Love Island USA season 2 star Mackenzie Dipman is returning to the villa for a second chance at finding love. Mackenzie last appeared on the show in 2020, when it aired on CBS. The Love Island UK spin-off has since moved to Peacock.
Viewers will remember Mackenzie for her tumultuous relationship with Connor Trott. Between that on-again, off-again drama and her obvious insecurity, the Arizona native polarized fans. Despite their rocky road on the show, Connor and Mackenzie got back together on the outside and dated for nearly six months. Since then, the college grad also appeared on Summer House while dating Carl Radke.
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Now Mackenzie is following in the footsteps of Love Island UK star Adam Collard, returning older and wiser, and hopeful second time’s the charm. She spoke to People ahead of her return in the August 17 episode. When asked why she’s coming back, she responded, “I’m still single. I think that’s the obvious answer.” The 25-year-old also cited “the luxuries of getting older,” as she’s more confident now. “I know that the person that I am walking into this experience now, two years later, is going to have a very different experience from the person that walked into the villa the first time,” the blonde beauty added. She’s ready to have more fun this time, will take more risks and feels less pressure. As she joins Love Island USA season 4, Mackenzie admitted there are a few guys she has her eye on, though she didn’t name names. However, she noted, “It’s possible that someone that I’m interested in isn’t even in the villa anymore because things change so quickly.” She also wants to really get to know the guys first. The podcaster continued, “I know, from my own experience, that people that I was with on the show appeared very differently on TV from how I knew them in real life, so I’m trying to keep an open mind about everybody.”
While she’s not afraid to step on toes as Love Island USA‘s latest bombshell, Mackenzie anticipates giving “big sister” advice to the other girls. The model hopes they “use me as a resource as to understanding what’s going to happen next.” After her season, she revealed, the islanders were unprepared for how post-villa life didn’t meet expectations. Additionally, the influencer knows what questions to ask guys now and will advise girls to do the same. “I think that they should just be asking, ‘What does your next six months look like?’ And ‘Do you see yourself relocating if we don’t live in the same place? And if not, what is your comfortability with long-distance?'” she explained, “Not like, ‘Do you want to have kids one day?’ Think shorter-term. Love Island USA season 2 viewers will remember how Mackenzie supported the other girls by calling out men’s bad behavior. The former pageant queen confirmed that’s one thing that hasn’t changed.
Adam’s return allowed him to reform his infamous bad boy image. While he broke quite a few hearts the first time, the 26-year-old spent his second chance forming a strong connection with Paige Thorne. Since leaving with Paige, he’s become a devoted boyfriend, even winning over her skeptical family. Time will tell if Mackenzie has a similarly successful in round 2. Between her and Adam, fans of all the Love Island shows will be excited about the future possibilities of the returning islanders.
Love Island USA streams Tuesdays through Sundays at 9 p.m. EDT on Peacock.
Source: People
