{"id":1234788114,"date":"2025-02-12T14:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T19:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stylecaster.com\/?p=1234788114"},"modified":"2025-02-13T12:24:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T17:24:08","slug":"leah-kateb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stylecaster.com\/entertainment\/tv-movies\/1234788114\/leah-kateb\/","title":{"rendered":"Leah Kateb: Life After the Villa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Leah Kateb <\/a>still has no shortage of one-liners. It\u2019s a freezing December afternoon in New York City, and Leah has been firing off quote-worthy sound bites since she arrived at StyleCaster\u2019s cover shoot early in the morning. \u201cWe love her. She\u2019s cunty,\u201d she says to describe a latex dress with an inflatable breastplate. \u201cBent over. Period,\u201d she proclaims when the photographer demonstrates a new pose. \u201cLeah\u2019s feet for free? What kind of shoot is this?\u201d she asks when a crew member suggests she kick off her shoes for a few shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I had my first interview after the show, they were like, \u2018Can we say your viral sound?\u2019\u201d Leah recalls on a Zoom a month later. \u201cI said, \u2018My viral sound? What are we talking about?\u2019 They played it, and I was like, \u2018When the hell did I say that?\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leah
Top<\/a> & skirt: Poster Girl. Middle finger ring<\/a> (left), pointer finger ring (left), middle finger ring<\/a> (left) & middle finger ring (right): Lady Grey. Photographer: OK McCausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Leah takes the call from the backyard of her parents\u2019 house in Calabasas, Calif., where she recently moved after leaving her apartment in Los Angeles. Her boyfriend, Miguel Harichi<\/a>, whom she met and came in second place with on Love Island USA<\/em> Season 6<\/a>, is off to the side getting things sorted after officially moving to Los Angeles in November. \u201cShe\u2019s good with her words,\u201d Miguel pops in, expanding on Leah\u2019s quotability. \u201cIf there was a camera still on us right now, there\u2019d be a lot more viral sounds.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leah and Miguel have been living their lives off camera since Love Island<\/a> <\/em>finished filming last July. Three weeks after the finale, Miguel visited Leah in Los Angeles for the first time, and the two have been by each other\u2019s side ever since\u2014aside from a short London trip Miguel made in November to say goodbye to his family and pack up his belongings for his official move to the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leah
Dress<\/a>: Saint Laurent. Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

While Leah and Miguel have been pretty much living together since they left Fiji, they haven\u2019t technically moved in together yet. Miguel is currently staying in a rental as he and Leah look for land to build their dream house in Calabasas near her family. \u201cIt\u2019s always been my dream to have a barn so I can take in foster animals,\u201d she says. \u201cMiguel gets to pick one animal. He wants a cow. I want fainting goats.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year ago, Leah\u2019s life looked very different. She was single and in college when a casting director reached out to her on social media to ask her to join Love Island USA<\/em>\u2019s Season 6 cast<\/a>. She had never seen an episode of Love Island<\/em> and didn\u2019t know anything about reality TV, but she wasn\u2019t about to pass up a complimentary trip to Fiji. \u201cI was like, \u2018A vacation? Free? Men? Why not?\u2019 Then I got there and it was the opposite of what I thought,\u201d she says. \u201cI went in pretty stupid and naive.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t enjoy drama. Drama enjoys me.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Very quickly, Leah became central to the drama on Love Island<\/a><\/em>. And while she was by far the most popular contestant on Season 6\u2014earning the nickname the \u201cPeople\u2019s Princess\u201d and becoming the first islander to reach 1 million followers on Instagram\u2014something didn\u2019t sit right with Leah once the cameras went down and she returned home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt like any slight comment [after Love Island<\/em>] was someone trying to prod the bear,\u201d she says. \u201cEven on the island, I didn\u2019t want to fight. I don\u2019t like arguing with people. I don\u2019t enjoy drama. Drama enjoys me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leah
