Benjamin Ashford|Love Island USA’s Kenny Rodriguez Shares What Life Outside the Villa Has Been Like With JaNa Craig

JaNa Craig and Benjamin AshfordKenny Rodriguez came to the villa for love.

And it certainly appears they’ve found it. In the weeks leaving Fiji, the Love Island USA season six third place finishers have only seen their romance further blossom. Even if they are making it work while living in different states. 

“We spent two weeks without seeing each other,” Kenny told E! News in an exclusive interview. “That was hard.” 

But the 24-year-old—who resides in Texas while JaNa is in Nevada—made it clear that distance does make the heart grow fonder in their case.

“I literally think about her all the time when we’re not together,” he shared in a separate interview with E! News. “She’s been my peace through all this.” 

As for how they managed to overcome the challenge? Being together in spirit—and making time to jet out for visits.

“We were FaceTiming in the morning and the night,” Kenny explained. “She came to Dallas, and so we got to Texas BBQ. We went around, gave her a tour of a quick tour of Dallas."

And in addition to reuniting with each other, Kenny and JaNa, 27, also had a mini Love Island USA reunion with Kendall Washington before making the trip to New York City for the official season six reunion, which aired on Peacock Aug. 19. As Kenny gushed, “We partied with Kendall, had a great time."

That trip to Dallas proved to be pivotal in another way as Kenny revealed he and JaNa made their relationship official. “I took her out to a restaurant,” he recalled, “and I got her a bouquet of flowers and asked her to be my girlfriend there.”

But life outside the villa hasn't all been avocados and toast. In fact, while reflecting on life with his fellow Islanders, Kenny joked that JaNa’s lengthy getting ready process is one aspect of their relationship has learned to contend with. “We’re always late to everything,” he continued. “Everything from the hair, the makeup is a whole entire process.”

Still he’s ready to be along for the glamorous ride, adding, “I guess I'm just going to have to live with it and be patient throughout it all.”

As for what comes next for Kenny and JaNa?
“Exploring,” he teased. “We like to travel.”

The Love Island USA season six reunion is now streaming on Peacock.

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