This article contains spoilers for the first six episodes of “Love Island” USA Season 4.
Once upon a time, the only reality dating show to exist was “The Bachelor.”
The notion of watching one man date 30 women was pretty scandalous when the show first premiered in 2002.
But perhaps the reality dating show that has taken off in an unparalleled sense is “Love Island.”
Her experience, however, was cut short when she became the first person eliminated from the island.
What was Valerie looking for romantically before Love Island?
Take me back to the early days were you a fan of the show before joining the cast?
How did your casting come about?
I actually had never seen the show before I got cast.
I knew of the show because I had a mutual friend who went on the show.
That’s how I first heard about it, but I never watched it.
I only saw certain clips whenever he was on the show.
I was like, “Oh, let me apply.”
It was actually very fast.
What did that casting process look like?
Was it screen tests?
I know you’re from Costa Rica, but you lived in Florida.
Where are you now?
I’m in Maitland.
Honestly, I was hoping to find … That’s what I envisioned, but everything happens for a reason.
If I didn’t find it in there, I’ll most likely find it out here.
You have to base off everything from first interactions.
Jesse was the first one to actually tell me, “I’m very interested in you.
I want to get to know you.
I feel like I can learn a lot about you.”
You have such a bold personality.
I love the way you carry yourself.
I love that about you."
From my conversations with the other guys, everybody seemed very indecisive.
With Deb honestly, Deb and I were actually pretty cool.
There was never an issue with us or anything.
But we were cool, honestly.
She was really nice to me.
What was that like for you?
Honestly, going in there, I didn’t know what I was going to expect.
It wasn’t awkward or anything like that.
I don’t know.
I feel like it becomes natural.
You get used to it, and that’s it.
I didn’t have any issues or anything like that going in.
I expected it there’s going to be cameras, but it didn’t bother me like that.
At times, you laugh.
If it’s a serious moment, you have to hold your laugh for a second.
I’m like, “Okay, serious moment.
I have to be serious.”
She was ready to say goodbye to Jesse
Your time on the show came to a close.
After that one-on-one picnic date with Tyler [Radziszewski], there was that dreaded text.
What was your initial reaction to that?
When I first got the text, I was very happy, but …
I was already mentally disconnected.
Part of me got down, in a sense.
I was definitely interested in Tyler, but I was also not mad about not having that.
A part of me was already mentally disconnected.
Tyler was really mellow.
[But] given the circumstances, I have to pursue whatever’s in there.
That’s the way I took it.
Well, you definitely don’t want to be with the wrong person.
Exactly that’s what I’m saying, too.
With the whole Jesse thing, I don’t know if he meant it, honestly.
I feel like a part of him does, maybe, because he knows what he did to me.
But then again, he knows what he did to me.
What’s your response to that, in retrospect?
I don’t think he really means that.
He’d just be leading me on.
That’s what I was looking for.
For him to show me that, I was like, “Okay, yeah.
Let’s explore this.”
Then [he was] also cuddling me at night and playing with my mind.
I thought we had something.
But in reality, he was telling other people something else.
I was watching that unfold on-screen, relating to it on a personal level.
I’ve been led on; so many of my girlfriends have been led on.
Honestly, I have been led on in the past, too.
In a situation like “Love Island,” a lot of people just want to stay.
The longer you stay, the longer you get to experience it.
But having that mentality stops you from being yourself.
But I wasn’t trying to stay longer.
I was trying to find a connection.
You should confront them about it.
Never be scared to speak up for yourself.
But I didn’t care, because I was like, “You know what?
Would Valerie change her Love Island experience?
I also appreciated that you were yourself.
In retrospect, watching it back, are you happy with all the decisions that you made?
Oh, for sure.
I have no regrets.
Even thinking, “What if I had done something different?”
I could have, but then I wouldn’t have been able to really show myself.
You’ve had to deal with some negative social media attention in the past.
But once they meet me, you’re like, “Wow, you’re actually so nice.”
It’s nice to be able to show that and show myself.
With that said, what’s on the horizon for you?
What can fans expect to see from you next, if it’s possible for you to say?
Honestly, I’m still taking the time to decompress.
Right now, that’s what’s on my mind.
This interview was edited for clarity.
