There is no such thing as good television without a villain. Think Jax Taylor from Vanderpump Rules, or Samantha Riehl from Farmer Wants a Wife. You know, reality stars who are often unapologetic for their actions, audacious with their demands and manage to keep us glued to the screen with all their antics as they stir the pot.
Polarizing Love Island USA season 7 contestant Huda Mustafa, 24, has been exactly that and then some.
Love Island USA is a dating competition series on Peacock that brings a group of contestants from around the world into a luxury villa in Fiji. The goal is for each “Islander” to couple up, whether for true love, friendship or, frankly, to avoid being eliminated from the villa. Throughout the series, the Islanders compete to win not just America’s approval, but also the support of their fellow Islanders.
Ben Symons/Peacock
The competition is so ruthless that the tension becomes even more complex for Islanders who have fallen in love, as they have to continue to live in peace with those still open to exploring other connections and maybe eyeing their person. This is important to note when considering Huda’s journey on the show.
We’d be lying if we said we weren’t captivated by Huda. Her presence has made this season more buzzworthy and has us hooked, and other people have to feel the same way. Below are some of Huda’s ups and downs that had us scratching our heads, yelling at the TV — and feeling gratitude for the summertime escape she’s been providing.
Down: Her immediate clinging to Jeremiah Brown
From the moment Huda and Jeremiah Brown, 25, met and sat down to have a conversation, Huda instantly settled in because she felt “they had so much in common.” Granted, feelings are feelings, and Love Island USA contestants are supposed to be as honest and vulnerable as possible, but she only had eyes for Jeremiah from the get-go, locked in and never budged.
This, in turn, created pressure for Jeremiah to do the same, which essentially stunted both of their progress on the island. Her move goes against the point of the competition as it’s specifically curated for contestants to explore all their options and grow from each experience.
Kim Nunneley/Peacock
In episode 3, Huda asked Jeremiah how he’s feeling, to which he replied, “Chilling, I’m low key. You don’t let me sleep, though, so it’s tough.” She giggled and when asked how she’s feeling, she replied with, “I feel like me and you are, like, the parents — we’re very emotionally mature — I feel like it’s like mom and dad.”
By putting out the notion that they are the “mom and dad” of the villa, Huda was seemingly attempting to mark her territory and indicate that potential suitors have no shot at either of them.
This was even more ironic given the fact that she is a mom and hadn’t told Jeremiah yet.
Up: Delaying revealing that she was a mom
Hear us out: A lot of fans are quick to point out the double standard surrounding this move, but it’s honestly understandable. While she was holding Jeremiah’s feet to the fire about his intentions, Huda was keeping what is perhaps the biggest secret of all — that she is a “mom, mami, mamacita.” But, it does take a certain level of courage to open up about news that big, keeping in mind that they were only a few days in.
Perhaps her daughter — being her greatest joy, let alone such an integral part of her life — should’ve been a topic of conversation with Jeremiah from the beginning, especially since she told several female Islanders about it prior, but we venture to say, revealing her daughter is bigger than just game play and comfortability needed to be a priority.
Down: Those intimidation tactics
When bombshell Cierra Ortega arrived in the villa, she was clearly interested in Jeremiah and pulled him for a chat. Not only did Huda immediately develop some ire for Cierra, who had no idea of their relationship dynamics, but Huda made sure to watch their conversation and even said, “I’m gonna make sure he can see me.” Again, this move goes against the fact that part of the game is to meet other people and make other connections.
She eventually walked up to them and referred to Jeremiah as “baby” in front of Cierra, further marking her territory while pulling him for a chat. And this was episode 2.
Ben Symons/Peacock
Up: Her strategic game play
For better or worse, Huda came to play the game. From the moment she stepped into the villa, she made it clear that she was one to watch. While some Islanders may have hesitated to make bold moves or fully embrace the game, our girl went full throttle.
Her unfiltered approach allowed her to quickly form a deep connection, where she unapologetically expressed her needs and expectations. The truth is, this level of self-assurance in an environment with such high stakes shows a kind of boldness we love to see in reality TV contestants.
Her approach may raise eyebrows, but there’s no denying that Huda is playing a calculated game. From her early interactions with Jeremiah to the way she controls her narrative within the villa, Huda is actively laying cards so they work in her favor. Some may label it as sneaky, but you’re watching, aren’t you?
Down: An unnecessary confrontation with Olandria
During one of the early eliminations at the fire pit, several of the male Islanders left their couples, a move she couldn’t believe. When Olandria Carthen’s partner, Taylor Williams, stood up and left her, Huda said, “I don’t like this,” looking at Olandria, who replied, “Girl, you don’t have to play that. We’re not upset.”
Obviously, it doesn’t feel good when your partner leaves you, but everyone understands it’s part of the game, so no one was super upset, but since Jeremiah was the only one of the guys who stayed in his couple, Huda seemingly felt she had the upper hand when saying she was disappointed in the Islanders for being open.
Huda immediately started crying when Olandria responded to her, asking her to basically take a chill pill, considering she wasn’t even upset by Williams’ decision. Huda made a whole thing of the interaction, and eventually went to Chelley Bissainthe to cry about it, saying Olandria should have pulled her aside instead of saying it in front of everyone.
Olandria ended up apologizing as she didn’t mean to make Huda cry.
Ben Symons/Peacock
Up: She’s weathering the criticism
Perhaps one of her most impressive qualities is her ability to weather criticism, even when being challenged by America’s decision to part ways with Jeremiah, not to mention his newfound connections with Iris Kendall, followed by Andreina Santos.
Despite the harsh feedback and scrutiny among the Islanders, Huda hasn’t backed down. Instead, she remains steadfast in her approach, which speaks to a level of emotional resilience that is crucial for survival in such a pressure cooker environment.
Her ability to not only persevere but also pull strings and come out on top and each turn, even when people are questioning her every move, shows a deep-rooted confidence that is necessary to make it through to the end.
New episodes of Love Island USA drop every day (except Wednesday) at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
