Love Island USA is being filmed at a hotel in Las Vegas, and host Arielle Vandenberg has opened up about what life is like in the bubble of the show. This year’s reality shows have been altered by COVID-19. However, thanks to creative solutions, the fans are still getting their fill of drama. Love Island USA began production in August, and it will continue until the end of this month. On the show, young single contestants enter the villa and see if they can find a connection with another islander. If they do, they have the chance to couple up.
While islanders come and go, host Arielle Vandenberg and the crew are committed to staying in the “bubble” for the full eight weeks. The show is usually shot on an actual island. For instance, Love Island USA was shot in Fiji. Moreover, the UK and Australian versions of the show usually shoot in Mallorca. This year, the villa was transported to The Cromwell Hotel in Las Vegas. Each contestant was quarantined inside the hotel for two weeks and tested for coronavirus prior to entering the villa.
Arielle Vandenberg recently opened up to Self about her experience living in the Love Island USA bubble for seven weeks so far. As the host, she appears on the show about once a week to lead recoupling ceremonies. Arielle is currently quarantined at The Cromwell with her chihuahua, Stinky, and away from her fiancé, comedian Matt Cutshall. She said, “At first you’re like, ‘Oh my god, what’s that going to be like, that sounds horrible.’ But I’m weirdly the best person for the job. Because I like being at home; I love chilling.” Challenges for Arielle include finding time to talk to her fiancé, keep her diet healthy, and maintain a regular sleep schedule. She said that FaceTime and Zoom have made talking to Matt much easier, and that they keep in touch over text throughout the daytime. As for food, she explained that she doesn’t have much space for cooking in her hotel room. “It’s really hard to stay healthy when you’re out of your own routine, but I found a True Food Kitchen here, which is healthy food that I can actually Postmate.”
In the Love Island USA quarantine, Arielle mentioned something that many people are struggling with during quarantine: getting yourself tired enough to fall asleep. “Being here is so different,” she said, “because when you’re out and having a full day of whatever you’re doing, you get back and you’re tired. I’m here kind of chilling, so there’s nothing to get tired from.” She also noted that she had been sleeping well in the hotel, but getting on a regular schedule is hard. Arielle enjoys chamomile tea around 11pm, or some melatonin to help her sleep.
Needless to say, it's not easy surviving the Love Island USA bubble. But with only a few more days left on the show, Arielle's plan seems to have worked just fine.
Love Island USA airs nightly on CBS at 9pm EST.
Source: Self