- 2 days ago
Dive into the world of Love Island USA winner Serena Page as she reflects on her unforgettable experiences in the villa and her evolution into a prominent influencer. Serena will share candid insights about navigating fame, building her brand, and the exciting new career paths she's exploring. Discover how she stays authentic while inspiring others, and get a glimpse of what the future holds for this rising star.
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Hello, hello, hello. Hey y'all. First of all, I need y'all to give a round of applause for
00:20Serena reinvigorating black women on television. Oh my gosh. So who watched Love Island? Period.
00:31And who voted for Serena first? Yeah, yeah, exactly. So I'm so excited to chat with my, I call her my star girl.
00:41I love her so much. And I'm just so excited that she's here. I'm so proud of her. I feel like she's so well-known.
00:52And I feel like it's been a while since we've had a couple of hours. She's so proud of her. So proud of her.
01:01I know you were talking backstage a little bit about some of the things that you were doing.
01:06How was life before you? What were you doing? What were you doing? I know you were working for
01:18a couple of days and you were so good. So good, my work.
01:22First, hello everyone. Thank you.
01:25First, hello everyone.
01:51And then I saw it, and I was like, oh, this is going to be a fun little vacation, because
02:11I'm being in love by Luiz, and so I'm like, this will be a fun little vacation of a getaway,
02:20especially because I could be with Luiz, you know, a hot one.
02:28Amazing.
02:29So, you know, you graduated from UTSA.
02:32She's an AKA.
02:33Do I have any sorors in here?
02:35Okay.
02:37And, you know, post-Villa, you, or pre-Villa, you were, like you said, working in things,
02:44but after you came out of the Villa, you know, with you being a media planner and things,
02:49were you able, do you feel like it was easy to jump into the social media world, or like
02:53how did you kind of jump into being an influencer?
02:57Yeah, so, to be honest, it was a little overwhelming.
03:01Like, it was a lot, because I was used to social media, but like on the business side and the
03:05back end of it, so like coming into it as the talent and being the one that's having to deliver
03:10all the content, it's a lot, especially because like I'm not used to filming like every day.
03:15Like, before I went into Villa, I think I had like 2,000 followers, so I was like very
03:19like, oh, I'll just post when I feel like it here and there, like, oh, if I get some
03:23cute pics here, but now it's like, no, sis, like, you need to get on your Zoom.
03:26It's a job.
03:26Yeah.
03:27No, I was just back there like, okay, so you're going to take a two-week break, and then we
03:30need to, it's a job now.
03:32Yeah, it's a full job.
03:33Yeah.
03:33And I'm still adjusting, but honestly, everyone has been so lovely, and I love everyone so much,
03:38and they make me feel, ah, period.
03:45So you talked about only having 2,000 followers, so when you got your phone back, after you
03:50came back from the Villa, how, like, what was your phone like?
03:54Well, it actually like broke, like I had to like sit it down for, because it was old, y'all,
03:59I don't know, I had to get a new one, but it was like freezing, I couldn't do it, I mean,
04:03I saw, like, you know, some stuff, and, you know, I did a little deep dive, and I was
04:08like looking at all, a lot of stuff, and I was just like, oh, this is a lot, this is
04:13new, I've never seen myself on every single app that I open, so it was like an adjustment,
04:19like, it still is, like, I'm like, oh, that's me.
04:22Yeah, that's you.
04:23So how has life been with, with Cordell after, you know, I'm always with you guys, but I wonder,
04:29like, when y'all are alone, like, do y'all ever talk about the show, or just how has it
04:33been, like, navigating life with Cordell?
04:36Yeah, honestly, it's very easy, like, I feel like we knew each other before, like, he, like,
04:43it's, I don't know, like, it just all, like, fell into place perfectly.
04:47We'll talk about the show here and there, not really, um, he's a yapper, he be talking,
04:52so, uh, anything under the sun that man is talking about, and I listen, so, um, yeah,
05:00it's been honestly amazing, like, he's, like, probably the best boyfriend that I've ever
05:03had, which is crazy, because, okay, which is crazy, because I am a relationship girl,
05:13and so I've been in a lot of relationships, well, not a lot, just a few long ones.
05:17Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:18Um, and for him, I've always dated, like, older, so for him to be, like, three years younger
05:23than me, and, like, better than any man that I've dated that's been three years older than
05:28me, it's, like, I can't get into that.