Dress: Roberto Cavalli. Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until she settled back in the real world that she was able to fully process why she went so viral on Love Island<\/em>. \u201cYou\u2019re irritable because there are producers on the ground and they say and do things to make you irritable, so you can have the viral moments,\u201d she says. \u201cNow that I\u2019ve come out, I realize a lot of those weird situations they put me through were because they got their best moments when I was irritated, upset, or agitated. I get it. No one wants to watch a TV show of happiness and peace. They want drama. But at the same time, I\u2019m like, \u2018Damn, how much do you want out of me?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Season 6 reunion<\/a>, Leah went viral again for a TikTok comment seemingly announcing that she\u2019d cut ties with the franchise. \u201cI\u2019m exhausted mentally physically and spiritually from this entire experience. I\u2019m tired. I told them I am DONE after reunion,\u201d she wrote at the time. Fast-forward half a year later, and Leah now clarifies that her comment was directed toward the producers she\u2019d worked with, not the show as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while Leah confirms that she would never appear on Love Island<\/em> as a contestant again\u2014even if she was single\u2014enough time has passed that she would return to Fiji in a different capacity. \u201cPreviously, I was like, \u2018I would not go back for anything,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cBut then, when I\u2019m thinking about it, I\u2019m like, \u2018Well, I\u2019m not going to be the one in the fucking challenges.\u2019 I just have someone in my ear telling me what the hell to say, which I would much prefer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leah
Dress: Gucci. Upper cuff<\/a>, thick cuff, thin band & thick band: Lady Grey & Christina Caruso. Earrings: Lady Grey. Rings: Lady Grey.Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What motivates her most to consider a return to TV? Her fans and supporters. \u201cEvery day I get messages where they\u2019re like, \u2018We need you back on our TV screens.\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cYou will not see Leah looking for love ever again on television. But rest assured, I will be back on TV one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Could that return be her own reality show? \u201cHonestly, the options are endless,\u201d Leah teases. \u201cI don\u2019t have a clear-cut vision, but they\u2019re there and we\u2019re looking at them. We\u2019re listening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two reality shows, however, that fans can count on Leah never doing. \u201cI don’t think anyone wants to see me on Dancing with the Stars<\/em>. I\u2019m not a dancer,\u201d she says. \u201cPeople keep telling me to go on Traitors<\/em>. I don’t know what that is. I\u2019m a granny. I live under a rock. I see clips of it, and I still don’t understand it. It seems like a cesspool of negativity, at least from what I\u2019ve seen. I don\u2019t want to do that. I can\u2019t imagine me sitting at that table with that many men going well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Leah
Dress: Blumarine. Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Acting is also something people have approached Leah about. \u201cOne of my biggest career goals is to be the final girl in a horror movie,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m obsessed with those old-school, iconic horror films\u2014they\u2019re so good. And I really feel I could totally channel that super intense, thrilling vibe and bring it to life for everyone to see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back on the Zoom call, Leah and Miguel are debating the date of their anniversary. Currently, it\u2019s Leah\u2019s birthday\u2014August 11\u2014when Miguel asked her to be his girlfriend. \u201cI surprised her on her birthday that I was back in the States,\u201d Miguel recalls. \u201cI was ignoring her calls, ignoring her texts. She was getting pissed off at me. She was texting Serena [Page]<\/a>, who I had in on it, like, \u2018Yo. What\u2019s going on? Miguel, he\u2019s ignoring me. If he doesn’t want to be with me, just tell me.\u2019 Serena\u2019s messaging me like, \u2018She\u2019s getting pissed.\u2019 I got Serena to bring her to this restaurant pretending they had a dinner planned, and I was there with a birthday card.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Love Island<\/em>] was the opposite of what I thought.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Miguel turns to Leah, \u201cI asked her to be my girlfriend on her birthday. When I asked you to be my girlfriend that day, I was like, \u2018Damn, our anniversary is gonna be a bit funny.\u2019\u201d Leah responds, \u201cWe gotta change it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leah
