Love Island’s Casa Amor is set to return to the 2023 winter series this weekend – and here’s a first look at who will be entering the villa.
Six new girls and six new boys will be hoping to turn heads when they enter Casa Amor on Sunday night.
A glimpse of what the 2023 Casa Amor villa looks like was revealed in Friday evening’s episode in a juicy teaser clip.
This year’s Casa Amor line-up ranges from a sexy female baker from north London to a steel erector from Nottingham who is “repping for the gingers”.
An Irish lothario who is good pals with Love Island 2022 contestant Dami Hope will also join the 2023 cast.
And one new girl has a famous ex – whose name is yet to be revealed – who has penned more than one song about her since they split.
A professional boxer, social worker, finance student and a beauty buyer who lives in Dubai also make up this year’s cast.
Here’s what we know about the winter Love Island Casa Amor line-up of boys and girls so far.
Layla Al-Momani
Layla Al-Momani is a 28-year-old brand managing director from Kingston, southwest London - with a famous ex.
Although she hasn’t revealed who her former partner is, Layla says he is a singer who has “written a few songs about me since we broke up”.
Now single and ready to mingle, “overly confident” Layla has her eyes set on Ron and Will in the villa.
Speaking of Will, she said: “My type is Louis Theroux and he just gives that vibe. I also fancy Shaq, but he seems to be unavailable!”
And she says she won’t be walked over in the villa: “If somebody annoys me, I won’t have it.”
Martin Akinola
Martin Akinola is a senior software engineer from Dublin who is good pals with former Love Islander Dami Hope.
The 27-year-old Irish lothario says in the outside world sending a rose emoji in the DMs “works every time”.
Asked what advice his friend Dami gave him for appearing on the show, Martin said: “Do your thing, be yourself and everyone else will get to know you, and get to see why we're friends.'
"He was saying, 'You tell the boys on a night out, “This is how to talk to a girl”, now go and show them how it's done.' I was like, I can do that!”
Sammy James
Beauty buyer Sammy James is originally from Leicester, but currently lives out in Dubai.
The 27-year-old claims she is in the villa to “bring the Dubai heat” and the boy she’s hoping to couple up with is Casey.
She said: “He’s my number one, he’s cheeky! His blue eyes remind me of the ocean and I love the ocean; it makes me feel calm and connected. That’s the way he’s probably going to make me feel.
"I also like the fact that he looks a little bit like Bradley Cooper who is definitely my celebrity crush! And then Tom - for the eye contact!”
Ryan Weekley
Midlands boy Ryan Weekley is a 22-year-old steel erector from Nottingham who says he will be “grafting straight away” when he enters Casa Amor.
“Repping for the gingers”, he’s also got his eye on Samie who he thinks he’s got a lot in common with. He already wants to travel the world with her.
One thing Samie might want to know about Ryan before she couples up with him is be is a bad snorer.
The cheeky chappie revealed: “I snore, I’ll have to let the girls know that before we share a bed... hopefully that’s with Samie.”
Cynthia Otseh-Taiwo
Cynthia Otseh-Taiwo is 25 and from North London. She has two jobs – as a baker and as a dental receptionist.
Backing herself as a “girl’s girl”, she says she is “very loyal, if you’re my girl, I’ve got your back”.
A romantic when it comes to love, she’s looking for someone who knows what they want as she is ready to settle down soon.
Tom is the kind of guy she would go for on the outside – but she says Will looks like her exes, so she has a type.
Frankie Davey
Frankie Davey is a 22-year-old professional boxer from Ipswich who will be speaking to all the girls as soon as he can when he enters the Casa Amor villa.
He says he doesn’t usually have to do a lot of chasing with girls but “might have to take the boxing gloves off and get the grafting gloves” on in the villa.
There are two girls who have caught Frankie’s eye, but he’s keeping his card close to his chest and not revealing who they are for now. “One would be a more difficult one to pursue,” he says.
Although he’s a boxer, his bad habit is not being able to pass a mirror without looking in it, he reveals.
Sanam Harrinanan
Sanam Harrinanan is a 24-year-old social worker from Bedford who is aiming to turn some head when she enters Casa Amor this weekend.
Describing herself as “flirtatious and bantery”, Sanam needs someone to dish it back on the same level as her.
Asked who her number one guy in the villa is, she had no hesitation in revealing her sights are firmly set on Kai.
“Kai is my number one. Job wise I think that we’d connect a lot and I think he’s cute!"
She let slip she also likes Tom and Casey. Given her reasons why, she said: "Tom I love his beard! He’s not my usual type, but there’s something about him that attracts me physically.
"Casey, he doesn’t seem that serious and I think you could have fun and banter with him."
Maxwell Samuda
Finance student and restaurant host Maxwell Samuda is 23 and from London.
He’s after kindness and honesty from a partner and is another boy who has his sights set on coupling up with Samie.
Explaining why, Maxwell said: “She keeps it real and she seems like she’s not afraid to speak her mind.”
Asked what he would never put on a dating profile, he revealed a rather disgusting habit: “I love popping spots, I find watching those videos weirdly comforting to watch.”
Lydia Karakyriakou
One of the youngest girls in this year’s Love Island, Lydia Karakyriakou is a 22-year-old retail customer assistant from Glasgow.
Aiming to bring a “lot of chat and a lot of flirtiness”, Lydia claims she is known as the ‘friend therapist’ back home, so will be on hand to give advice to her fellow Islanders should they need it.
She’s looking for someone to bounce off and make her laugh – and Casey could be the one for her if she plays her cards right.
“Casey, I love his personality. After seeing the way he spoke with Lana about their situation, I thought he was really upfront. I respect that he didn’t beat around the bush and was honest about the way he felt,” she said.
Kain Reed
Kain Reed is a 21-year-old energy consultant from Gateshead in Newcastle hoping to ruffle some feathers in Casa Amor.
He claims he is known for giving girls ‘the eyes’ , so could give Tom a run for his money in the pulling stakes. “Don’t stare at them too long, you will get lost,” he says.
Ninety per cent of him is going in there for the girls – he wants to turn Samie’s head the most – but he also wants to have a bit of lad banter.
“They need to know I’m on my way in and no couples are safe! I’m about to step on boys’ toes and turn girls’ heads,” Kain said.
Lynda Flix
Lynda Flix is a 22-year-old healthcare assistant from Salford in Manchester, who is also a singer. The one thing you should know about her is she will literally sing anywhere, even in her sleep!
She might be young, but she’s not afraid to speak her mind and already has her sights set on both Kai and Shaq.
Lynda revealed: “They’re both tall, dark and handsome. Tom too, I like his eyes and they seem to be doing something for the girls, I want to experience that.”
Bayley Mummery
Operations manager Bayley Mummery is 25 and from Surrey hoping to show the girls his “charm” when he enters Casa Amor.
Not afraid to step on a few toes, he describes himself as being open, not afraid to talk about his feelings and very family orientated.
Samie is also top of his list of girls to couple up with. He shared: “Samie, she’s my type to a T. If you asked my mum or dad my type they would literally describe her.”
