Entertainment
Love Island’s TJ Palma Gushes Over Iris Kendall Romance
Love Island USA’s TJ Palma continues to count his blessings after meeting Iris Kendall in Fiji.
“We’re doing great long distance, two opposite sides of the country, but we make it work, and we’ve been just climbing uphill together,” TJ, 24, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Wednesday, June 11, while celebrating his partnership with Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo. “We’re going through this new life together. We’re best friends, we’re lovers. It’s just a relationship I’ve always dreamt of and wanted, and it’s surreal to have that really come to life.”
Although TJ’s home base is in Florida and Iris lives closer to Los Angeles, the pair try to see each other every other week.
“She’s coming here. I’m going there, or we’re taking a vacation,” TJ explained. “We make it work, and it’s just been amazing.”
They got a text — and found love in the Love Island USA villa. The beloved British dating show made its way across the pond in 2019, following a crop of American bombshells searching for The One in a luxury tropical villa. In season 1, eventual winners Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli had a connection […]
Although TJ left Love Island USA last summer before being officially coupled up with Iris, the pair were able to reconnect in the States once cameras stopped rolling. In November 2025, TJ pulled out all the stops to ask Iris to officially be his girlfriend.
“We have fun doing anything or going anywhere, even if it’s going to the grocery store up the street,” he said. “It’s cool that people look up to us and everything, but we’re just regular people at the end of the day. Half of the time, we don’t even want to go outside. We’re very, like, ‘Let’s stay in. Let’s watch a movie. Let’s frickin’ build a Lego set.’ … It’s no different from anybody else.”
As a new batch of Islanders look for love this summer on Love Island USA, viewers may come across TJ and Iris’ new ad for Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo.
While the couple spotlight the condiment perfect for French fries, sandwiches and other summer food staples, the commercial also shows off the pair’s chemistry and playful sense of humor.
“We had a lot of fun doing it, and I felt like the spicy mayo calls for a spicy commercial,” TJ joked. “Seeing the final product, it’s like, ‘Wow! It really came to life.’”
With the summer just beginning, TJ is looking forward to spending more quality time with Iris, 26, and making unforgettable memories.
TJ Palma, Iris Kendall Ben Symons/Peacock
As for curious fans wondering when the pair may move in together, TJ said they’ve had discussions about taking the next big step. For now, they are simply enjoying the present.
Love Island USA is all about coupling up — so which Islanders are currently together and which have already called it quits in the villa? Peacock’s popular dating show returned in June 2026 with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum […]
“We honestly haven’t come to a decision on where, when, how type of thing,” he shared. “She’s always expressed that she was OK moving out of L.A. I’ve always expressed that I’m OK moving out of Tampa. … We’re still trying to figure it out, but I think we’re doing a pretty decent job, and it’s pretty early. We definitely can see ourselves moving in together soon.”
Love Island USA streams new episodes on Peacock every day except Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.
Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
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