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What’s Carl’s Ethnicity from Love Island USA Season 8?
Love Island USA fans were left heartbroken during the June 26 episode when OG Islander Aniya Harvey decided to dump her Casa Amor connection, Carl Schmidt. Viewers had grown attached to the 28-year-old Colorado native, with many hoping he and Aniya would continue exploring their connection beyond Casa Amor. But instead, Aniya wanted to continue furthering her bond with Kuman “KC” Chandler.
Unfortunately, KC returned to the villa with his Casa Amor connection, Tierra “Titi” Davis, leaving Aniya single and vulnerable. However, her time alone might not last long because, at the very end of the June 28 episode, it was revealed that Carl was officially returning to the villa for a second chance at love.
With fans rooting for Carl and Aniya to rekindle their romance, curiosity about the Casa Amor contestant is at an all-time high. Here’s everything you need to know about Carl, including his ethnicity.
What is Love Island USA Season 8 contestant Carl Schmidt’s ethnicity?
Good news, Love Island USA fans: Carl’s ethnicity was revealed in the June 22 episode. As Carl and Aniya got to know each other, Carl shared that he’s half-Chinese. When Aniya mentioned her desire to visit Japan one day, Carl revealed that he actually studied abroad there and can speak both Chinese and Japanese.
Back in June 2019, Carl opened up about his experience studying abroad in Japan. “So grateful for my time here! Japan is a unique place with so much culture,” he wrote on Instagram. “As a companion I’ve learned so much about myself as an individual and as a member of a close group of friends. I can’t imagine a better group of people to share this experience with!”
Carl returned to study in Japan later that same year to research his senior topic, which just so happened to be ramen. “So thankful Carleton College is giving me the opportunity to return to Japan to research my senior topic: ramen,” he said. “Yes. I seriously am going back to Japan to research ramen.”
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According to his LinkedIn profile, Carl graduated from Minnesota’s Carleton College in 2020 with a degree in Asian Studies. He later attended the University of Colorado Boulder from 2023 to 2025, where he completed a pre-physical therapy studies program. Since then, Carl has become a certified personal trainer through the U.S. National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Carl has since combined his academic backgrounds and founded Hapa Strong, a fitness program that, per its Instagram page, aims to empower “Asian men to reclaim their strength and masculinity through fitness.”
New episodes of Love Island USA drop Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays on Peacock at 9 p.m. EST.