Love Island USA’s Serena and Kordell on winning season 6 (exclusive)

Love Island USA Season 6 winners Serena Page and Kordell Beckham have overcome several obstacles during their time in the villa and their love story has only just begun.

The couple came together on the first episode of the Peacock reality show after they happened to wear matching lime green ensembles. During the finale on July 21 on Peacock, American voters chose Serena and Kordell as their favorite couple – and they went home with a $100,000 prize.

Since that first day almost six weeks ago, 24-year-old Serena and 22-year-old Kordell, the younger brother of football player Odell Beckham Jr., have experienced many ups and downs, but ultimately found their way back to each other and left the villa stronger than ever.

So what’s next for the fan-favorite couple? Below, Serena, who hails from Houston, Texas and lives in Los Angeles, and Kordell, who lives in Dallas, answered some burning questions to PEOPLE on Monday, July 22, about their sweet ring exchange in the mansion, their plans for the outside world and the fan reactions that surprised them.

PEOPLE: I love the handshake you did in the finale. We’ve seen a few details throughout the season, like the little dance at the end, but how did you come up with that?

KORDELL BECKHAM: When we had our last, final conversation, which was about really deep feelings, we were just sitting there at Soul Ties and I was like, “We should figure out a handshake.” And then we got up and just started doing things, and we came up with it right there.

SERENA PAGE: It literally took me two minutes to come up with it. We dance all the time and I always did this little dance.

KB: We always mix it.

What do you think will be your biggest challenge when you enter the real world?

SP: My plan is maybe to start my training program again, get back on track and go back to work. I definitely need a little break, so I need to send a message to my boss. But that’s about it. I don’t think the distance will be a problem for us.

KB: The distance is not a problem. I can move, I can do it. And I plan to move there soon.

What plans do you have to keep this flame alive externally?

KB: We’re spending more time together, going out, doing the things we’ve planned. The theme parks, all the dates, traveling the world, seeing our family in person this time, things like that. And then I’ll move there eventually when she’s ready. I know she has to figure everything out and things like that. I want her to have as much time as possible. I don’t want to rush anything.

Which displaced Islander did you call first when you left the villa?

SP: We got our phones back a few hours ago.

So you haven’t called anyone yet?

SP: Yes, but my first call is to Liv (Walker). She’s waiting for us in LA.

KB: Yes, Liv. That would definitely have to be Liv. Oh, and Rob (Rausch). Rob and I want to catch snakes together.

Were there any fan reactions to this season that surprised you?

SP: Honestly, love. I was like, “Damn, I didn’t know they rocked out with us like that.” And yeah, apparently our ship name is “Kordena” and not “Korena,” so we got that wrong.

KB: I’m not mad about it.

SP: You all want it to be Kordena. You all have it. Greetings to you all. Thank you for voting for us.

Do you have a favorite meme from the season that you’ve seen so far?

KB: Someone made a montage of all my little funny moments and stuff like that, whether I’m sleeping, saying the most random things or just being in my own little world. I’ve experienced a lot with her. (Kordell recreates the viral moment when Serena licked her middle finger and pointed it at Kordell after a dramatic reunion following Casa Amor.) A lot of it. Someone made drawings that he had and it was called “standing on the business route”.

SP: I would say mine is Kordell’s, which is, “He came to the villa as a boy and after being with Serena, he’s a man.”

Coming back to the memes you made, Serena, how does it feel that people respect that you expressed your feelings in this way? Was there any fear of backlash?

SP: Yeah, I knew there was going to be some backlash. That’s why I was surprised. Because I never shut up. I say what I think and I don’t care what people think. So that could come across as saying, “Oh no, we hate her.” There’s literally nothing in between. It’s either, “We absolutely love her” or “We absolutely hate her.” So I’m like, “I don’t know which one it’s going to be, because I never shut up and what comes into my mind comes out of my mouth.” Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m going to say until it’s out of my mouth.

You both had or exchanged rings at some point before Casa Amor. Can you talk about how that came about and what it meant?

KB: Yes, so that happened after the reconnection, when I had to choose between her and Hannah and…

SP: Obviously very early on. It was the first or second dumping.

KB: We were just in our own little world and I saw a ring on her and I was like, “Hey, that looks pretty cool. I have mine.” And then as we were joking, I got kind of sentimental and I was like, “Hey, let’s exchange rings so we always have a piece of each other with us no matter what.” And almost like a little engagement ring and stuff, but with more sentimental value between the feelings that we have for each other because that moment, after that, is when things really started to move forward for us.

And the rings are still on today?

KB: Yes, I still have it. I have it…

SP: I have two.

KB: I gave her my most sentimental ring. That was the ring I wanted to give her from the beginning, but we couldn’t decide which finger to put it on, and we ended up putting it on her thumb. She liked the other one and I wanted her to have that one because that was just the beginning and she liked that one and I thought, okay, let’s do this thing, let’s give it meaning. And that’s what we did.

Kordell, you’ve been open on the show about knowing you wanted Serena from the beginning. But for you, Serena, it took a little longer. Do you remember the exact moment you realized you really liked this man and your connection was real?

SP: Well, the first day, of course, I saw him and I was like, damn, he’s OK. And then I found out we’re so similar and I think that kind of turned me off. And I was like, let me find a reason not to like this man, try to find the grossness in it, try to do whatever. So I friendzoned him and afterward he wasn’t hurt, his ego wasn’t hurt, he just kind of took it and that’s s— hot.

Not only has he done that, but he still says, “I’m not going to stop trying.” Even when he went out with Nicole, he came back and immediately told me about the date and we were friends and he was like, “Yeah, we kissed.” And he’s like, “But that should have been you.” …He still wants me after I friendzoned him…I love a good, consistent king.

He respected my boundaries and we developed a friendship at first, which I value very much. So, yeah, after that I was like, okay, yeah, I actually like him. He didn’t stop me from running away a few more times. OK, quite a few times. But then finally, it was probably before Casa when we had that conversation and then when they left for Casa, I missed him so much. I was like, yeah, I like him a lot more than I had admitted and thought.

Serena, fans also saw how strong your friendship was with JaNa and Leah. Do you have any double dates planned now that you’re all out? What’s the most exciting thing about it now?

SP: Yes, we’re going to be hitting the streets together soon. Leah and I may or may not have plans in LA. So you’ll be seeing a lot more of us. And JaNa is only a 45-minute flight away. So we’ll be bringing her in too. Three-way dates, always, always. Our men get along so well. I know our three-way date is going to be absolutely insane. We’re going to Epcot and drink around the world.

KB: I’ve never been there. It’s going to be beautiful.

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Love Island USA will stream on Peacock; a special reunion episode will air August 14 at 9 p.m. ET.