Miguel Harichi has had a busy year since his time on Love Island USA Season 6. Now, he’s back on screens with Love Island: Beyond the Villa, where viewers get to see a more unfiltered look at the relationships that began in the villa.

“It’s definitely interesting because it’s [Love Island USA] happening in real time, but I think the beauty of it is that it’s showcasing relationships that are going on and how the relationships are in real life,” Harichi told Blavity. “There was, you could say, a bit more screen time to be able to showcase the love that’s there. Especially to show how we are as a partnership. And I think that’s just the beauty of it. [It’s] a lot more laid back [Beyond the Villa]. There was no waking up 5:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning, challenges that were messy as hell. It was just super chill, super laid back. Bit more on our own timing.”

We caught up with Harichi in Chicago at Crown Royal’s Pancake Palace pop-up on Aug. 3, held during Lollapalooza weekend. The late-night event featured stacks of pancakes, signature cocktails and live performances, including Tanner Adell. For Harichi — a former mixologist — the Crown Royal collaboration felt like a perfect match.

“Well, I’ve actually always been really big into liquor, and that’s not just drinking, that’s actually making — the craftsmanship that goes into it,” he said. “Some people know that I used to be a mixologist, so it was actually something really exciting for me. I think Crown Royal have done an exceptional job with their craftsmanship. They’ve made some very iconic flavors, such as the peach, the apple and the blackberry. I think just a combination of culture and craftsmanship and just celebrating that. We’ve got Tanner performing as well, which is also really dope, super excited to see that. So it’s just a very — it’s giving community. That’s what it’s like to me, it’s just giving community. It’s something I’m really excited to be a part of right now.”

Miguel Harichi and Tanner Adell
Photo: Crown Royal

Navigating a growing online presence

When it comes to his growing presence online, Harichi said the key is to keep things authentic — especially with the TikToks he shares alongside his girlfriend and fellow Love Island USA Season 6 alum Leah Kateb.

“I think it’s just doing what’s true to you,” he said. “When you start to go outside of your realm, things can get a bit techy. But I think staying true to you on social media and doing what you enjoy, it doesn’t change anything. How many eyes are on you, you’re just doing the same thing you was doing every day. Just a couple more likes, a couple more comments. I think for anyone navigating social media, just stay true to you and just do what you are comfortable with. Experiment, have fun with it, you know what I mean? That’s the beauty of social media. There’s always trial and error, you know what I mean? But doing what’s true to you makes the whole process easier.”

His approach to life after Love Island reflects that same mindset.

“When you’re in the villa, you’re just trying to get to the next stage,” Harichi said. “But when you get outside, it’s like the world is your oyster. I went in actually very blank-minded on it. I hadn’t had any thought of what was going to happen after. My mindset was literally just, it’s an experience. Whatever happens, happens. Just enjoy it. I wasn’t trying to go on it at the beginning. It was my friends that were like, ‘Yeah, if you want to do it, you should probably do it.’ But yeah, no, I think I’m just someone that is…take it one day at a time, try to stay calm with it, and whatever happens, happens, but just stay true to yourself. And I think that’s something I went into the villa doing, and that’s the same mentality I had coming out of the villa, and it’s been carrying me quite well. So it is just a case of just do what you do, stay righteous of it, stay positive, stay pure, and the universe will provide.”

Harichi also shared his best tip for hosting — whether it’s a party or just a casual get-together.

“My biggest tip will be simplicity is key. I feel like Crown Royal provides so much flavor. I think my favorite is hard to pick, but it’d definitely be between the blackberry and the apple. [The] blackberry’s bagging [laughs],” he said. “If you want to know how to see the cocktail, you can check out the app, Crown Royal app. I’ll be making cocktails up on there. But I think simplicity is the key. Especially when it comes to whisky, you’ve got to be simple. You can’t do too much with it. You start to put too many flavors together, you’re losing. You want to keep the base there. So I think the beauty of Crown Royal is it has a bunch of flavor with it that you can just taste on its own, so you don’t have to do too much.”

Endeavors that he’s looking to get into next

Looking ahead, Harichi said he’s ready to explore new projects.

“I’m very excited to start diving into the scripted scene. Definitely want to get into that a little bit more. Well, not just get into it, get back into it. Some people know that,” he said. “And I definitely am going to be jumping a lot more back into the liquor as well. I’ve been making cocktail videos a lot, reminiscent of my days as a mixologist, but I’ve definitely got some things coming out with that as well.”

If he does step back into unscripted TV, Harichi wants something that pushes him.

“I think if I was to do unscripted, I’d probably want to do something that tested my physical — my physical and perhaps my mental,” he said. “One show I grew up watching was I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. I don’t know how I’ll do with the spider challenges, because I am very scared of spiders. I probably shouldn’t say that in case I end up going on that show, everyone’s going to throw me into spider challenges,” he laughed. “But yeah, I think something that tests my strength is something I’d be into a lot. But I’m also open to see whatever happens. I’m not someone that closes the door before it opens. If it makes sense, I’m definitely running in.”