Wed, 09 Jul 2025 12:45:33 +0000
The highly-watched reality series *Love Island USA* continued to generate buzz this season, and a recurring element of intrigue – the use of a code word to circumvent explicit discussion on screen – has now been confirmed through exclusive interviews. Despite the constant surveillance within the villa setting, contestants employed a discreet strategy to navigate conversations surrounding intimate moments.
The concept originated with the original *Love Island* format, which premiered in the U.K. in 2002 before expanding globally with various spinoffs, including the Peacock-aired *Love Island USA*. The show’s premise involves a rotating cast of singles competing for a $100,000 prize by forming couples within a luxurious villa.
Several cast members utilized a specific phrase – often translated as “How was your journey?” – to deflect direct references to sexual activity during post-episode discussions. This tactic allowed them to avoid violating broadcast regulations while acknowledging the events that transpired.
Several key relationships illustrated this method. Hannah Fields and Pepe Garcia were among the first to openly discuss the strategy. Hannah explained that the pair utilized the phrase following a late-night encounter, admitting, “I literally always forgot that I was being recorded and it would dawn on me because I’d just see a camera and I’d be like, ‘Oh s* I’m being recorded.’”
Other couples, including Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown, followed suit. Jeremiah, speaking on “The Viall Files” podcast, stated, “I declined to ‘kiss and tell’ while on ‘The Viall Files’ podcast in June 2025 — despite viewers already knowing exactly what happened.”
Nic and Cierra, whose early encounter garnered significant attention, also confessed to using the code word, with Nic admitting, “It was one of the best 25 seconds of my life. It was so fast.” Cierra elaborated, “And we stopped for food on the way. Hotdogs and hamburgers were ordered. We both had a full course meal.”
Huda Mustafa’s interactions with Chris and Bryan also relied on this covert communication. Bryan revealed, “It felt like I lost my virginity.” Amaya similarly described their shared experience as a “majestic and beautiful” journey.
The use of this code word underscores the pressures faced by contestants navigating a highly monitored and competitive environment. While the specific details of these encounters were often discussed in private, the strategic employment of this phrase offered a unique window into the dynamics of *Love Island USA* season 7.