The Unsung Star of “Love Island”: A Look Inside the Glam Room as Season 7 Begins

With “Love Island USA” season seven in full swing, we can’t help but reflect on memorable moments from past seasons, particularly season six. It was packed with conflict, emotion, and plenty of drama—yet there were also heartwarming moments. While Casa Amor may have posed some of the most significant relationship challenges, the glam room emerged as the heart of the season, fostering authentic friendships.

Nestled off the villa’s main staircase, the glam room truly embodies its name: a space for the women to gather, prepare for their day, and engage in the camaraderie of beauty routines, complete with hair and makeup stations, cabinets filled with beauty products, and generous mirrors. This room became a sanctuary for “Love Island” cast members, where delicate conversations, passionate debates, and occasionally, breakfast were shared alongside hairspray and contouring.

Olivia “Liv” Walker, the first bombshell of season six, shared that the glam room was also a place for opening up, seeking counsel, and expressing frustrations—all while honing their beauty skills and swapping clothing. “Rewatching the show, I can see how many significant moments we had in the dressing room,” she reflects. “Our girl group was incredibly tight; we supported one another. We squabbled like siblings, prepped like sisters, and exchanged clothes and makeup. The greatest advantage of the glam room was our ability to open up and be vulnerable with one another.”

Walker adds that the “comfortable” vibe of the dressing area, stocked with Dyson styling appliances, First Aid skincare products, and Maybelline makeup that she describes as “gorgeous, remarkable, and the ultimate dream for every girl,” made it a perfect refuge to unwind or seek advice from the other women.

As season six progressed, islanders began swapping clothes, makeup, and beauty knowledge as they grew more at ease with one another. They all made an effort to help each other look and feel their best. Take, for example, the moment leading up to the Casa Amor couples’ reformation: the women united in the glam room, supporting one another in wardrobe choices. The same moment echoed when they rushed to help Nicole Jacky choose lingerie for her Hideaway date with Kendall Washington. These scenes brought a relatable dynamic reminiscent of friends preparing for a first date or encountering an ex.

If you’ve ever formed a bond in a women’s restroom, discussing lipstick choices or praising someone’s outfit, or have rehearsed in front of the same mirror with friends for a night out, this scenario will resonate. There’s something universally connecting about such shared moments, making the friendships that unfolded in “Love Island” especially enjoyable.

Walker concurs, asserting that “getting ready is the best part of every single night out,” whether in the villa or back home. “It’s an absolute blast to apply makeup with friends, dress up, and style hair. In fact, many of us didn’t know how to use the Dyson Airwrap until Nicole came in and shared how to create curls,” she recalls.

During the show, Walker mentions that the act of getting ready also served to ease tensions, with cast members setting aside differences to give glam assistance to one another. “One minute, there would be a heated discussion, and the next it would be, ‘Hey, could you help me with my winged eyeliner?'”

This bond extended beyond filming; Walker recounted amusing behind-the-scenes fun in the glam room, including enjoying beauty freebies. “Leah, Kaylor, and I would do blind makeovers—one of us would sit while the others went all out on our faces without looking,” she recalls with laughter. “We’d give each other blue eyebrows and try all kinds of designs. Those moments were hysterical.”

Walker also praises co-star Serena Page for perfecting her braided half-up hairstyle, Leah Kateb for performing everyone’s pedicures, and Kaylor for ensuring her winged eyeliner was flawless. Even after leaving the villa, she continues to use Leah’s favorite moisturizer, Weleda Skin Food ($20), and particularly values Maybelline products introduced in the villa, like the Fit Me Pressed Powder ($9) and the 24-Hour Foundation Powder ($13). (She’s still mastering the Dyson styling tools.)

Weleda Skin Food

From

$20

$20 at Dermstore

Fit Me Pressed Powder

From

$9

$9 at Target

24-Hour Foundation Powder

From

$13

$13 at Target

Ultimately, it wasn’t just about the products or hairstyles of the day. Walker posits that beauty routines provided a way to relax and connect on lighter terms ahead of the more intense elements of the show. “It may seem trivial, but while applying makeup and trying on clothes, you really get to see people’s true personalities. You’re laughing and discussing fun topics that don’t usually emerge in the villa, where the focus is on meaningful dialogues.”

Amidst the drama, complex relationships, and surprising moments that captivated viewers this season of “Love Island USA,” the glam room remained a steadfast element—the essential ingredient to the show’s charm. The shared experience of getting ready together blurred the line between reality TV and genuine connection, and for that, we couldn’t be more thrilled.

Lara Walsh is a freelance writer and editor focusing on lifestyle, wellness, travel, entertainment, style, and beauty topics through a cultural lens. A former associate experiences editor at Elite Daily, Lara has contributed to InStyle, Bustle, Business Insider, Apartment Therapy, and The Everygirl.