it slow and continue to learn more about one another. And our families love each other. I feel like our moms probably talk more than us. My mom and Ms. Nancy, Carl’s mom, were just in Los Angeles hanging out. I love that it’s a good relationship between everyone.” Aniya and Carl’s moms aren’t the only ones who have forged friendships through Love Island. In addition to getting the best possible ending in leaving the villa with Carl, she made unbreakable friendships during her journey. “One of the best parts about being in the villa is that I now have lifelong friends. You’re not promised to walk out with someone you have a connection with, but you’re walking out with girls you’ll be friends with for the rest of your life,” she gushes, clearly not beating the “Friendship Island” allegations. “Those girls are my sisters. We all root for each other so hard, we want the best for each other. I really love those girls. I’m so grateful for the opportunity of meeting them.” And the girls will soon have plenty to root for with Aniya in the coming weeks. While she plans to continue building her brand in fashion and beauty, she also intends to donate to her old school’s STEM and volleyball programs and deepen her involvement in her family’s nonprofit organization, the Reconstructing Youth Foundation, which aims to support families in underfunded communities. “I want everyone to know they can have their dream come true,” Harvey says, reflecting on her life after Love Island. “It’s an endless fairy tale, and I’m about to go on another journey. I’m watching my story unfold.”