Love Island USA season 6 winners Serena Page and Kordell Beckham overcame several obstacles during their time in the villa and their love story has only just begun.
The pair coupled up during episode 1 of the Peacock reality show after they coincidentally wore matching lime green ensembles. During the July 21 finale on Peacock, American voters crowned Serena and Kordell their favorite couple — and they walked away with a $100,000 prize.
Since that first day nearly six weeks ago, Serena, 24, and Kordell, who is 22 and the younger brother of football player Odell Beckham Jr., have had their fair share of ups and downs but ultimately found their way back to each other, leaving the villa stronger than ever.
So what’s next for the fan-favorite couple? Below, Serena, who is from Houston, Texas, and lives in Los Angeles, and Kordell, who lives in Dallas, answered some burning questions to PEOPLE on Monday, July 22 about their sweet ring exchange in the villa, their plans for the outside world, and the fan reactions that have surprised them.
KORDELL BECKHAM: When we really had our last final talk where it was real deep feelings and then we were just sitting there in Soul Ties and I was like, “We should come up with a handshake.” And then we got up and we just started doing stuff and we just came up with it right there.
SERENA PAGE: It literally took all of two minutes to come up with. We’re always dancing and I would always do that little dance.
KB: We always mix it up.
What do you think will be your biggest challenge when entering the real world?
SP: Mine is maybe getting back to my workout regimen, getting back on track and going back to work. Definitely need a little break so I have to message my boss. But that’s about it. I don’t think distance will be an issue for us.
KB: Distance is not an issue. I can make a move, I can make it happen. And I plan on moving out there soon.
What plans do you have in order to keep that flame alive on the outside?
KB: More of us just spending time with each other, going out, doing these things that we planned. The amusement parks, all of the dates, travel the world, seeing our family in person this time, things like that. And then within time, I will move out there whenever she’s ready. I know she got to get everything situated and stuff like that. I want her to have as much time as she needs possible. Don’t want to rush anything.
Which ousted Islander was your first call when you got out of the villa?
SP: We got our phones back a few hours ago.
So you haven’t called anybody yet?
SP: Yeah, but my first call will be Liv [Walker]. She’s actually in L.A. waiting for us.
KB: Yeah, Liv. It definitely would have to be Liv. Oh and Rob [Rausch]. Me and Rob are supposed to be going to catch some snakes together.
Have there been any fan reactions to this season that have surprised you?
SP: The love, honestly. I’m like, “Dang, I didn’t know they was rocking with us like that.” And yeah, apparently our ship name is “Kordena” and not “Korena” so we’ve been getting that wrong.
KB: I ain’t mad at it.
SP: Y’all want it to be Kordena. Y’all got it. Shout out to y’all. Thank you for voting for us.
Do you have a favorite meme from the season that you’ve seen so far?
KB: Someone made a montage of all of my little funny moments and stuff like that, whether I’m sleeping or just saying the most random things or just being in my own little world. I’ve seen a lot with her. [Kordell mimics the viral moment Serena licked her middle finger and directed it at Kordell after a dramatic re-coupling following Casa Amor.] A lot of that. Somebody made drawings they had and it was called “standing on business.”
SP: I would have to say mine is the one of Kordell that’s like, “He came into the villa a boy and after being with Serena, he’s a man.”
Going back to those memes of you, Serena, how does that feel to have people respect that you expressed your feelings in the way that you did? Was there any fear of backlash?
SP: Yeah, I knew that there could potentially be some backlash. That’s why I was surprised. Because for me, I don’t shut up. I speak my mind and I don’t care what people think about it. So that could come off as like, “Oh no, we hate her.” It’s literally no in between. It is either, “We absolutely love her,” or “We absolutely hate her.” So I’m like, “I don’t know which one is it going to be because I don’t shut up and whatever comes to my mind comes out my mouth.” Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m going to say until out of my mouth.
You two had rings, or exchanged rings, at some moment before Casa Amor. Can you talk about how that came to be and what it meant?
KB: Yeah, so that happened after the re-coupling where I had to choose between her and Hannah and…
SP: Obviously, very early on. It was the first or second dumping.
KB: And we were just in our own little world and I seen a ring on her and I was like, “Hey, that looks pretty cool. I got mine.” And then as we were joking, I kind of turned into a sentimental thing and I was like, “Hey, let’s exchange rings so we can always have a piece of each other with us, whatever happens.” And almost damn near like a little promise ring and everything, but just with more sentimental value to it between the feelings that we have towards each other because at that moment, after that, that’s where things really started to progress for us.
And the rings are still on today?
KB: Yes, still got them. I gave her…
SP: I got two.
KB: I gave her my most sentimental ring. That was the one I was trying to give her from the jump, but we couldn’t figure out what finger to put it on, but we wound up putting it on her thumb. The other one, she liked it and I wanted her to have that one because that was just the start of it and that’s the one she liked and I was like, okay, well let’s make this thing, let’s make it meaningful. And that’s what we did.
Kordell, you openly said on the show that you knew you wanted Serena from the start. But things took a little bit more time for you, Serena. Do you remember the exact moment where you realized you really like this man and your connection is real?
SP: So day one, obviously I saw him and I’m like, damn, he’s fine. And then yeah, I found out that we were so similar and I feel like that kind of scared me off in a sense. And I’m like, let me find any reason not to like this man, trying to find the ick, trying to do whatever. So I friend-zoned him and then after that, he didn’t get hurt, his ego didn’t get bruised, he just kind took it to the chin and that s—‘s hot.
Not only did he do that, but he’s still like, I’m not going to stop trying. Even when he went on his date with Nicole, he came back and immediately told me about the date and we were friends and he was like, yeah, we kissed. And he was like, ‘But that should have been you.’ … Him still wanting me after I friend-zoned him … I love a good, consistent king.
He respected my boundaries and we’re developing a friendship first, which I love. So yeah, after that I was like, okay, yeah, I do actually like him. He didn’t keep me from trying to run a few more times. Okay, a lot. But then finally, it was probably before Casa when we had that conversation and then once they left for Casa, I was missing him so much. I was like, yeah, I like him a lot more than I have let on and thought.
Serena, fans also saw how strong your friendships were with JaNa and Leah. Now that you’re all on the outside, do you have any double dates planned? What’s the most exciting part of this now?
SP: Yes, we’re about to be ripping the streets together. Me and Leah may or may not have something cooking up in L.A. So y’all should see a lot more of us. And JaNa’s only a 45-minute flight away. So we’re going to drag her into it as well. Triple dates always, always. Our men get along so well. I know our triple date is going to go crazy. We’re going to Epcot, drinking around the world.
KB: I’ve never been there. It’s going to be nice.
Love Island USA is streaming on Peacock; a special reunion episode will drop on Aug. 14 at 9 p.m. ET.