05:32Exactly.
05:34Um, so, when you saw him in the villa, because I kind of felt like he was, like, the most,
05:40like, conventional, attractive person there, so when you saw him, were you just, like, okay,
05:45yeah, that's mine, or, like, how did you, when y'all were in there, did you, was there
05:49an instant connection?
05:51Yeah, so, actually, I saw him first, because he had, they came in, yeah, and then we had
05:55the same color on, and the tattoos, I was, like, ooh, and, I was, like, that was right
06:00there, and then he came over, he spoke to me first, we were, we were flirting a lot,
06:05like, at the carpet, like, more than what was even shown, like, we were flirting a lot,
06:09but I was, like, you know what, I said I'm not gonna, and he's, like, somebody that I
06:13was going for, like, if I saw him in the club, and he came up to me, I'd be, like, oh,
06:17yeah, like, but, yeah.
06:19So, but, yeah, so I was, like, okay, I'm gonna try a little something different, but
06:26we made our way to each other.
06:28Yeah, no, definitely.
06:29So, now I want to kind of switch into some PPG talk, you guys were just at Joshua Tree,
06:35how was that?
06:36That was so much fun, it was, like, a little rewind, reset with my girls, we tried to make
06:41sure we got a little content, but it was, it was a lot of fun, it was very, very, very
06:47relaxing, and, like, just joking with them, playing around with them, it kind of, like,
06:50felt like we were back in the villa a little bit, and, like, we would reminisce a lot,
06:54it's, like, can you believe we wouldn't be, like, best friends if it wasn't for this show?
06:58Yeah, for this show.
06:59And so, like, how has it been navigating friendship with them?
07:01Do you feel like you guys are, like, bonded forever now because of this experience, or,
07:06like, just, you know, how are you navigating the friendship with Janae and Leah?
07:09No, like, it's amazing, like, it's crazy, like, my family, all their family, they call
07:13each other, like, oh, our other sisters, like, those other sisters, and, like, I think us
07:18all having that experience on Love Island definitely made us closer, and, like, it's probably, like,
07:22nobody else in the world will understand what we went through on that show, like, on and
07:28off camera, and, like, we're literally, like, family, and we really, really, really, really,
07:34really hate when everyone is always trying to, like, put us against each other and be,
07:37like, oh, this person should be doing this, or this person, no, like, we're all happy
07:41about everything we do, we all talk about it, like, we're like, oh, my God, girl, like,
07:44I get to meet someone today, and we're all, like, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, like, we're
07:48so happy for each other, we love each other, and it's, like, even if we didn't have any
07:52of this, and, like, it was just us, like, that would be fine, like, and we're all just
07:56happy and supportive of each other, so.
07:57Yeah, like, y'all all have y'all's own different lanes, I feel like.
08:00Yeah, we're all, like, very different low-key.
08:02Yeah, yeah.
08:03So, like, I feel like each of us is kind of, like, venturing off in their own thing,
08:07so it's, like, not even something that people would really need to be comparing to begin
08:10with, because it's, like, we're all our own person, like, PBG will forever be PBG, but
08:14we're our own people, and, yeah, we're kind of all going on every path.
08:18I love that, give it up for that.
08:21So, we just saw you with Rihanna, you, like, literally just posted with Rihanna, what do
08:25they call you, like, Serena, Savage, Ventinos, Carter, something like that, y'all
08:29know, y'all know.
08:30So, um, but you were just with Rihanna, you know, you did your Sacred Campaign, we have
08:37more coming with that, but, you know, just what can we expect from you going into 2025?
08:43Yes, so, I am actually working on a hair care brand.
08:49Come on now!
08:50Um, I want something very easy and accessible for black women, especially young black women
08:55in college, specifically, because I know when I was in college, I didn't have no money to
08:59do my hair, like, to go get my hair done.
09:01Yes, I braided hair, I had a braiding business for, like, four years, um, so that's how I
09:08was kind of, like, making a little money, but, like, outside of that, it's like, you kind
09:11of got to do your own hair, like, you get those braids, baby, you keep them in, because,
09:14like, what, what are we going to do after that?
09:16So, uh, you know, like, some, you know, things to, like, help with protective styles specifically
09:22as well, like, you know, maybe some moves, maybe some edges, something that, you know,
09:26will make it easier on black women to, like, upkeep their hair.
