Kaylor Martin became a household name last summer when she joined Season 6 of Love Island USA. The Pennsylvania native’s journey on the show was nothing short of dramatic, having been coupled up with Aaron Evans from their first day in the villa until their breakup mere days before the reunion was filmed. Fans watched as Martin laughed, cried, made lifelong friendships, and turned “FAWK AARON” into a common phrase — all in six weeks, nonetheless. Now, she and the rest of her fellow Season 6 Islanders are embarking on a new adventure in Peacock’s highly anticipated spinoff series, Love Island: Beyond the Villa.

In Beyond the Villa’s premiere episode—which is currently streaming on Peacock—the Islanders reunited to spend their summer navigating fame, budding careers, new relationships, and friendships in Los Angeles. But this time around, the young reality stars were much more aware of the cameras than they were in Love Island USA, with Kenny Rodriguez telling his girlfriend JaNa Craig not to out Liv Walker‘s new boyfriend on-camera, and Martin and Walker fighting over whether they were getting glam done for their first day of filming.

When Decider caught up with Martin last week, she admitted that she felt like she had to filter herself more while filming Beyond the Villa.

“Let’s be real. Going into Love Island, we didn’t have anything really to lose,” Martin said. “Now, going into this, we have a lot to lose. But I think just being real and authentic is why people want to watch us. Just being you is the best way to be.”

For Rodriguez, who was also on the Zoom call, it took “some time” to get used to being in front of cameras again. However, he noted, “People love us for who we are, and I think that’s who we showed on the show.”

During our chat with the former Love Island USA stars, Martin opened up about reuniting with Evans nearly a year after their split, while Rodriguez revealed more about his and Craig’s living situation. Check out the full interview below.

DECIDER: We saw the fourth wall get broken a couple of times in the premiere of Beyond the Villa, first when Kenny stopped JaNa from outing Liv’s new man and again when Liv asked the cameras not to film her. What was this reality TV experience like compared to Love Island? Did you find that you had to filter yourselves more now that you’re household names?

KAYLOR MARTIN: Good question. I feel like, yes. Let’s be real. Going into Love Island, we didn’t have anything really to lose. Right? We didn’t really have anything to lose. Now, going into this, we have a lot to lose. But I think just being real and authentic is why people want to watch us. Just being you is the best way to be.

KENNY RODRIGUEZ: It was a year since we had been on camera, so it does take some time to just get used to it. But honestly, people love us for who we are, and I think that’s who we showed on the show. 

Kenny, you and JaNa did not live together while filming, but you did live in apartments right next to each other. How did that work? Would you guys just go to your respective apartments at the end of the night? Did you find yourself spending more time in one than the other?

KENNY: We lived right next to each other. Her apartment was more tidy. I call it a library because it’s just so clean. Whereas my apartment, we had the dog in my apartment that we fostered. And so we spent our nights, we had slow mornings in my apartment and she’d go to her apartment for glam and everything else. It was nice being in the same city and being in her presence. This was the longest that we had been together without a break, and I think our relationship blossomed for sure. 

Kaylor, it was a big moment when you and Aaron reunited in the premiere episode. I want to ask you something his mom asked him. If you and Aaron had met on the street and not on Love Island, do you think you guys would have worked out? 

KAYLOR: I will second Aaron’s answer. I don’t think I could answer that question because we didn’t. We met on a reality show. I think a lot of people need to keep that in mind. I mean, we weren’t set up to meet each other, but we kind of were. It’s way different. I don’t really know. I mean, we’re from different countries, so I don’t even think I would run into him in the streets here in the US. So yeah, I second him on his answer. I can’t really answer it. 

Aaron made a comment about how he feels like the cast is segregated into cliques based on how many followers everyone has, and suggested that everyone is a little different now than they were when they first came into the villa. Do you agree with that?

KAYLOR: I actually disagree with that. Leah has so many followers and she’s still the same person that I’ve known and met in the villa. I’m not really sure what Aaron means by that. Also, we were only with Aaron for a short period of time for this second project. So I actually would love to ask him that question myself and what he meant by that, because I feel like Aaron doesn’t even really know me, if that makes sense. I feel he doesn’t really have a close relationship with the girls or anyone to really make that comment. So that comment was an interesting one. Maybe we’ll have a reunion and we can ask him.

Kenny, I thought you handled that conversation with Connor like a pro. We know how JaNa feels about him, but what was it like for you to be in the same room as a guy who was previously coupled up with your girlfriend? How do you navigate that? 

KENNY: Obviously, I had conversations with JaNa prior. Not that awkward is the word, but I really don’t like there to be hostility or animosity towards anyone. I really like to have everything put out there. That’s why I addressed him and I addressed the situation, just to understand where he’s coming from. I know where JaNa’s at and where her mind is at. And so understanding his point of view as well, I felt was important for me to get just a clearer picture as to why and where the situation was at. I’m glad I addressed it at the party.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

New episodes of Love Island: Beyond the Villa stream on Peacock every Thursday.