As Courtney Boerner’s “Love Island USA” journey began, she told the other women in the villa that she was bisexual — a revelation that garnered fervent support.
“Oh my God, I had so much fun there!” she tells Vidak For Congress in an exclusive interview, reflecting on her experience entering a traditionally heteronormative space as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I got to kiss so many sexy women, so I had a lot of fun — and hot guys, of course,” she continues.
“I don’t know if girls kiss that often on ‘Love Island’, but there were definitely a lot of kisses between the other female cast members and me. It was so much fun. I loved it!”
The Los Angeles-based stylist is the second openly bisexual woman to star in Love Island USA, after season 1’s Kyra Green who appeared on the reality series before moving from CBS to Peacock.
Boerner tells Vidak For Congress that she hopes more bisexual contestants will be considered for future casts.
“It would be very interesting to include more bi participants,” she says. “I think that would be cool because I would have loved to have had more women openly part of the community there.”
The brunette beauty often dreamed of “sexy bisexual girls” infiltrating the villa to lure her away from the men she chose to pursue.
“It was so much fun, honestly, even talking to the girls about those scenarios. So hopefully the producers are thinking about it too,” she says.
“I feel like we would have had a lot of fun. Honestly, all my ex-girlfriends, our connections are some of the deepest connections I’ve ever had in my life. That would have been a great takeaway from the show. ”
Either way, Boerner is proud to be a channel for queer representation on “Love Island USA.”
She’s aware that her seemingly unbreakable confidence — and her noted commitment to prioritizing her self-esteem in romantic partnerships — could help viewers struggling to embrace their authentic selves.
“The reason I was able to move the way I did through the villa and doing what was best for me is because I stayed true to myself,” she says, acknowledging her outspoken affection for amorous BFF Zeta Morrison.
“And even with Zeta, I told her that if she was comfortable with me, I would,” Boerner explains. “I was just very open from start to finish about my intentions and who I was.”
The brunette beauty also points out that she “didn’t settle for the first guy” she bonded with.
“I just knew what I was worth all the time and I knew what I was looking for,” she claims. “So I’d just say staying true to myself was the best thing I could have done there.”
Boerner explored relationships with Felipe Gomes, Bryce Fins and Chad Robinson before departing “Love Island USA” Friday night.
Although she never found love with any of her lovers, she was grateful that the trio – namely Finns – stood up for her sexual identity.
“I was open with all the guys in the villa about my sexuality. And Bryce even asked me, like, “Everyone here except you, we all have about seven or eight options, but you have 14?” she recalls.
“And I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re having fun here!'”
Boerner says several of her ex-girlfriends tuned in to the show — and were delighted to see her blossom on screen.
“They loved it! They supported me all the way,” she enthuses. “My first ex-girlfriend ever, her moms are lesbians and they all looked at me.”
Boerner says one of her ex’s parents picked up her chemistry with Morrison.
“Her birth mother is from London and she said, ‘I’m not surprised you were best friends with the Brit.’ I was like, ‘I didn’t just want to be best friends with the Brit, but that’s what happens!'” she shares with a laugh. “I wanted to be more than that, but I love” [my] friendship [with Morrison] also.”
Boerner says she can’t wait to reunite with Morrison outside the villa, as they both live in LA.
The British model is currently paired with Timmy Panddolfi, a fan-favorite duo expected to win the title of “America’s Favorite Couple” and its $100,000 prize.
“We just have a very deep soul connection. I remember when I left she said, ‘I can’t even look at you now.’ Because we wanted to end the show together,” Boerner says of Morrison.
“She said, ‘But I’m so excited to spend the rest of my life with you.’ And I started to roar.”
“Love Island USA” — hosted by Sarah Hyland — is available to stream on Peacock. New episodes air Tuesday through Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.