The new series of Love Island starts on Monday and the contestants heading into the villa this time round have now were confirmed with a week to go.
It's been five months now since Ekin-Su and Davide triumphed in Majorca, to win the last series of Love Island and three years since the last winter run, which was won by Paige and Finn at the start of 2020, just a month before the Covid pandemic changed everything.
Love Island is returning to South Africa for only it second winter run in its history, with the biggest change, other than a difference of location, is the fact that Maya Jama has replaced Laura Whitmore as presenter, after Laura walked away from the show just weeks after Ekin-Su and Davide's victory.
Maya has been on screen over the last few weeks in a series of teasers, where she urges people to 'grab love by the horns' as she sits astride a bedazzled mechanical bull. And on Monday, January 9, the contestants who will be hoping to find romance in 2023 were unveiled, with ITV teasing fans by doing the reveals one by one.
Love Island 2023 line-up
Tanya Manhenga, 22, Liverpool
Asked why she is doing Love Island, the student and influencer said: "I’m looking for a boyfriend and I think being in a Villa with lots of different people will help me work out who it is I may want.2
On the subject of what would put her off a guy, Tanya added: "Guys that don’t wear socks in the house. Why are your feet flapping all around the house? Guys have huge feet too, yuck. Also, guys in the bathtub with no bubbles, such an ick, no."
Kai Fegan, 24, Manchester
Quizzed on why he's still since, teacher Kai said: "I’m single by choice. I’m looking for the right girl. I feel like I have quite high expectations. I don’t feel I should commit to someone unless I’m absolutely buzzing over them, because it’s not fair on them."
Quizzed on how his friends and family would describe him, he replied: "Chilled, caring, very impulsive and a good guy. I always put my friends and family first and spend a lot of time with them.
Lana Jenkins, 25, Luton
Make-up artist Lana has a big claim to fame in that she was once an extra on Benidorm.
Asked is she falls in love quickly, she replied: "I fall in love quickly. I tend to know quite soon if I could fall in love with that person and then, as long as everything is going well, I’ll probably tell them I love them in about a week."
Ron Hall, 25, Essex
Ron us blind in one eye, having been injured in an sporting accident as child. Talking about his impairment, Ron said: "On meeting me, you’d never know I am blind in one eye. It was the result of a football injury when I was 8; I went in for a header and got kicked in the face. I’ve got two different coloured eyes, one blue and one green"
He added:." It’s added to my character, there are so many people that are worse off than me. And if anything, losing something like that makes you realise that. It’s not hindered me in any shape or form. It’s a good conversation starter I must admit. "
Anna-May Robey, 20, Swansea
Payroll administrator Anna-May is very clear on her reasons for doing Love Island, saying: "I want a boyfriend, I want to find someone who makes me laugh. I’ve been single for quite a while, my mother is bugging me, she's like, You need to find a boyfriend.’
She added: "I’m just excited to try something new and I think going on Love Island is a good way to meet someone."
Will Young, 23, Buckinghamshire
No, not that Will Young! Rather than being a former Pop Idol winner, this Will is a farmer, who admits he hasn't had the best of luck when it's come to finding love so far. On that subject, he said: "Having grown up on a farm, it’s been quite difficult juggling relationships and work. "
He added: "Love Island will give me time away from the farm to solely go out and find love. I think I’m at the time of my life where I’m mature enough to go and find a wife. "
Tanyel Revan, 26, North London
Asked by ITV, what she'll bring to the villa, hairstylist Tanyel said: "Energy, confidence, I’m funny, loud, feisty, charismatic," adding: "I’m hard to get, confident, funny, charismatic, good looking and happy. I’m also a very loyal person, what is there not to love?"
Shaq Muhammad, 24, London
Honest about his failure at finding love so far, airport security officer Shaq said: "I haven’t had the best luck with previous relationships. So I thought, why not be in the sun and potentially meet the love of my life?
"Hopefully I do come out with my future wife. The person I hope to marry one day. Hopefully she’s in the Villa."
Olivia Hawkins, 27, Brighton
Asked why she applied for Love Island, the model and ring girl said: "I’m 27 and I’ve never been in a relationship so I feel like now I’m really ready to settle down and hopefully find the love of my life."
She's no stranger to the spotlight either, explaining: "I did a film with Jason Statham and had a nice 10-minute convo about life. I've been a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress in James Bond with Daniel Craig and I’ve also been a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson."
Haris Namani, 21, Doncaster
Haris is unhappy to admit he's never found love before. Hoping his fortunes will change on Love Island, he says: "I’ve never found love. I think this is the show that can help me. It’s the best opportunity for me to find the girl and find the right one. I’ve obviously not found the right one myself."
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