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A biomedical science student, a farmer and the show’s first partially-sighted contestant have been confirmed as the first singletons heading to the Love Island villa for the upcoming winter series.
Boxing ring girl Olivia Hawkins, 27, who’s claim to fame is standing in for Michelle Keegan on the set of a fashion ad, is among the Islanders moving into the luxury South Africa villa on January 16.
Alongside Olivia, the show has signed their first ever partially-sighted contestant, Ron Hall, 26, while biomedical science student Tanya Manhenga, 22, P.E. teacher Kai Fagan, 24, makeup artist Lana Jenkins, 25, payroll assistant Anna-May Robey, 20, farmer Will Young, 23, Tanyal Revan, 26, a hair stylist, and airport security officer Shaq Muhammad, 24 were also unveiled on Monday.
Lookalike: Boxing ring girl Olivia Hawkins, 27, who’s claim to fame is standing in for Michelle Keegan on the set of a fashion ad, is among the new cast of Love Island 2023
Islanders: Model and student Tanya Manhenga and the show’s first ever partially sighted contestant Ron Hall have been confirmed as the first singletons heading to the Love Island villa
Michelle Keegan body double Olivia Hawkins already has a string of reality star pals including Sam Faiers, while she stood in for Brassic star Michelle while shooting an ad for the actress’ Very campaign in 2017.
The stunning brunette has also starred in music videos for Craig David and DJ Tom Zanetti and been a backing dancer for Charli XCX at Wembley.
Biomedical science student Tanya Manhenga, 22, was the first singleton unveiled on Monday. Alongside her studies, Tanya has worked with brands including Boohoo and she is already represented by the talent agency Muse. She boasts 14.2k followers on Instagram.
Tanya revealed that she’s excited to raise awareness of her condition, vitiligo, explaining it’s ‘a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it.’
Claim to fame: Michelle Keegan body double Olivia Hawkins stood in for the Brassic star (right) while shooting an ad for the actress’ Very campaign in 2017
‘It’s on my lip and I have a stripe on my hair. Not many people know that but I think it’s quite cute. I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a vibe.’
She added that she’s 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.’
As for what gives her the ‘ick’? Tanya has very specific turn-offs, exclaiming: ‘Guys that don’t wear socks in the house.’
Singleton: Tanya revealed that she’s excited to raise awareness of her condition, vitiligo, explaining it’s ‘a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it’
‘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 meanwhile says he’s ‘single by choice’ but is ‘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,’ he adds.
Looking for love: She added that she’s 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’
Ready for some winter sun: Tanya has worked with brands including Boohoo and she is already represented by the talent agency Muse. She boasts 14.2k followers on Instagram
He says friends and family would describe him as ‘chilled, caring, very impulsive and a good guy. I always put my friends and family first and spend a lot of time with them.’
Kai is a Jamaican citizen, revealing he played rugby 7s for Jamaica while he still plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC.
As well as his sporting talents he says he ‘technically has three different degrees and went to three different unis.’
Single and ready to mingle: Science and P.E. teacher Kai Fagan, 24, from Manchester was announced as the second singleton
Sporty: Kai is a Jamaican citizen, revealing he played rugby 7s for Jamaica while he still plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC
Ready for a lesson in love: Teacher Kai says he’s ‘single by choice’ but is ‘looking for the right girl’
Makeup artist Lana has her own claim to fame, revealing she appeared in an episode of TV comedy Benidorm when she was six-years-old and living in Spain, while nowadays her work as a makeup artist sees her working with ‘lots of celebrities’.
The 25-year-old also reveals that she falls in love quickly, explaining: ‘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.’
As for what gives her the ick, it’s over-enthusiastic texters.
‘I don’t mind people texting me all the time but if you send me question marks if I’ve not replied to you in a while, you’re gone,’ she insists.
Headed to the villa: Makeup artist Lana Jenkins, 25, from Luton was unveiled as the third hopeful looking for love
On the lookout for love: Lana has her own claim to fame, revealing she appeared in an episode of TV comedy Benidorm when she was six-years-old and living in Spain
Stunning: As for what gives her the ick, it’s over-enthusiastic texters. ‘If you send me question marks if I’ve not replied to you in a while, you’re gone,’ she insists
‘That’s a really big red flag for me! Also if I see a guy trip over, that’s an instant turn off.’
The show has signed their first ever partially-sighted contestant, with financial advisor Ron Hall, 26, among the next set of hopefuls looking for love.
The keen golfer and boxer from Essex, is hoping to raise awareness by discussing his disability on screen, following the lead of the show’s first deaf contestant Tasha Ghouri who was a runner-up on the summer 2022 series.
The one: The 25-year-old also reveals that she falls in love quickly, explaining: ‘I’ll probably tell them I love them in about a week’
‘On meeting me, you’d never know I am blind in one eye,’ Ron says. ‘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. 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.’
Ron adds that he’ll bring ‘fun and charisma’ the the villa, promising ‘I just want to be naturally myself in there, have good times and make memories. I think people will enjoy my company.’
‘I’m the most genuine person you’ll meet. I’m genuine, caring and I’m a nice person – which you don’t find these days.’
Heading to the villa! The show has signed their first ever partially-sighted contestant, with Ron Hall, 26, among the next set of hopefuls looking for love
Proud: The keen golfer and boxer from Essex, is hoping to raise awareness by discussing his disability on screen
Payroll assistant Anna-May Robey from Swansea is also on the lookout for love this series.
