Love Island USA Season 7 is only one week in and the show has already suffered a devastating loss. Belle-A Walker from Honolulu, Hawaii was sent home in Sunday night’s (June 8) episode when Nic Vansteenberghe chose to couple up with bombshell Cierra Ortega instead of her.

Much like the way she spells her first name, Walker’s experience on Love Island USA was certainly unique. The Oregon-born gal didn’t enter the villa looking for steamy hookups, but rather a good Christian man. In the premiere episode, she refused to make out with the guys at first sight, only allowing them to place a modest kiss on her cheek. “I had to be a little tease that night,” Walker told DECIDER over a Zoom interview, noting that she wanted to be “true to [herself]” by setting the same boundaries in the villa that she would in the outside world.

Walker finally let her freak flag fly in the baseball challenge “Getting to Fourth Base,” which required the female Islanders to pick the top four men they’d like to explore connections with (or simply share a messy makeout session with). That’s when Walker, for the first time, kissed Vansteenberghe, whom she had initially been coupled up with before Ortega arrived at the villa and stole him. While they went on to share another passionate smooch in Soul Ties, Vansteenberghe — despite telling Walker she had nothing to worry about minutes earlier — chose Ortega at the recoupling, ultimately dumping Walker from the island.

Fans of the show have since started a petition to bring her back on the show, which excited Walker since she was “nervous” about how she would be received by the audience.

“They pulled the most basic surface-level of things that I said in that entire villa and put those conversations out there,” she said. “I was afraid that that’s exactly how they would view me as just this boring surface-level person who’s a prude and doesn’t take chances or take risks. And that’s not who I am at all. So hearing that really just fills my heart so heavily knowing that I might have made a bigger splash than I thought.”

When DECIDER caught up with Walker, she revealed the origin behind her name, which guy she wished she explored a connection with, and whether she’d be open to returning to the show as a bombshell. Check out the full interview below.

DECIDER: Before we get into the Love Island USA stuff, I would love to ask you about the way you spell your name because I think it’s so fun and unique. What’s the origin story behind that?

BELLE-A WALKER: Yes! Thank you. So going back, [I’ll] bring you through a little family history lesson. My nonna, which is grandma, her name was Anne and would go by Annie. She named my mom Vera-Anne. And my mom wanted to give me a piece of my nonna as well. So she named me Isabelle-Anne. So, Belledasha was born! 

Getting into the show, what made you decide to audition for Love Island USA? And what were your feelings when you got the call that you’d be going to Fiji?

Love Island has actually reached out to me three different times. The first time I was too young, the second time I was in a very committed relationship. I actually watched last season with my ex. And then the third time the stars aligned and my ex had broken up with me. And I thought, “Why not embrace a whole new experience?” And there I went. 

I have so much respect for the fact that you were not as willing to tongue down anyone and everyone right from the start. Were you nervous going into the villa knowing you weren’t super comfortable with the kissing and physical affection part of it?

Yes, absolutely. I knew what I was walking into. Of course, it’s Love Island. I’ve seen the seasons, I’ve seen how it goes. I had no doubt that they were gonna have us kissing on the first day but I also knew in my heart that I had set this boundary for myself in the outside world and I knew I wanted to and I needed to be true to myself. Even just that small of a boundary, I needed to keep that to myself, even in the villa. So, [the] first night rolls around and we’re supposed to share a hot steamy makeout session with two of the finest men we see. Of course, I had to be a little tease that night. 

We did see you start to let loose a bit in the baseball challenge and it was like you had been let out of your cage. What made you decide to go full throttle in that challenge?

First, I think it’s really cool that you just said let out of your cage like a little baseball cage. I came out swinging! I definitely wanted to lay the foundation of my boundary first and foremost and that’s exactly what I did. And once I knew I gained the respect of every single one of those guys in the villa and after they communicated with me, that they see me, they appreciate me, they respect me, that’s when I decided to let my guard down a little bit because I felt safe. I knew I was gonna be okay. And I knew that I wanted to unlock this Belle-A that had been locked up for so long. So that’s exactly what I did. 

