In a recent interview with Variety, contestants from Love Island USA, Michelle “Chelley” Bissainthe and Ace Green, opened up about their connection prior to the show, addressing speculation surrounding their relationship. Although their friends had previously dismissed rumors of a romantic involvement before arriving in Fiji, the pair acknowledged that their pre-show acquaintance did influence their interactions in the villa.
Clarifying Their Relationship
Ace, 22, emphasized the importance of their familiarity, stating, “It’s no secret that Chelley and I knew each other before the experience. We had a conversation that went, ‘I know who you are. You know who I am, but that doesn’t mean we gotta be coupled up together right away. We’re here to explore and find our partner.’” Despite their instant connection, Ace chose to couple up with fellow contestant Amaya “Papaya” Espinal during the first recoupling. He explained, “I wanted to do that with Amaya and see where things could go.”
As the dynamics evolved, it became apparent that Ace and Amaya were not romantically compatible. A few days later, Ace and Chelley rekindled their connection. Addressing criticisms of being strategic in their approach, Ace asserted that he aimed to be “very intentional” during his time in the villa. “I’ve already had a following coming into this, and I didn’t want to come in with that entertainer mindset of doing whatever to get attention,” he remarked. “It was me being open and communicating to the fellas, ‘We have to communicate more if you want to talk to a person.’”
Exploring Connections
Chelley, 27, also shared her perspective, explaining that she aimed to maximize her experience by connecting with all the contestants. “It’s about exploring and getting to know other people,” she stated. “I wanted to explore everybody. I wanted to make that clear from day one.” Her approach was echoed by some of the other female contestants, although not all chose to follow the same path.
As the season progressed, Chelley and Ace declared their relationship “exclusive” just before departing Fiji. Ace expressed optimism about their future together: “We are going to take our time day by day. We are still getting to know each other outside of villa life. Life is completely different from what America gets to see. I’m excited to grow our relationship and improve our communication.”
As fans continue to follow the seventh season of Love Island USA, the evolving relationship between Ace and Chelley remains a focal point. Their journey highlights the complexities of connection and communication in a reality television setting.