How old is Cierra Ortega from Love Island USA season 7? Details explored

Love Island USA Season 7 has introduced several new islanders, but few have made as much of an impact as Cierra Ortega. The 25-year-old contestant from Los Angeles entered the villa alongside Charlie Georgiou as the first pair of bombshells in Episode 2.

Her arrival quickly shifted the dynamics in the house, especially when Nic Vansteenberghe decided to end his connection with Belle-A Walker and couple up with Cierra. Over the next several episodes, Cierra and Nic formed a strong bond, eventually becoming the only couple to officially close off their relationship.

However, in Episode 30, it was announced that Cierra had “left the villa due to a personal situation,” leaving Nic single. This exit came amid growing backlash online after past social media posts surfaced where Cierra used anti-Asian slurs. Although no detailed statement was given by the show, Cierra’s removal followed a pattern similar to Yulissa Escobar, another contestant pulled earlier in the season for using racial slurs.

At 25 years old, Cierra Ortega had already built a career in content creation and brand partnerships before appearing on the show. She also holds a degree from the University of Arizona and has Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage.

Cierra’s Love Island USA journey and sudden departure

Cierra Ortega’s time on Love Island USA Season 7 began with a major twist. Entering as one of the first bombshells, she quickly connected with Nic Vansteenberghe, prompting him to break things off with Belle-A Walker at the first recoupling. Their connection stayed strong through several episodes, and they eventually became the only couple to officially close off.

Their relationship appeared stable until episode 30 of Love Island USA, when the show’s narrator announced,

“Has left the villa due to a personal situation, leaving Nic single.”

No additional details were shared during the episode, leading to questions online. In the days leading up to her exit, posts from Cierra’s past had resurfaced, including multiple instances where she had used anti-Asian slurs.

As the controversy gained attention, a petition calling for her removal circulated online and received over 17,000 signatures. Cierra’s social media also saw a sharp drop in followers, with more than 200,000 accounts unfollowing her within days.

Reports stated that Love Island USA producers were holding internal discussions on how to address the situation. Meanwhile, former contestants and friends began responding. Johnnie Garcia wrote,

“I loved supporting her during her time on the show… but I felt it was necessary to take a step back.”

MJ Hedderman, who managed Cierra’s account during the show, said she had no prior knowledge of the posts and announced she would no longer run the account.

Life before the show and current status

Before joining Love Island USA, Cierra Ortega lived in Los Angeles and worked in influencer marketing and brand partnerships. She also had experience as a content creator. Cierra graduated from the University of Arizona and is of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent.

At 25, she had hoped that her appearance on the reality show would boost her career in the influencer space, which is often the case for popular contestants. Her family addressed the situation with a statement posted to her Instagram account.

“We’re not here to justify or ignore what’s surfaced. We understand why people are upset, and we know accountability matters,” they wrote.

However, they also mentioned that the reaction online had gone beyond accountability, and that Cierra had not yet had a chance to respond to the situation herself.

Love Island USA producers also aired a message during one of the recent episodes urging viewers to stop sending hateful messages to contestants. Though Cierra has left the villa, the full impact of the controversy remains to be seen. Her Instagram handle is @cierra.ortega, and she is also on TikTok @cierraortega, though her activity on both platforms has been limited since her departure.

Stay tuned for more updates.