You and Nic were coupled up from the beginning. What was it that initially drew you to him?

I mean, he’s very handsome. He came into the villa, talking about what he did for his job. And he said that he’s a nurse and [that] he actually walked away from that to pursue what he’s passionate about. And I found that very, very attractive – that even though he had this safe paved for him already, he decided to take a risk. I just found that super intriguing and I wanted to get to know him and who he was and why he did it. And that’s why I chose Nick that night. 

If you could go back in time, would you have still chosen Nic at the first coupling? Or do you wish you would’ve explored a connection with someone else? If so, who?

I also “kissed” Taylor that night. I am very attracted to him, but he doesn’t look like my ex, but he kind of has some similarities. And so I think that hit a little too close to home, so I wanted to try something different and I wanted to put myself out there and jump out of my comfort zone. So even going back, like, I did what I did and I don’t regret any of those decisions by coupling up with Nic. I did enjoy getting to know him and who he is as a person. It’s unfortunate the way he went about things, but no regrets. As far as Taylor, I do wish I would have allowed myself to explore more with him. 

You called yourself the “cutoff queen,” which I love. But then you still wanted to make something work with Nic even after Cierra initially stole him from you. Can you talk a bit about that? 

I feel like it’s human nature to want what you can’t have. And I knew that my strongest connection in that villa was still Nic. I started the journey with him and a big part of me wanted to see it through. I have loyalty in my blood so, in a way, I was still staying loyal to Nic and and I can’t explain why, because he didn’t deserve that at all. But that’s how I moved. I can’t explain my actions, truly, because when you’re in that villa, emotions are heightened, senses are heightened, feelings are stronger. Nic finally started making me feel more and more comfortable and I want to say it’s kind of like a little ice sculpture and you’re like chiseling away at little pieces. He did that. He did start taking the time. Ultimately, I am an investment and you are not going to see the return on the first day. He wasn’t willing to make that investment in me. He started to but he backtracked

That’s how you know he’s not the one for you. There’s someone much better out there!

Absolutely. There’s somebody so much better. Nic is just a silly boy living in his silly little world. He had two tens fighting over him. I had to give him his moment.

Everyone watching was so heartbroken when Nic did not choose you at the recoupling. We saw your shock on your face when he brought up the photobooth. What was going through your head at that moment? How do you look back on your short-lived romance now?

Of course I didn’t fall in love with Nic or anything like that within the short time in that villa. But we did develop a strong connection and I think the viewers really were gypped of that too because watching the episodes back I think they painted me more of like the third girl in this love triangle. They gave the sparks and the fireworks to Nic and Cierra, which were there, but they were also there for us and the viewers didn’t get to see that. He reassured me up and down in so many different conversations and so many different moments and in his actions, even in his physical touch that I was gonna be okay and I was going to be safe. That night, I was his last conversation right before the recoupling and the last thing he told me was, “Belle-A, I don’t want you worrying. You don’t have anything to worry about.” Boom! Sent me packing my bags! So yeah, I was very shocked. I knew that he could have gone either way. But at the same time, he gave me so much high hope in us and him finally choosing me? It was just so confusing, you know? And when he did say those words, “I really enjoyed the moment we shared.” I was like, “Okay, okay. The moment we share soul ties? All the feels?” Like, going through the conversations that we’ve had. And then he said, “Photo booth.” My heart sank because I knew I’d never been in the photo booth with him before. I was confused for sure. It caught me off guard, definitely. 

Fans loved the way you handled things with Nic after the recoupling – specifically when you told him that it wasn’t your loss that he chose someone else. I’m sure emotions were running high in that moment so how did you manage to check him with so much grace? 

You know what? I said what I said because my intentions were pure the entire time and a pure heart never loses.

There is a change.org petition to bring you back to the show and it has over 40,000 signatures. What do you think about that? 