09:29Definitely, and in the villa, you know, everybody was complimenting, like, your hair a lot, but,
09:34I mean, I'm sure you guys have seen interviews and things, but a lot of people don't know
09:38that you were doing the braids yourself, like, keeping up with the maintenance.
09:41Yeah, yeah, so I was taking them down, redoing them, like, the little crown piece of it, um,
09:46touching it up all the time, like, anytime I was off camera, I had, like, clips in my
09:50head, and I think I said it before, like, Miguel would call me, like, needlehead, because,
09:54like, I would be walking around the villa with clips, I'm like, no, y'all will not catch
09:57me on that camera with my flyaways, and I was like, we're going to have to keep it cute.
10:00Yeah, you kept the braids, like, tight, and I feel like you represented protective styles
10:05so well on Love Island, like, it was like, yeah, that's braids, that's how we look at
10:09braids, that's how we look in braids, they still can be done, still can have different
10:13hairstyles, I feel like you did that so well.
10:15And I feel like I haven't seen, like, a lot of, like, you know, reality go with the protective
10:19style.
10:19Yeah.
10:20It's maybe, like, oh, we go, we get, like, a wig, or, like, a sew-on, or something like
10:23that.
10:24All that would have been amazing, I would have loved to have me a little bust down on the island,
10:27but, like, let's be realistic, like, my lace would have been at the back of my head, day
10:31three, I was not dealing with that, so I would do my own wig.
10:35As well, but braids was like, it's easy, it's like, I can go to sleep, I can wake up, I
10:39don't have to spend time, like, touching up, yeah.
10:42So, were you doing anybody's hair in the villa at all, or?
10:45I was literally the hairstylist of the villa, like, sewing Janae's wig, to braiding Leah's
10:51hair, to braiding, like, Kayla or Liv's hair, like, before they went to sleep so their hair
10:55could be wavy, obviously doing Cordero hugs anytime that he needed, he'd wake up and be
11:00like, baby, can we do my hair in Vegas?
11:02Like, come on.
11:02I want, so, going back to your, we, I feel like we're all over the place with this conversation,
11:09so sorry, y'all, but I'm gonna go back to you launching your hair care brand, and something
11:13that you and I talk about, if anybody didn't know, I manage Serena as well, so we are.
11:18You have Fernandie.
11:19So, that's why, we talk about being an entrepreneur, and how important that is to you, not just
11:26creating content, which is something that you could easily do coming out the villa, but,
11:30like, starting your own brand, doing your own thing, like, how important is that for
11:34you?
11:35That is extremely important to me, because I don't want to just stick in one realm of,
11:40like, something.
11:40I am definitely a person that likes to venture out and try new things, and, you know, just
11:45put myself out there, so, like, I can't see myself kind of, like, just sticking to one
11:49thing, like, very, very versatile.
11:52And, yeah, like, honestly, like, my goal is really to just uplift black women all ages,
11:57like, specifically those growing ages, because I know I would have loved to see a little more
12:01of us, like, growing up, like, even on reality TV.
12:04I know they say reality is not so good, but whatever.
12:07Anyway, we all watch it.
12:09So, yeah, like, that's extremely important to me.
12:11I don't want to just be, like, another pretty face behind the screen that's, like, oh, all
12:15she's doing is, like, posting cute stuff.
12:16No, like, I want to make an impact, I want to make a difference, and I want to, you know,
12:19help.
12:19Definitely.
12:20I love that.
12:20Give it up for that.
12:23So, Serena, I wanted to just really talk about elevation within, like, love and what you
12:30would tell somebody who is looking to, like, for that satisfaction in a relationship and,
12:36like, who may be struggling in one and just trying to figure out themselves.
12:40Like, what would you, from you being in the villa, what did you learn from that and just,
12:44like, advocating for yourself?
12:46Yeah, so I could really talk about this all day.
12:49Like, I could really talk about this all day, but honestly, I can't preach self-love
12:54more, like, anymore.
12:55Like, loving yourself is so, so important.
12:57Like, even if it's, like, you take however much time you need, it could be a day, it
13:01could be a month, it can be a year, to, like, sit down and know, like, your boundaries, know
13:04your standards, know what you want, what I can, like, yes, I'll, like, shake on this,
13:08but this is a non-negotiable.
13:10Like, figure those out, and then, like, it'll make navigating a relationship so much easier.
13:16So, that's, I'll preach that every single time.
13:18And, like, standing firm in what you do.
