Caleb & Melanie Are The Internet’s New Favorite Ship, & I’m Here For It

If there’s one thing about Love Island USA, it’s that every season involves some sort of crackship (which is an absurd ship that kind of grows on you). First, it was Rob and Kaylor. Then, it was Nic and Olandria. Now, it’s Melanie and Caleb. And if you’ve been paying enough attention to Season 8, then you might have noticed Melanie and Caleb sharing glances and giggling quite a bit since returning from Casa Amor — and the whole internet is here for it. Spoiler alert: Spoilers for Love Island USA Season 8 ahead.

To bring you up to speed, Melanie and Caleb are both currently coupled up with different islanders. During the most dramatic recoupling in Love Island history, Melanie decided to stay in a relationship with Sincere, and Caleb brought Jaiden back from Casa Amor. In the latest episode, however, Melanie admitted she wanted to take a step back from her couple with Sincere, prompting fans to wonder whether she’ll explore another connection in the villa. And now that fans have started pointing out shared moments between her and Caleb, it’s hard to imagine she won’t.

Fans have been saying they could see Melanie with Caleb since he entered the villa as a bombshell. But because Caleb was immediately pushed onto Kenzie (and Melanie was preoccupied sorting out drama with Sincere and Sol), they never got a proper chance to explore their connection — until now.

The spark is subtle, but it’s there. After Casa’s recoupling, clips of Caleb and Melanie talking in the kitchen started circulating online — and it was honestly hard to take your eyes off them. They seemed to be in their own world, showing up in the background of a conversation between the girls. Melanie even showed Caleb something on her phone as he sat on the counter — and yes, they were both smiling pretty hard.

In the same episode (Episode 21), Melanie and Caleb share a sweet moment on the couch during Casa’s recoupling. Melanie daps Caleb up after he couples up with Jaiden, telling him “good job” as she shows her support for his new couple. Writing this feels a bit wrong considering the context of this clip — but you honestly had to be there. Their friendship truly is special. 

In the most recent episode (Episode 24), Amora considers exploring Caleb, to which Melanie was quick to claim she thinks Caleb is cute, too (seriously geeking). I know, I know. The moments these two share are pretty tame. But so were Bryce and Trinity — and now they’re BF and GF. And let’s not forget all the stolen glances Melanie and Caleb shared before Casa Amor. 

Fans have also begun pointing out the similarities between Caleb’s and Melanie’s types. Both have said that their biggest turn-on is eye contact, and it makes sense considering how often they look in each other’s direction. Aside from their types, they also seem to be the kind of partner each other needs. Caleb is respectful, loyal, and patient, and Melanie has consistently said she wants someone with enough emotional maturity to do that. 

Whether these two actually end up as a couple or not is, unfortunately, not up to us. However, fans have already started plotting to get them together through votes. Honestly, it would be one of the most insane friends-to-lovers arcs on this show, and I can definitely say I’m here for it. Only time will tell!

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