I've had it happen to me before as well. They say never check when you're full, but I always do anyways just cause I like to see villagers in person. I don't know why but there's something different about seeing a screenshot and seeing them first hand. You can always tent reset when you get space and find someone popular.
I didn't get any super popular people in my main town until I bought them. Then I got my cycling town and got several because I kind of forced them then I restarted and made what's now my second town and got Ankha then Maple from my tent. I always get the good villagers when I don't have room.
I remember before I even knew she was popular Ankha showed up in my tent... I thought she looked amazing compared to all the other villagers who has camped so I kept trying to invite her in when to my stupidity I realized I had 10 villagers. Dang it.
About a month ago I put in a campsite.I was hoping it would help me get Hamphrey. I didn't get a camper for the first 2 weeks. Then finally someone was camping. I had just gotten a tenth villager from a streetpass.And of course, Hamphrey was in the tent. Over 300 villagers in the game. What are the odds? This game can read your mind and likes to mess with ya.lol.
i got marshal as my first move in when i reset like a week ago and then i reset again like 3 days ago and i got marshal as my first move in again!! weeeird