Love Island USA Season 7 may be serving steamy hookups, messy triangles, and enough abs to blind a small village, but something’s missing. The drama is there, the slow-mo makeout with ALL tongue sessions are intact, and the neon bikinis are brighter than ever. Yet it all feels a little too Gen Z for those of us who remember when “Netflix and chill” was still a novelty. Millennials built this franchise.
We’ve been watching since the early UK days, rooting for OG couples like Dani and Jack or Molly-Mae and Tommy. We’ve lived through Casa Amors, recouplings, and fire pit speeches. But now? We’re being left on read. And it’s time someone said it: we need a Millennial Love Island and we need it yesterday. A Millennial Love Island wouldn’t just be entertaining but iconic. It would reflect the complexities of modern dating with a little more maturity, a lot more depth, and still enough drama.
Love Island shouldn’t just center around younger contestants
Look, there’s no shade to the 22-year-old influencers and part-time pool boys currently tanning on daybeds. They’re fun, they’re chaotic, and they bring the heat. But the truth? Watching another wide-eyed Gen Z contestant cry because someone talked to their man for, like, three minutes (looking at you, Huda Mustafa) doesn’t hit the same when you’re trying to refinance your mortgage and wondering if your insurance covers therapy. The show’s demographic isn’t just freshly graduated 20-somethings. A significant portion of the audience consists of millennials who are now in their 30s and are either dating, divorced, co-parenting, or scrolling through Instagram while reheating leftovers. We’re not here for followers. We’re here for soulmates, or at least someone who doesn’t ghost after three months.
There’s a whole generation of singles who deserve their shot at love and screen time. People who have lived, loved, and learned the hard way. People who know what it’s like to send a risky text and then spiral for 48 hours because they have work in the morning. That’s the kind of Love Island experience we’re craving. Love Island USA has mastered the art of escapist fantasy but it’s time to evolve. The real world isn’t just 23-year-olds with ring lights and brand deals. It’s 35-year-olds with skincare routines, emotional intelligence, and a list of red flags they’ve learned to spot from 100 feet away.
How a Love Island centered around millennials would speak to the audience
Imagine a villa where people actually know what they’re looking for, or at least pretend to. A cast of singles who have real jobs, honest opinions, and real baggage. No more youngins giving speeches about never having had life experiences. We want “I was engaged once, but he moved to LA and ghosted me after we adopted a cat” energy. A Millennial Love Island would bring a level of emotional depth that’s been missing from recent seasons. These contestants would still be hot (obviously), but they’d also be vulnerable in a way only someone who’s been through a few relationship cycles can be. And yes, they’d still flirt in the pool (maybe just not wear their shoes in the pool.” But they’d also talk about boundaries, attachment styles, and whether they believe in prenups.
And can we talk about the fashion? Say goodbye to micro bikinis and bucket hats. Bring on the linen sets, tasteful swimsuits, and graphic tees that say Emotionally Available (Kinda). The style would be more elevated, less TikTok trend-chasing. And the conversations? Chef’s kiss. We’re talking late-night chats about migraines, therapy, swapping dog photos and whether or not they’re emotionally ready to be loved. Producers could even lean into the nostalgia. Use tracks from early 2010s playlists. Bring back iconic challenges with a mature twist. How about a game entitled “Guess Who Still Has Their Ex’s Netflix Login” or “The Heart Rate Challenge.” The possibilities are endless.
And let’s not forget the audience connection. Millennials would see themselves in this cast. Not just hot young singles, but people juggling dating with work stress, family pressure, and the creeping anxiety that maybe they do want kids … after one more year of figuring things out. That kind of representation? Long overdue. So, producers, if you’re listening: throw us a bone.
Love Island USA is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF A MILLENNIAL LOVE ISLAND?
