Love Island USA’s TJ Palma continues to count his blessings after meeting Iris Kendall in Fiji.
“We’re doing great long distance, two opposite sides of the country, but we make it work, and we’ve been just climbing uphill together,” TJ, 24, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Wednesday, June 11, while celebrating his partnership with Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo. “We’re going through this new life together. We’re best friends, we’re lovers. It’s just a relationship I’ve always dreamt of and wanted, and it’s surreal to have that really come to life.”
Although TJ’s home base is in Florida and Iris lives closer to Los Angeles, the pair try to see each other every other week.
“She’s coming here. I’m going there, or we’re taking a vacation,” TJ explained. “We make it work, and it’s just been amazing.”
Although TJ left Love Island USA last summer before being officially coupled up with Iris, the pair were able to reconnect in the States once cameras stopped rolling. In November 2025, TJ pulled out all the stops to ask Iris to officially be his girlfriend.
“We have fun doing anything or going anywhere, even if it’s going to the grocery store up the street,” he said. “It’s cool that people look up to us and everything, but we’re just regular people at the end of the day. Half of the time, we don’t even want to go outside. We’re very, like, ‘Let’s stay in. Let’s watch a movie. Let’s frickin’ build a Lego set.’ … It’s no different from anybody else.”
As a new batch of Islanders look for love this summer on Love Island USA, viewers may come across TJ and Iris’ new ad for Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo.
While the couple spotlight the condiment perfect for French fries, sandwiches and other summer food staples, the commercial also shows off the pair’s chemistry and playful sense of humor.
“We had a lot of fun doing it, and I felt like the spicy mayo calls for a spicy commercial,” TJ joked. “Seeing the final product, it’s like, ‘Wow! It really came to life.’”
With the summer just beginning, TJ is looking forward to spending more quality time with Iris, 26, and making unforgettable memories.
As for curious fans wondering when the pair may move in together, TJ said they’ve had discussions about taking the next big step. For now, they are simply enjoying the present.
“We honestly haven’t come to a decision on where, when, how type of thing,” he shared. “She’s always expressed that she was OK moving out of L.A. I’ve always expressed that I’m OK moving out of Tampa. … We’re still trying to figure it out, but I think we’re doing a pretty decent job, and it’s pretty early. We definitely can see ourselves moving in together soon.”
Love Island USA streams new episodes on Peacock every day except Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.
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