I am on cloud nine hearing that because I was so nervous that when I did leave the villa, I was afraid that people didn’t get to see enough of me, of who I am. I knew that I laid down my boundaries and I knew that that was shown. But I didn’t get to show my character. It only started coming out in the last couple episodes. I was so sad and very nervous in how I was going to be received by everybody around me. I was a little afraid that they were gonna say, “Oh good, get this girl out of here, she has no depth. She’s so boring.” They pulled the most basic surface-level of things that I said in that entire villa and put those conversations out there. So, I was afraid that that’s exactly how they would view me as just this boring surface-level person who’s a prude and doesn’t take chances or take risks. And that’s not who I am at all. So hearing that really just fills my heart so heavily knowing that I might have made a bigger splash than I thought 

If given the opportunity, would you ever return as a bombshell?

Heck yeah! Put me back in, coach. I’m ready. I got the game down, I found new confidence, I found my voice, I am ready. Put me back in! 

I’d love to get your thoughts on some of your fellow Islanders. Huda and Jeremiah have been at the center of a lot of conversations – what do you think of them? Do you think they are locking in too soon?

It’s hard because I feel a little biased because they were my closest friends in that whole villa. In my heart and my mind, I want to see them take it to the very end and I want to believe that they will and that they do have it in them. But I did grill both of them from the very start on putting all your eggs in one basket too soon. I think that’s a big risk within itself. And since the moment he laid eyes on Huda, Jeremiah was closed off. He didn’t even let Yulisa kiss him on that first day. He was showing that he was all about her from the beginning. I’m just afraid that maybe things went too fast for them and seeing recent comments and recent episodes, I’m afraid that Jeremiah is going to let the opinions of other people cloud his heart and his feelings for Huda. And the last thing I want is for my girl to leave heartbroken. I feel a little nervous for who might walk through those doors and who might turn his head. And if it’s not a bombshell, I have a bad feeling Casa Amor might blow things up for him. I want to think that that’s not going to happen. But I think he’s been in his head a lot lately. 

I feel the same way. When she told him she was a mom, he seemed really thrown off. He also talked to you about it right after she told him.

Well, I already knew and he knew I knew because I was Huda’s closest friend. So that’s when he confided in me about it because he knew he couldn’t talk to anybody else. And he’s like, “She’s got a kid.” I didn’t know she was telling him that night. I knew she wanted to tell him. But I also think that she might get a lot of heat for the way she went about it. I think if I were in her shoes, I would go about it the same way. There’s more to her than just being a mother. Yes, it is a huge part of her, but I think it would be unfair to not give other people a chance to get to know who you are outside of the titles you have. I think that had Jeremiah known she was a mom, he wouldn’t even look twice in her direction. I think it really, really would have changed their story drastically.

So, I don’t know. I think their relationship is a little unpredictable right now. I want to believe and hope for the best in them. And I do have high hopes. And maybe even if something comes up, I think that they might find their way back to each other. He might find his way home. But I think he’s a little terrified right now, he did express to me. It’s scary. And I don’t blame him whatsoever. Because that’s not just a small thing to throw at somebody. That is a bomb to drop. And not in a bad way, but you just have to be ready for that. And nobody is going to be prepared well enough to receive that kind of news. 

It’s definitely a big responsibility.

Single moms deserve love. They deserve to be in that villa like everybody else. It might be a different story but they deserve that too. The strength and wisdom that Huda has because she’s a mother, it is a huge part of who she is but it doesn’t define her.

Now that your time at the villa is over, do you have any exciting plans on the horizon? Will you get to explore Fiji a little bit, at least?

Fiji is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It reminds me so much of Hawaii. So I am excited to get back. I don’t really know what I’m going back to, but if I’m not walking out of those doors in love and a really strong connection, I hope and pray that just doors and doors of opportunity will just start opening and I’m so excited to see what comes my way. And I’m willing to hear anybody out. I’m just looking forward to God’s plan and what he might have in store for me.

Get those brand deals, girl!

Yes, yes. Brand deals come my way! 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

New episodes of Love Island USA air every night (except Wednesday) at 9/8c on Peacock.