"We've been getting even closer" - Miguel Harichi opens up about relationship with Leah Ketab after Love Island USA season 6

Love Island USA season 6 wrapped up earlier this week on Sunday, July 21, 2024, and crowned Serena and Kordell as the winners of the show while Leah and Miguel were the first runner-ups. JaNa and Kenny finished third, while Kendall and Nicole finished fourth.

After filming wrapped up, the islanders opened up about their journeys and relationships, including bombshell Miguel, who recently opened up about his Peacock show journey while in conversation with Rolling Stone magazine.

Chiming in on his relationship with Leah outside the show, he said the couple was "chilling" and getting to know one another. He added that he wanted to take things slow while on Love Island USA season 6 since he knew that the world beyond the show was "different."

"This is a one-day-at-a-time type thing. I definitely feel us getting closer. The last few days in the villa, we were very, very close, and in the days following, we've been getting even closer. Things are looking good," Miguel added.

The season 6 bombshell added that although they had been spending a lot of time together, they were "stuck within four walls" and hadn't been able to go out so far. Miguel noted he was looking forward to "doing those little things."

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"Leah and I were moving at a more real-world pace" - Miguel opens up about his relationship with Leah while on Love Island USA season 6

During the conversation, Miguel was asked about his on-screen connection with Leah and about being shocked that they were the couple with the second-highest votes in the season finale.

The Love Island USA season 6 islander said he and Leah were shocked by their final rating since they were one of the "later couples to get together" on the show.

He added that while some of them had become boyfriend and girlfriend, Leah and Miguel moved at a different pace.

"Leah and I were moving at a more real-world pace compared to everybody else. I’m a bit of a slow burn; I like to take my time with things and sometimes the speed of the villa would get to me a little bit. We were moving at our own pace," the cast member added.

Miguel added that he knew where his heart was and knew how he felt even if he wasn't always vocal about it. He added that he knew he didn't want to talk to anyone apart from Leah "quite early on."

The Love Island USA season 6 islander added that he and Leah "hit it off" from the beginning and recalled how similar they are. Miguel said the two had the "same sense of humor" and a similar perspective on life.

He said the female cast member understood him in ways he didn't think anyone else in the villa did.

"I also understood her in ways that other people may have misunderstood. Especially considering I came in later on, I saw aspects of her that outshined a lot of the things people were saying about her that were slightly more negative," Miguel said.

While talking about the season finale, the Love Island USA season 6 cast member said that it was one of his "favorite episodes" to film. He added that he wasn't nervous about the vows they had to write for each other because he knew what he wanted to say to his partner and wanted to "elaborate" on the same.

During the season finale, as part of his vows to Leah, the islander told Leah that he knew that her journey had ups and downs and that nothing could have prepared her for it.

He told her that she had faced "trials" and "emotional roller coasters" while on the reality show which left her hurt and angry.

"I know that to you there are sides that perhaps you are even ashamed of but to me, there's a blinding light that far outshines all of their shortcomings," he said during the finale episode.

Episodes of Love Island USA season 6 are available to stream on Peacock and the islanders will return to screens one last time on August 19, 2024, for a reunion special.