Leah Kateb, JaNa Craig, and Serena Page have taken over the internet with their self-proclaimed friend group name “PPG,” aka “The Powerpuff Girls.”
Season 6 of Love Island this year was nothing short of a phenomenon. Gaining the No.1 streaming ranking in all of reality television this year and reaching over 1 billion streamed minutes, for better words, this season BLEW UP.
Various reasons could potentially be credited to this success. Every theme that came up throughout the season really had one thing in common…DRAMA! From blow-up fights and emotional dumpings to love, lust, and all in between, season 6 was nothing short of entertaining.
However, for a stereotypical reality television show, something very true and deep stood out from the 6 weeks spent in Fiji for the participating islanders: FRIENDSHIP!
The three best friends all entered the villa the first night and stayed until the very end. As time went on and the show progressed, viewers truly fell in love with the sisterhood of the Powerpuff Girls.
Also referred to as “The Big 3,” each girl ended up in the top three couples by the end of the show.
The love I had or have for Serena and JaNa is out of this world. I care about them more than anyone — they just supported me so much, and we all just supported each other in every moment.
Leah Kateb, PEOPLE
After leaving the villa, PPG was met with very unexpected fan reactions, receiving insanely large amounts of support and love, somewhat contrary to their time in the villa.
What you forget is that you’re going to build bonds. When I tell you my sisterhood with Leah and Serena is so real — I’ve never been so grateful for a group.
JaNa Craig, Blavity
The People’s Princess
Currently, at 3.5 million Instagram and 3.9 million TikTok followers, islander Leah Kateb was most definitely the fan favorite of the season.
She went viral on social media countless times for her personality and honesty throughout the show. She was well-known for her memorable one-liners and relatable moments, which resonated heavily with viewers.
Although described by fans as an iconic, relatable, firecracker with a heart of gold, Kateb experienced a lot of negativity in the villa, which made her time in the villa very difficult.
Leah is a 24-year-old from California representing the Persian community wholeheartedly who is passionate about animals and has a unique artsy side, which many found perfect for male island Robert Rausch. However, this relationship was actually one of the biggest controversies in the show and caused a lot of uproar on social media.
After choosing each other on day one and pairing up, fans adored Rob and Leah’s connection. Tagging them as “winners” within the first few days of the show. When a dramatic love triangle developed between the two following the arrival of Andrea Carmona, things took a big turn south and ultimately exploded on social media.
Fans rooted for the two constantly throughout the show despite their intense arguments and digs toward each other. Those who wanted them together coined the catchphrase “children of divorce” when explaining their desperation for the two to find each other again.
@steinfeldsfav literal icon #loveisland #leahkateb #loveislandusa #callherdaddy #fyp #fy #core @leah.kateb ♬ original sound – Dorci <3
As Rausch and Carmona took most of the heat outside the villa, Kateb experienced a lot of hostility inside. This left Kateb shocked that she was so loved by the public since she many times wanted to quit the show.
On Alex Cooper’s Call her Daddy podcast, Kateb shared, “I was having a very tough time in the villa.” “There were times where I pulled head production aside and I said, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore.”
The one thing that made her stay was JaNa and Serena.
Leah ended the season in a relationship with Miguel Harichi, a lighthearted and fun bombshell who Leah matched her energy off the bat. Although having a later start, the two ended up in second place, runners up to her best friend Serena Page.
“I think my friendships with girls are much more important to me than with a man. That being said, I don’t think I expected to find people I would be this close with…I feel so blessed. I couldn’t have thought of two better women to be the face of this show.”
Leah Kateb, Teen Vogue
Season 6 Crowned Champion
Walking away with $100,000 Serena and Kordel were the winners of Love Island season 6. Mostly known for “standing on business,” Serena was an inspiration to a lot of women in the way she handled Kordel returning from Casa Amor with another woman. She also never backed down when it came to defending her girls.
