Four new girls arrived on “Love Island” on Tuesday. Photo: Jørgen Holst / TV 2
– It will be very strange for the family to see me flirting, at least dad, says Oda Rikheim (23).
Tuesday 26 March at 09:25
The infamous “Casa Amor”, where the female and male contestants are split up for a few days to test their relationships, is underway.
In each villa, four young women and men are now checking in. TikTok profile Oda Rikheim is among them.
– I’m looking for a tall and handsome man who can take me by storm, says Rikheim as she enters the villa.
Rikheim tells VG that she was involved early on the casting process for “Love Island Norway”.
However, well before the recording started, she was told that TV 2 wanted new faces, and not people who had already been on TV.
– I was told that I was not allowed to participate, says Rikheim.
Oda Rikheim participated in season two of “Good Luck Guys” on Prime together with Niklas Klein. Photo: Amazon Prime
Barely two or three weeks before she checked into the villa, the counter notification came.
– They called me and said they wanted me along anyway. It was a bit strange to accept that I was going to be involved again, she says.
Jan-Petter Dahl, press manager at TV 2, writes in an e-mail to VG that the channel never comments on details of the casting processes in their programmes.
– In any case, we are very happy to have Oda as a participant in “Love Island Norway”, he writes further.
Jan-Peter Dahl
Press manager at TV 2
Rikheim: – A demanding situation
Oda Rikheim already had an inkling that she would arrive at the villa when Casa Amor was launched.
– Coming in the middle of the program, isn’t that typical Casa Amor?
On the flight to Gran Canaria, she also met Nora Emilie Nakken (25), whom she knew from before. Nakken was named Miss Earth Norway in 2020, followed by Miss Norway the following year. She has also taken part in “Good Luck Guys” – and now it’s the love program’s turn.
– Did you go in with the hope of finding love?
– Yes absolutely. One might think that it is a little more likely in there, because you have submitted your preferences and what you are looking for to TV 2, says Rikheim and adds:
– At the same time, it’s a strange setting. In Casa Amor there weren’t that many to choose from. We were four girls, and there are three boys to choose from – and two of them were already in strong couples. It was a demanding situation.
From left: Lenny Langhelle, Henrik Fossedal and Magnus Gruer. Photo: Jørgen Holst / TV 2
In addition, there is not enough time to explore the relationships with others in the villa at a calm and comfortable pace, Rikheim points out.
– I’m actually quite withdrawn when it comes to boys. I rather like them to come to me, and think it’s a bit petty to be the one who takes the initiative.
Dreads TV flirting
Rikheim dreads seeing himself in the program – and especially in such an unfamiliar and foreign setting.
– It will be very strange for the family to see me flirting, at least dad. I feel I have to watch the episodes before he is allowed to watch. But it’s going well, it’s a natural thing. I don’t feel this is the worst thing to be a part of!
Also read: TV review “Love Island Norway”: They talk real love
– Do you see yourself as romantic?
– Yes, when I get the opportunity to be, I think so. When I first have a girlfriend, I think it’s nice to be romantic, says Rikheim.
Also read: Pulling out of “Love Island”: Here’s how it goes today
These four young men arrived at the ladies’ villa in Monday’s episode of “Love Island”. Photo: Jørgen Holst / TV 2
Whether the TV viewers will see a romantic Rikheim in the villa remains to be seen.
– It will be exciting to see. I then wonder what they bring and what they don’t. We were filmed 24 hours a day and had conversations, and they’re not even going to take half of it. So they can cut it a little as they want.