“Love Island” Alum JaNa Craig Says She Is Trying to ‘Embrace the Unknown’ During Exciting ‘New Chapter’ of Life (Exclusive)

Craig, 29, was thrust into the spotlight after appearing on season 6 of ‘Love Island USA’

NEED TO KNOW

• JaNa Craig reflects on turning 30 and embracing new opportunities after learning from challenges in her 20s

• The Love Island USA alum is working on a secret scripted project and says it aligns with her reality TV persona
• Craig credits Ariana Madix and other mentors for advice and support as she navigates her evolving career

JaNa Craig is ready for her next chapter. 

The Love Island USA star and influencer caught up with PEOPLE at T-Mobile’s Club Magenta at Lollapalooza to talk about her upcoming plans and career opportunities.

“I turn 30 at the end of this year. It’s a whole new chapter. I’m so excited,” Craig, 29, shares. “I learned so much in my 20s, so I’m so grateful and extremely excited for what the 30s will bring me.”

Craig was thrust into the spotlight after she and her now ex-boyfriend, Kenny Rodriguez, placed third on the sixth season of Love Island USA in 2024. However, after taking their relationship from the villa to the real world, Craig announced in July 2025 that they were “no longer together,” calling what went on behind closed doors “terrible, disgusting and disappointing.”

In July 2026, Craig told PEOPLE that she spent the last year “learning.”

“I’ve always loved myself, but when you go through what I went through, it kind of lowered the confidence a little bit, but we’re back up,” she said.

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At Lollapalooza, Craig emphasizes that she is “excited” about her future and “the idea of the unknown.”

“I try not to let fear ever get control of me. I like to embrace the unknown. So knowing that I have no idea what’s gonna happen next is what’s the most exciting part of it all,” she shares.

While she has a lot of people in her corner, Craig says she has been leaning on Love Island host Ariana Madix, who “gives amazing advice.”

“She had to calm me down real, real hard last year,” Craig shares, noting that there are several other A-listers who have also reached out and offered her guidance and support.

In this new season of life, Craig says she is focused on saying “yes to everything.”

“My most recent, exciting project was a scripted film,” she teases. “I’ve never done scripted. I’m always little miss unscripted [so I can] say what I want. So it’s really fun to channel into a new character.”

“I can’t share exactly what it is, but when you guys see it, it’s so funny,” she adds. “I’ll give you a hint. It goes really good with who you guys first met me off. That’s the only hint I can give you. You’ll see very soon.”

While she didn’t divulge many details about the upcoming project, she notes that she worked alongside an “amazing” celebrity who showed her the ropes.

“It was such a blessing to work with her. I have a lot of big people that I dream of and look up to that are looking at me, supporting me and rooting for me,” Craig shares. “I’m like, ‘Oh, I can’t let you people down.’ I gotta act right. Which I will, so don’t worry.”