Wisconsin's Carmen Kocourek is 'Love Island USA' official with boyfriend Kenzo on season 5, blasts Leo over treatment of Kassy

Things are heating up for Wisconsin native Carmen Kocourek on season 5 of "Love Island USA," the popular reality TV show she has been starring in this summer.

The 22-year-old Franklin High School graduate was heavily featured in Tuesday's episode as the fallout from Casa Amor week continues with highlights include her becoming "TV official" with her partner, Kenzo Nudo, as well as laying into a male contestant over his treatment of another female.

With a public vote coming into play this week and the island appearing very tense right now, there's no guessing what could come next as multiple relationships are on thin ice.

That's not the case for Kocourek and her partner, Nudo, however, as their bond continues to grow stronger after being reunited.

Here's the latest on what's going on with Kocourek on "Love Island USA," which resumes Thursday on Peacock. She's now the only Wisconsin woman left on the show.

Carmen and Kenzo are official on season 5 of 'Love Island USA'

If there was any doubt about how rock solid their relationship was before Tuesday's episode, viewers can eliminate those questions.

Kocourek and Nudo, who have been a "couple" for about two weeks in real time on the show, are now official — at least as official they can be on a reality TV show.

In other words, for as long as they both are on the show, it doesn't appear that either will seek another partner, which hasn't been the case of their fellow islanders.

They were also selected to go on a date in Tuesday's episode, which consisted of a kayak trip away from their villa. After, they had a picnic on the shore where they became boyfriend-girlfriend. Kocourek said she's drawn to Nudo's "energy."

"I’ve never really seen a girl like you before," Nudo, 26, told her as they shared Champagne on the beach. "You give me a sense of calmness and peace like the ocean brings me."

When the two returned to the island they told their fellow contestants of their new relationship status, which resulted in the producers giving viewers a "Grease"-like storytelling scene where the men and women each gathered separately discussing Kocourek and Nudo's relationship.

Did Carmen and Kenzo know each other before season 5 of 'Love Island USA' began filming?

Kocourek and Nudo's relationship isn't just a focus on the show. It's been widely discussed on social media, including rumors circulating that the two might have known each other before the show. Both live in Scottsdale, Arizona, and some speculated they worked out at the same gym. That, of course, wouldn't mean that they were a pair before the show. But that doesn't stop the rumor mill, though.

Likely hearing all of this chatter, Nudo's brother took to Instagram this week to dispel those rumors.

His brother, managing Nudo's social media accounts during filming, called the two working out at the same gym with a trainer "all nonsense."

"Kenzo never knew Carmen prior to the show and he stopped going to that gym months before," he wrote. "Kenzo also doesn’t have a trainer. And regarding them following each other (on social media) before Love Island aired is not true either. Who ever runs Carmen’s page started following Kenzo when they first coupled up."

Kocourek and Nudo did address on their date how close they live to each other. The Arizona Republic reported in 2021 that Arizona is a hotbed for reality TV production crews to find contestants.

"I think it’s absurd that we had to come to Fiji just to meet just in general," Kocourek told him.

"It’s crazy that you live like 10 minutes away from me," Nudo replied.

Kocourek works as a bartender in Scottsdale, but as Nudo told her when asked if he would go up to her in town, he doesn't "really go out to the bars or the clubs that much."

Carmen puts Leo on notice during 'Love Island USA' episode

Kocourek has been shown to be close with practically all of her fellow female islanders throughout the season and someone who has their back, often providing an ear to listen and shoulder to cry on.

She's also been a good friend to nearly all of the men on the show.

That's likely why she felt more than comfortable to tell 21-year-old Leonardo Dionicio how she felt about the way he turned to another woman on the island while being coupled with someone else during Casa Amor week, a twist on the show that provides contestants new options and temptations.

"I hope you feel guilty and I hope you feel remorseful," Kocourek told him. "I hope you never do that to another girl again. And it just like, sucks, because like right now you don’t seem like a prize worth winning, in my opinion.

"I feel bad for whatever girl you do end up with, because I pray you don’t do that s--t again."

What's next for Carmen on season 5 of 'Love Island USA'?

All of the islanders were part of a fan vote via the Love Island USA app earlier this week. The contestants with the fewest votes face elimination. Results came during Thursday's episode.

With 20 islanders part of the show after Casa Amor week, there will be four contestants "dumpings" or eliminations before the week is over.

Unlike earlier in the season when she was in jeopardy of leaving, Kocourek's supporters saved her and she and Nudo continue to have opportunity to win the $100,000 cash prize on finale night in the coming weeks.

How can I watch 'Love Island USA' 2023? What is the 'Love Island USA' schedule?

"Love Island USA" streams at 8 p.m. Central time Thursday-Tuesday on Peacock. There are no new episodes of "Love Island USA" on Wednesdays. Saturday's episode features "unseen bits" from the previous week.

Peacock is a subscription-based streaming service. There are two subscription plans.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Did Carmen, Kenzo on season 5 of Love Island USA 2023 know each other?