Former “Love Island USA” standout Kenny Rodriguez is making his next move in reality television, and this time he is trading swimsuits for strategy.
Rodriguez has officially joined the cast of “La Casa de los Famosos,” the Spanish-language competition airing on Telemundo.
The casting marks one of the most notable reality crossovers of the season.
According to an exclusive report from Remezcla, Rodriguez will enter the celebrity house as a confirmed housemate for the upcoming season. He will step into a format that places stars under 24/7 surveillance, with viewers voting on weekly evictions.
From Villa Finalist to Celebrity Houseguest
Rodriguez first gained national attention during Season 6 of the Peacock hit series. His charisma and late-season momentum made him one of the breakout personalities of the summer. where he finished third alongside then-partner JaNa Craig, who starred on the reality series “Destination X” and on “The Challenge.”
He later returned to the franchise for the spinoff “Love Island: Beyond the Villa,” which followed former Islanders navigating life after the show. It allowed fans to catch up on their latest endeavors and see how they’re doing with their newfound success.
Now Rodriguez is taking that next chapter even further.
Deadline confirmed the New York-born contestant, who has Dominican roots, will “trade the villa for a house full of Latino celebrities.” Rodriguez is leaning into his cultural background as he joins one of Spanish-language television’s biggest reality franchises.
A Bigger, Higher-Stakes Format
“La Casa de los Famosos” operates under a concept similar to “Celebrity Big Brother,” but is not that different from shows Rodriguez has done before. Contestants still live together and have no contact with the outside, as they compete in challenges and nominations. Housemates get to decide who faces eviction, and viewers ultimately determine who stays.
Rodriguez joins a star-studded lineup of well-known industry names, including musical artist Caeli, Jailyne Ojeda, Kunno, Laura Zapata, Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones, and Yina Calderón. Additional cast names are still to be announced.
The winner receives a cash prize. The move also signals a broader trend of bilingual and multicultural crossover casting, as reality personalities expand beyond a single network or format. For Rodriguez, it signals both a fresh start with a new franchise and a higher-pressure spotlight.
“La Casa de los Famosos” is hosted by Jimena Gállego and Javier Poza. Season 6 of the reality television show premieres Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. ET on Telemundo. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Peacock, according to NBCUniversal.
