Imagine you’re 27 years old, you’ve never left the country, and you’ve just been cast on the hottest reality TV dating show in the world, which happens to film in Fiji. What do you do? Well, if you’re like Jalen Brown, it probably means getting your first passport.
Brown is a recent contestant on the latest season of Love Island USA. While his time on the reality show was short-lived, having entered the island as a bombshell on episode 9 only to be dumped from the villa on episode 13, it’s apparent his journey resonated with viewers.
The Georgia native spent most of his time forming a connection with fellow contestant Olandria Carthen, who was one of the first contestants to enter the villa this season. Through their conversations, we found out Brown is a “trucker” who drives 18-wheelers.
Carthen has been open with viewers that she’s looking for a cowboy and a southern gentleman, and when it came time for America to vote for which islander the new bombshells would couple up with, they decided to pair her with Brown.
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However, Brown isn’t the only islander Carthen was getting to know in the villa. She’d been coupled up with fellow contestant Taylor Williams since the first night, and ultimately, when it came time to recouple, she decided to go with Williams, leaving Brown single and vulnerable. Brown then became one of two contestants that the rest of the islanders had to vote to decide who would stay in the villa, with the other being dumped from the island. In the end, the majority of islanders decided to keep Huda Mustafa, leaving Brown to pack his bags and head home to Georgia.
While the islanders are in Fiji to film the Peacock reality series, they’re off the grid and without their phones. After returning home, one of the first things Brown did was create a TikTok to express his gratitude to the viewers. Within the first few hours, the video took off.
“I just want to thank Love Island for having me. You know, it’s just a [once] in a lifetime opportunity for a small town kid,” said Brown in the video. “It was a journey man, just to be out of the country for the first time, and I enjoyed every bit of it.”
@elite.brown I’m Thankful ! More videos OTW
#loveisland #loveislandusa #georgia #elite #morning #loveislandjalen
Unknown to Brown while he was in the villa, he’d become a fan favorite to viewers smitten with his genuine nature. After audiences heard that he’d never left the country and obtained his passport solely to appear on Love Island USA, his social media followers are vying for him to be the next big travel influencer. Companies such as Delta, Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy and more took note, replying to his video with comments including they wanted to “show a small town kid just how big the world is.”
Viewers began tagging various brands and companies, including Tarte Cosemetics, which has become well-known for flying influencers across the globe for brand trips. Some of the creators who go on the trips have brought their significant others, leading the makeup brand to dub them “Tarte Bros” and commenting on Brown’s TikTok to invite him to be one.
Eight hours after uploading his first TikTok on Thursday, June 19, the video had already gained 4.1 million views, 1.4 million likes, and over 444,700 followers. The video was flooded with nearly 30,000 comments, many from brands eager to work with him or capitalize on the viral moment, as well as fans celebrating his instant success.
By the end of the night, his account had surpassed 750,000 followers and the initial video had over 7.1 million views. By Friday afternoon, he had reached a million followers, just a day after posting his first video.