Top<\/a> & skirt: Poster Girl.OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Leah
Top<\/a> & skirt: Poster Girl. Shoes: Charles & Keith. Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

But what are the options? There\u2019s the day they met when Miguel arrived in the villa. \u201cWe would have to ask someone what the day was because we didn\u2019t know dates,\u201d Leah says. \u201cOr maybe it could be the day we had our first actual kiss.\u201d Miguel interrupts her, \u201cNo because I kissed every girl in the villa,\u201d to which Leah clarifies, \u201cBro! Our first actual<\/em> kiss!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Leah and Miguel can\u2019t come to a consensus on their anniversary (the day they read their vows in the Season 6 finale is another option), they agree on one thing: when they said \u201cI love you\u201d to each other for the first time. Though Miguel technically said \u201cI love you\u201d to Leah in her birthday card asking her to be his girlfriend (\u201cI thought he just didn\u2019t read it,\u201d Leah offers), the real first time was when they were in the Hamptons after filming ended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe got back from this party. I was kissing her, and then I stopped,\u201d Miguel recalls. \u201cThis thought that was in my head for a minute was now in the forefront of my mind, and I had to say it. I looked at her, and I was like, \u2018You know what? It\u2019s mad.\u2019 She goes, \u2018What?\u2019 I go, \u2018I think I love you. No, I\u2019m in love with you.\u2019 She was like, \u2018Nah, stop. You\u2019re chatting. You\u2019re just drunk.\u2019 I was like, \u2018Nah, I\u2019m being serious. You don\u2019t have to say it back. I don\u2019t expect you to. It is very early, but it\u2019s how I feel. I love you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Leah
Dress: Roberto Cavalli. Middle finger (right) & ring finger (right): Lady Grey. Earrings: Lady Grey.Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Leah didn\u2019t say it back that night. Fast-forward to three days later, and they\u2019re in New York City when Leah pulls Miguel aside. \u201cI had strep throat and he was taking such good care of me, so then I was like, \u2018No, he was being serious. I think he does really love me,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cSo I asked him, \u2018Wait, did you mean that when you said it?\u2019 He was like, \u2018Of course. I still mean it. I\u2019m in love with you.\u2019 And I was like, \u2018I love you.\u2019\u201d She cites her past relationships as the reason she didn\u2019t say \u201cI love you\u201d back immediately. \u201cI was reluctant to say it right away because of my luck and past with men, so I hold back rather than give it my all,\u201d she says. \u201cBecause when I did give my all, it just ended up being thrown back into my face. So I was trying to protect myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest assured, I will be back on TV one way or another.
<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In a couple days, Leah and Miguel are also set to celebrate their first Valentine\u2019s Day. They have plans but aren\u2019t sharing them just yet. In the lead-up to Valentine\u2019s Day, Leah is also launching her first major campaign with PETA to promote animal adoption as a way to find your true love this V-Day. Leah, who has been a vegetarian since she was 10 years old, also shot the campaign with her dog, Blue (named after the velociraptor in Jurassic World<\/em>), a husky-cattle-dog mix that she adopted after seeing a photo of her on a rescue\u2019s Instagram. \u201cMy girl killed it. She was a fucking star. She ate me up,\u201d Leah says. \u201cBut I\u2019m so proud of her.\u201d Miguel is also one of the few men Blue has approved of. \u201cShe\u2019s really protective of me and normally hates men coming near me. But I think she knows that I\u2019m good and safe,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Leah
Dress<\/a>: Saint Laurent. Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Leah