Although they had a bumpy start and looked more like a friendship couple, the two’s slow burn turned into something greater and captured the hearts of the fans. Through their ups and downs, they ended up “closed off” and completely committed to each other.
Tagged as a true “girls girl,” through much of the hate Leah received, Serena stood up for her regardless. Page said during an in-show confessional, “But I support my girl and everything she does,” she continues, “I support women’s rights and wrongs, and that definitely includes her. So I’m going to be ten toes behind her.”
@defnotlilsxo “cause what we not aboutta do right now is gang up on leah”tag your serena and jana 💝 #loveisland #loveislandjana #loveislandleah #loveislandus #loveislandserena #loveislandusa #loveislandfriendships #loveisland #girlsgirl #loveislandfyp #fyp #loveisland2024 #loveislandrobandleah #loveislandrob #loveislandleahandrob ♬ ur the only friend I need – A‘
JaNa and Serena also share a very special bond, which they talked about once exiting the villa. When first seeing Craig and Kateb enter the villa, Page greeted them immediately, she told Teen Vogue.
“I remember my first time seeing them both,” she says. “It was the first day — my beautiful chocolate goddess walked in, and I sprinted toward her. I said, ‘I’ve been waiting for you.”
Especially in reality television, it is rare to see black women lead a show in the way Craig and Page had similar to Kateb’s portrayal of Persian Iranians. Viewers felt they all truly “redefined representation.” It was something special to them all to have the chance to do it together.
This was the first season for both the USA (Page and Kordell Beckham) and the UK (Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan) to have Black couples winning, which is unheard of — and f*cking amazing. I feel like [Craig and Page] are the most perfect representation you could’ve asked for.”
Leah Kateb, Teen Vogue
Nay Nay
JaNa Craig was a one-in-a-million type of personality and gained the love of the viewers early in the season as well.
Strikingly beautiful, kind, and hilarious, it was easy to fall in love with JaNa and her Love Island Journey. And oh boy, was it a trip!
Going through three completely unsuccessful couples, our girl went THROUGH it for the majority of the season. People felt for her. JaNa felt very relatable but also kept her head high throughout every “L” she took.
However, with the arrival of “Kennyyyyy” and the pronunciation JaNa made viral, it was a quick turnaround for her. Connecting fast, she formed a very heartfelt and real bond with bombshell Kenny Rodriguez.
This made it tough when we watched Kenny bring back a potential new girl from Casa Amor. With one of the most gut-wrenching moments of the seasons, fans watched JaNa and Kenny’s heartbreaks as they unfolded, making a lot of people root for them, including her trio.
@loveislandusa Was this test too much for JaNa and Kenny? 😞 #LoveIslandUSA @NayNay @Kenneth Rodriguez ♬ original sound – Love Island USA
“Those two girls, I’m so serious, I would’ve been home if it wasn’t for them. After the Casa Amor, [I was like], “I’m leaving, call me an Uber.” And these girls were holding me back. “I’m leaving the villa.” They’re like, “JaNa, stop. Think about it, sleep on it.” If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have lasted long, for sure.”
JaNa Craig, Blavity
Eventually, JaNa and Kenny worked it through and continued their relationship, leaving them in third place overall despite being a much newer relationship in comparison to others. Craig credits her relationship to her girls, as they helped her make it through her rough patch.
@aiiinsley4l Jana made a little trend in the villa🤣 #love #loveisland #loveislandusa #fyp #foryoupage #loveislandusa2024 ♬ original sound – Aiiinsley4L
Through it All
Despite the good, bad, ugly, and even UGLIER, this group stood together and left hand in hand.
A story of an unwavering and “ride or die” friendship was one of the strongest plots in a show about romantic love. And we couldn’t have asked for a better portrayal.
“I never could have dreamed that you guys would support our friendship the way you have. And it’s such a sisterhood like these are my girls”
Leah Kateb, People
Shazz
September 10, 2024 at 5:18 pm
PPG back on top🥹 YUH!🤍
Ruth
September 10, 2024 at 6:21 pm
So no bold quotes for Serena?!