Cierra Ortega became the second female Love Island USA season 7 contestant to get abruptly removed from the Villa. The reality TV star and social media influencer suddenly vanished from the show once narrator Iain Stirling made an announcement several minutes into episode 30.
“Welcome back to Love Island USA. Cierra has left the villa due to a personal situation, leaving Nic [Vansteenberghe] officially single,” Iain said during season 7, episode 30. So, what happened to Cierra, and what did she say about the situation?
Below, Hollywood Life has a breakdown of Cierra’s exit, what comes next for Nic and updates on Cierra’s future post-Villa.
Who Is Cierra in Love Island USA Season 7?
Cierra is a 25-year-old social media content creator from Los Angeles.
Why Did Cierra Leave Love Island USA Season 7?
Cierra didn’t leave the show on her own accord. Fans called for Cierra’s removal from the show because she was seen using an anti-Asian racial slur in a past social media post. Love Island USA chose to take her off the series.
Will Cierra Return to Love Island USA?
It’s unlikely that Cierra will return to Love Island since she was removed by the show.
Where Is Cierra Now After Love Island USA? Update
Four days after her departure from the Villa, Cierra apologized in a July 9, 2025, Instagram video for previously using a racial slur. She began the clip by noting she is “not the victim in this situation” and wanted to speak out.
“I want to first start by addressing, not just anyone that I have hurt or deeply offended, but most importantly, the entire Asian community,” Cierra said. “I am deeply, truly, honestly, so sorry. I had no idea that the word held as much pain as much harm, and came with the history that it did, or I never would have used it. I had no ill intention when I was using it. But that’s absolutely no excuse, because intent doesn’t excuse ignorance.”
Cierra added that she takes “accountability for using the word,” but pointed out that she “genuinely had no idea that it was a slur” at the time she said it. As for her removal from Love Island USA, she concluded, “I think that this is something that deserved punishment, and the punishment has absolutely been received.”
What Happened to Nic After Cierra Was Eliminated?
Since Cierra was Nic’s first choice in the Villa, he had a choice to either couple up with another woman or to stay single. During the episode, Nic was asked whether he’d try to explore another connection.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Right before Cierra had left, my mind was clear,” Nic said. “I knew what the future would look like, and now I’m lost. I think now that my strongest connection is gone, there’s like — just figure it out from here.”
Nevertheless, Nic chose to couple up with Olandria Carthen. So, for now, he is still in the Villa.
Nic and Olandria have officially coupled up during Season 7 of Love Island USA. pic.twitter.com/k2IbmlXDqj
— POP GOSSIP (@TheePopGossip) July 7, 2025
What Happened to Yulissa in Love Island Season 7?
Cierra wasn’t the first Love Island USA contestant to get thrown out of the Villa. Earlier in season 7, Yulissa Escobar was abruptly removed from the show after clips of her using a racial slur surfaced. In the days following her elimination, Yulissa wrote a public apology via Instagram.
“First, I want to apologize for using a word I had no right in using,” Yulissa wrote in her caption. “Podcast clips from years ago have recently resurfaced, and I want to address it directly. In those clips, I used a word I never should’ve used, a racial slur. I used it ignorantly, not fully understanding the weight, history, or pain behind it. I wasn’t trying to be offensive or harmful, but I recognize now that intention doesn’t excuse impact. And the impact of that word is real. It’s tied to generations of trauma, and it is not mine to use.”