Dress<\/a>: Saint Laurent. OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Leah and Miguel realized at different moments on Love Island<\/em> that their relationship was more than just a showmance. For Miguel, it was when he wrote his vows for her in the finale. \u201cYou get a whole day to sit there and write how you feel. Being able to process everything we\u2019d gone through made me realize I actually really like this girl a lot,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was really solidified when I was in London. I would only think about her. I would only want to talk to her. We would be on the phone for ages. I wouldn\u2019t even want to leave my house.\u201d He turns to her, \u201cIt was times away from you that made me realize how much I really liked you.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Leah, it was their final date, when Miguel calmed her down from falling apart in their first moment alone. \u201cThis is tea. The final date looked cute from the clips I see on TikTok, but there were hundreds of producers. It was the most non-intimate interaction we had on the entire show,\u201d she says. \u201cThey put me in this miniskirt on an ATV. I was crying because of how many people saw my ass that day. Miguel was behind me the whole time holding my skirt down because it was so windy. I was freaking out because I was in a fucking G-string thong and there are all these men roaming around. Like I just gave these men the show of their life. They got the good thing for free. I was so sad, but literally the only good part was that was the one time Miguel and I were completely alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Leah
Dress: Roberto Cavalli. Pointer finger ring<\/a> (left), middle finger<\/a> (left), middle finger (right) & ring finger (right): Lady Grey. Earrings: Lady Grey.Photographer: OK McClausland. Design: Stephanie Cui.<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

While Leah hasn\u2019t seen a single episode of her Love Island<\/em> season (\u201cI lived it. I\u2019ve seen more than the show has.\u201d), it\u2019s moments like these that make her willing to recommend Love Island<\/em> to someone else. \u201cI would tell someone, \u2018Why not?\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cI ended up leaving with a boyfriend, which I thought I would never do. I\u2019ve gained friends for life. What\u2019s the worst that could happen? Just have fun and fuck around. It\u2019s never that serious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting in the backyard of her parents\u2019 house six months after leaving Love Island<\/em>, Leah finally feels readjusted to regular life. \u201cIt took me longer than I expected. I honestly didn\u2019t think it was gonna take any time to adjust but I just felt not myself,\u201d she says. Despite her conflicted feelings about her experience, Leah has no regrets. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have traded it for anything,\u201d she says\u2014before looking off to the side where her boyfriend sits a few feet away. \u201cI got the best person ever out of it, which is Miguel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CREDITS<\/strong>:
Photographer: OK McCausland<\/a>
Art Director: Stephanie Cui
Stylist: Marc Eram<\/a> with A-Frame Agency<\/a>
Makeup: Nadia Tayeh<\/a> with A-Frame Agency<\/a>
Hair: Frankie Calire<\/a> with Opus Beauty<\/a>
Photography Assistants: Jackson Chihuly, Brandon Rivera
Styling Assistant: Anna Webber<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAKEUP<\/strong>:
Skin prep: U Beauty Super Hydrator (Amazon<\/a>\n, Nordstrom<\/a>, Revolve<\/a>, U Beauty<\/a>)
Foundation: Makeup by Mario SurrealSkin Luminous Hydrating Foundation (Sephora<\/a>)
Concealer: Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer (Amazon<\/a>\n, Sephora<\/a>, Ulta<\/a>, Nordstrom<\/a>)
Contour: Danessa Myricks Balm Contour (Sephora<\/a>)
Blush: Huda Beauty Blush Filter Soft Glow Liquid Blush in Strawberry Cream (Sephora<\/a>)
Highlighter: KJH Hyper Shine Lite Pigment in Lite Gold (KJH<\/a>)
Eyeshadow: Morphe 18CT Matte Essentials Artistry Palette (Amazon<\/a>\n, Ulta<\/a>)
Lashes: Rokael Beauty Eyelashes in Broken Stars (Rokael Beauty<\/a>) 
Eyeliner: Makeup by Mario Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil in Super Black (Sephora<\/a>)
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (Amazon<\/a>\n, Sephora<\/a>, Ulta<\/a>)
Lip liner: Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Longwear Lip Liner in Endless Cacao (Sephora<\/a>)
Lipstick: MAC Cosmetics M\u00b7A\u00b7Cximal Sleek Satin Lipstick in \u201cMyth\u201d and \u201cGel\u201d (Ulta<\/a>, Nordstrom<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HAIR<\/strong>:
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (Amazon<\/a>\n, Sephora<\/a>, Nordstrom<\/a>, Walmart<\/a>, Revolve<\/a>)
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil (Amazon<\/a>\n, Sephora<\/a>, Nordstrom<\/a>, Walmart<\/a>, Revolve<\/a>)
Oribe Superfine Hair Spray (Amazon<\/a>\n, Sephora<\/a>, Nordstrom<\/a>, Walmart<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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