13:20Like, I'm like this now, but because I was not.
13:23Like, it took me hitting my head a lot of times.
13:25It took me getting drugged through the mud by multiple men to be like, okay, you know
13:29what?
13:29Actually, I'm not going to live my life like this.
13:31I have to figure something out.
13:32So, it was definitely a journey, and I think that Love Island honestly helped because it
13:36brought me Cordell, who actually, like, he makes me feel, like, very, very special, very,
13:41like, yeah.
13:44I can go on about that, but that's not what we're here for.
13:46So, it's not what we're here for.
13:49But, like, having a man that is, like, extremely supportive and someone that wants to see you
13:54grow and, like, will grow with you.
13:56So, yeah.
13:58And when you entered the villa, were you kind of, like, did you know you're, like, I'm
14:01standing on business, like, I'm not letting anyone play with me?
14:04Or, like, what were your, what was your mindset about relationships when you entered the villa?
14:08Yeah, I definitely, it was definitely, I'm not going to let anybody run over me.
14:13I'm not going to let, you know, like, anybody disrespect me because that's what I'm used
14:17to doing or not used to doing because, like, I'm not going to, like, my personality is
14:21very much, like, oh, like, you're not about to do this.
14:23But sometimes I'll be, like, okay, but I'll go back.
14:25So, I was, like, I'm not going to, you know, like, I'll do that.
14:29But, yeah, I would definitely say I was just, like, I'm going to stand on business.
14:33I'm going to stand in what I believe.
14:35I'm going to stick to my standards, my goals.
14:37And if that means that I have to go home, that means I have to go home.
14:39Like, yeah.
14:40So, when you were there, did you think, like, did you think that you were going to win?
14:46No, I didn't think I was going to win.
14:47No, you were shocked?
14:48I was very shocked because, like, I was extremely, like, a, like, back and forth
14:52which you watched at the beginning.
14:53Like, it was just, I was all over the place.
14:55I was, like, I don't really know, fighting, fighting my feelings.
14:59And, obviously, me and Cordell didn't have the easiest run in the villa.
15:02So, I'm, like, they probably tired of us.
15:05I was, like, they probably got off this ride a few stops ago.
15:07So, you know, we're going to stick it out and have fun while we can.
15:10We would tell each other.
15:11We would be, like, all right, baby, this could be our last day.
15:13Like, we got to do something fun.
15:14We got to go do some crazy, you know.
15:16Yeah.
15:17So, do you know you, like, single-handedly put Love Island on the map?
15:23The doc scene?
15:25Do you know that, like, you single-handedly put Love Island on the map?
15:28Do you know that?
15:29No, that's crazy.
15:31That's crazy.
15:32I was, like, crashing out after the doc scene.
15:36I was, like, y'all, I just made a fool of myself on television.
15:39I was, like, I can't believe it.
15:40I was, like, why would y'all let me talk to him in this state?
15:42Like, I was so mad.
15:44I was, like, no.
15:45Like, I literally did too much.
15:46But, yeah, I mean, I like that.
15:51I still can't watch it.
15:53Have you, you told me you don't really watch the episodes.
15:56Have you watched some of them or what?
15:58No.
15:58I've seen, like, clips.
16:00I think the clips that I've seen is more than enough for my eyes.
16:05And, you know, obviously we were kind of talking about being in the villa and things like that.
16:11But as you transition out and as you sort of find your way, is there anything that you're learning along the way just about love, relationships, something that you've learned outside of the villa?
16:21Yeah, honestly, to just let go a little bit.
16:24I can be a little uptight.
16:26I'm a workaholic.
16:26Like, I'm, like, you know, schedule, plan, I need this, I need that, it needs to be in this way.
16:32If it's not, I'm freaking out.
16:34Right, right, right.
16:34So, like, honestly, and even Cordell, he's a very go-with-the-flow type of person.
16:38Yeah, he is.
16:39So, like, he's very, like, oh, no, we're going to do this today.
16:41Or, and I'm, like, but was that in the plan?
16:43Was that on this itinerary for this?
16:45And he's, like, no, like, I'll rip that up.
16:46So, I'm, like, okay.
16:48So, like, him plus just, like, this new lifestyle has really taught me to just, like, let go a little bit and just, like, have fun.
16:54Like, enjoy the moments, especially, like, while you're in them.
16:57Don't just, you know, like, look, okay, I need to do this, this, and this.
