Rihanna leaves Love Island USA star Trinity Tatum stunned after recognizing her by name at Fenty Beauty event

“Love Island USA” winner Trinity Tatum reveals what Rihanna told her during their viral Fenty Beauty encounter and reflects on her newfound fame with Bryce Alakai.

“Love Island USA” season 8 winner Trinity Tatum has revealed the brief exchange that made her viral encounter with Rihanna even more memorable, saying the singer’s recognition left her struggling to contain her excitement.

Tatum, 23, met the 38-year-old music star at a Fenty Beauty event earlier in October. Footage of their interaction circulated online after Tatum shared a video showing Rihanna welcoming her enthusiastically, holding her hands and embracing her before the pair posed for photographs.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles on October 15, Tatum recalled the words that caught her off guard.

“She was like, ‘Yeah, we love you here,’” Tatum said, explaining that she had not expected Rihanna to know who she was.

The reality television star described the moment as almost too much to process, particularly when she realized the singer knew her name.

“When she said my name, mentally, I exploded,” she told PEOPLE, adding that she had been reminding herself not to cry.

Tatum’s reaction reflected the excitement of meeting an artist she admires, but the encounter also highlighted how quickly her public profile has grown since her appearance on “Love Island USA.”

She won the show’s eighth season alongside boyfriend Bryce Alakai, 30, with the couple taking home the competition’s $100,000 prize. Since leaving the villa, the pair have been navigating greater public attention while building their relationship outside the reality series.

Tatum and Alakai also attended the InStyle Imagemaker Awards together, where they spoke about experiencing their sudden rise in visibility as a couple.

“It’s been like a rollercoaster of emotion, but it’s fun,” Tatum told PEOPLE. “We’re blessed.”

Alakai shared a similarly grateful outlook, saying the experience had been amazing because they could go through it together.

Their relationship began during the dating competition, where an early challenge helped shift their connection beyond friendship. Alakai previously recalled becoming determined to prove his interest in Tatum after she questioned whether his on-screen relationship was genuine. Tatum said a direct conversation later that evening helped them clarify their feelings.

The couple’s relationship and growing profile have kept them in the spotlight since their win. For Tatum, however, the unexpected recognition from Rihanna offered another standout moment in a period filled with new experiences.