Olandria Carthen is opening up about the exact moment her fashion career took off. The Love Island USA alum spoke with Cosmopolitan in an interview published Thursday, June 18, reflecting on how she transitioned from reality television personality to a recognized name in fashion circles. Carthen explained that style became one of the clearest ways for her to distinguish herself outside of the show that made her famous.
She pointed to one event in particular as the turning point: the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. The red carpet appearance, she said, marked her official entrance into the fashion world and shifted how people in the industry viewed her. According to Carthen, that night opened the door to a different kind of conversation about her career, one that extended well beyond her reality TV roots.
The VMAs red carpet look
Carthen, 28, walked the 2025 VMAs red carpet in a striking red ensemble that quickly drew attention online. Her outfit featured a corset layered with sheer red fabric, paired with matching red opera gloves and a red scarf for added drama. She wore her hair in a sleek updo with face framing pieces left loose to soften the look. The all red moment became one of the most talked about outfits of the night and is widely seen as the look that repositioned her as a fashion figure rather than strictly a reality star.
A green gown at the Golden Globes
Carthen has continued building on that momentum with a string of notable red carpet appearances. At the 2026 Golden Globes, she stepped out in a green mermaid style gown, another look that reinforced her growing reputation for bold, fitted silhouettes and statement colors.
Her New York Fashion Week runway debut
In September 2025, during New York Fashion Week, Carthen made her runway debut in the Sergio Hudson show. She walked in an abstract orange, black and nude jacket featuring embellished sleeves that ended just below the elbow. The piece was paired with black mini shorts and cinched at the waist with a black and gold belt. Carthen completed the look with strappy black heels, gold hoop earrings and a classic French tip oval manicure, finishing the outfit with a sleek low bun. The runway appearance marked a significant step for Carthen, signaling her move from red carpet guest to someone designers wanted in their shows.
Her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut
Carthen’s fashion momentum carried into March, when she made her debut in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. For the 2026 edition, she joined a lineup of other stars, including Gabi Moura, Christen Goff, Katie Austin, Jena Sims, Jasmine Sanders and Ellie Thumann. The group was photographed on the Gulf Coast beaches.
Carthen shared the news on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and calling it a milestone moment in her career.
Together, these four appearances trace a clear arc for Carthen, from a single standout red carpet moment to runway and editorial work that has cemented her place in the fashion conversation. For a star who first gained recognition through reality television, the shift marks a notable evolution, one she credits directly to that red dress on the VMAs carpet.
Carthen’s rise mirrors a broader pattern among reality TV alumni who have successfully parlayed their visibility into modeling and fashion industry opportunities, using major televised events as springboards into new career lanes. With a runway debut, a major swimsuit issue feature and a growing list of statement red carpet looks, Carthen appears to be solidifying her status as more than a passing reality TV moment, but as a name fashion insiders are starting to take seriously.
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