16:59And, like, forget, you know, to have fun.
17:01Yeah, yeah.
17:02What do you want young women to know about the reality television space?
17:07It's something.
17:17It's something.
17:18But there is a place for us.
17:19And there always will be, even if we have to push our way through.
17:22And if that's what you have to do, that's what you have to do.
17:24So, if there's anybody that's interested in reality, I would say definitely don't be, like, oh, no, I don't want to do it because of the way black women.
17:31You demand it.
17:32Like, there's no, like, oh, I don't want to.
17:34You demand it.
17:35Or go somewhere else.
17:36Yeah, definitely.
17:38And I think, I know this, but everything was 100% true from Love Island and the Villa.
17:45Yeah, like, I mean, if you know TV, you know, obviously producers may, like, manipulate editing clips or whatever.
17:51But, like, nothing that you didn't want to do, you didn't have to do.
17:54Like, everything was, I would say, like, 99%.
17:57It was authentic.
17:59It was, especially this cast.
18:02Like, I honestly can't speak for other casts, but this cast specifically, it was insane.
18:07Like, the Villa was literally up in flames, like, every night.
18:09Like, it was crazy.
18:11I think nobody would remember the cameras were there.
18:14Like, we were really cutting up.
18:15So, I think that, like, that's another thing.
18:17Like, the producers were probably just running around, like, how can we tame them?
18:21We could not be tamed.
18:22Like, we were literally just going off, like, going rogue.
18:26Like, two people arguing to say something.
18:28You're not really supposed to be doing that.
18:29But, like.
18:29Yeah, yeah.
18:31So, it's like, I don't care what production wants me to wait to ask.
18:33I'm doing it now.
18:34Definitely.
18:34Like, so, it was a lot.
18:36Yeah, yeah.
18:37But, yeah.
18:37And, you know, you've been really big on standing on business.
18:41And just, you know, I think we saw that in the first couple of episodes.
18:45Her really, like, saying, this is what I want, this is what I don't want.
18:49But what could you tell, as we close out our conversation, the women here in the crowd today about standing on business and knowing their worth?
18:59Yeah, I would say it's extremely important.
19:01And there is never one way to stand on business.
19:05Everybody is their own person.
19:07Everybody has their own way of doing it.
19:08I'm not saying, like, my way is right.
19:10I could have handled a lot of things better.
19:12So, like, standing on business is, like, unique to yourself.
19:15Like, whatever that means for you and for you knowing your worth and you being, like, okay, I said I'm going to do this.
19:20This is what I'm going to do.
19:21You can do it by, like, hey, I'm blocking you.
19:23I'm never talking to you again.
19:25That's one way.
19:26I mean, one way is crashing out.
19:27I wouldn't suggest that.
19:30But, you know, there's different ways.
19:32But, like, honestly, just knowing your worth is extremely important.
19:35I feel like that will take you a long way in relationships, in friendships, in family, in your workspace.
19:40Like, knowing your worth, like, can go a really long way, especially as a black woman, because they don't want you to know your worth.
19:46So, make sure that y'all, you know, y'all get on that.
19:50What I know y'all do.
19:51Love Island produced a gem.
19:52Look at you.
19:53So, can we know where to follow you, Miss Paige, on Instagram?
20:01Oh, yeah.
20:02My Instagram is Serena with an extra A, Paige with an extra E, Paige, like, in the book.
20:07And then my TikTok is Serena Paige, Serena, no A, Paige, one extra E.
20:15And Twitter, don't worry about that.
20:17I don't like Twitter.
20:17Can we give it up one more time for Serena?
20:23And we will be seeing you soon.
20:25She will be at BeautyCon in L.A.
20:26So, if you're in L.A., November 2nd or 3rd, she will also be in conversation with Janae at BeautyCon.
20:32Yes.
20:33Thanks, y'all.
20:33Thank you, guys.
20:34I love y'all.
20:36AT&T's got your back.
20:47Ready to snag $5,000 in opportunities that will take your dreams to new heights?
20:53Look, AT&T is committed to creating great opportunities for HBCU students.
20:57Think about what you can do with the right network.
20:59We're talking 5K to feel your dreams, tech packs to lose your ideas, and mentorship with industry pros.
21:05I am an AT&T Rising Future Maker.
21:08Apply now for the chance to be one of 25 AT&T Rising Future Makers.
Comments