‘I want a boyfriend, I want to find someone who makes me laugh,’ the Welsh beauty explains. ‘I’ve been single for quite a while, my mother is bugging me, she’s like, “You need to find a boyfriend.”‘
‘I’m just excited to try something new and I think going on Love Island is a good way to meet someone.’
Welsh beauty: Payroll assistant Anna-May Robey from Swansea is also on the lookout for love this series
Ready to move in: ‘I want a boyfriend, I want to find someone who makes me laugh,’ the Welsh beauty explains. ‘I’ve been single for quite a while’
Anna-May says she’s had some terrible dates in her time, explaining that ‘I went on a date once and I never saw him again. We went for food and shared a bottle of wine. As I was speaking to him he fell asleep! I had to clink his wine glass to wake him up.’
Her loved ones would describe the brunette as ‘energetic,’ she says, adding: ‘I’m always running around singing and screaming.’
‘My parents are always like, ‘Shut up!’ I work from home all day so I don’t really speak to people in person for two or three days a week, so when my father comes home, he’ll want to sit down and chill out, and I’m there chewing his ear off! I would definitely say I am a chatterbox.’
Unlucky in love: Anna-May says she’s had some terrible dates in her time, explaining that ‘I went on a date once and as I was speaking to him he fell asleep!’
Farmer Will Young, 23, from Buckinghamshire is hoping to have the time to dedicate to his love life as he takes a break from his busy job.
‘Having grown up on a farm, it’s been quite difficult juggling relationships and work,’ he explains. ‘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.’
The farmer has a spiritual side, revealing: ‘Every night I light a candle and meditate for 20-25 minutes.’
Country boy: Farmer Will Young, 23, from Buckinghamshire is hoping to have the time to dedicate to his love life as he takes a break from his busy job
Looking for love: ‘Having grown up on a farm, it’s been quite difficult juggling relationships and work,’ he explains. ‘Love Island will give me time away from the farm to solely find love’
Another side to him: The farmer has a spiritual side, revealing: ‘Every night I light a candle and meditate for 20-25 minutes’
‘A girl I was seeing told me to meditate, I tried it and loved it. I stopped seeing her and carried on meditating!’
‘It’s a nice way to self reflect, taking a minute on my day/ week. It’s really nice and sets me up for a nice sleep.’
And the singleton, who boasts over 1million followers on TikTok, has high hopes for fame after the villa, revealing he’d love legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, 96, to play him in a movie.
Ready for fun: Hair stylist Tanyel Revan, 26, from North London promises to bring ‘energy and confidence’ to the villa, revealing: ‘I’m funny, loud, feisty, charismatic’
Celeb crush: The stunning brunette is smitten with Channing Tatum, explaining: ‘I don’t like pretty boys, they give me the ‘ick’ because they always have a crap personality’
‘Imagine hearing his calming voice talking while he’s feeding the animals, his top off, some short shorts… he would rock it.’
Hair stylist Tanyel Revan, 26, from North London promises to bring ‘energy and confidence’ to the villa, revealing: ‘I’m funny, loud, feisty, charismatic.’
‘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?’ she adds.
The stunning brunette is smitten with Channing Tatum, explaining: ‘I don’t like pretty boys, they give me the ‘ick’ because they always have a cr*p personality.’
Loyal: ‘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?’ she adds
‘Channing Tatum is handsome but not too pretty. He’s manly and he can dance. If a man can dance I’m in love with him straight away.’
Airport security officer Shaq Muhammed, 24, admits ‘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.’
Looking for the one: Airport security officer Shaq Muhammed, 24, admits ‘I haven’t had the best luck. So I thought, why not be in the sun and potentially meet the love of my life?’
Emotional: ‘I’m a very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse,’ admits the hunk
He adds that his loved ones say he falls in love easily. ‘I’m the type of person that wears my heart on my sleeve. If I find someone I click with, I fall very hard, very fast,’ he admits.
‘Sometimes that can be a bad thing. I’m a very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse.
‘Every time I watch Dear John I cry. That’s my favourite film. Any time I’m with someone and they say, ‘Let’s watch a romantic film’, I’m like, ‘How about Dear John, how does that sound?’
The ninth series of Love Island will be hosted for the first time by Maya Jama, after Laura Whitmore stepped down from the position following former presenter Caroline Flack’s tragic death in 2020.
In an interview with over the weekend Maya revealed she did not have to audition to present Love Island and accepted the hosting gig straight away.
She told The Times: ‘Once you start doing TV, you meet a lot of producers, through different shows, and the heads will be aware of talent . . . That’s weird, to call yourself talent, isn’t it? I talk for a living. It’s not exactly tap dancing everywhere or performing a ballad.’
‘So I think I’ve always been in their eye line, but I was super young when the presenter shifts were happening in the past.’
The presenter was having some time off when she got the call about the Love Island gig, explaining: ‘I got the phone call saying, “we wanna meet you.” Or, they offered it to me straight away? Or “They’re in discussions’? I’m trying to think! Anyway, I didn’t have to audition.”’
New recruit: The ninth series of Love Island will be hosted for the first time by Maya Jama , after Laura Whitmore stepped down from the position last year
When asked if she said yes immediately, Maya exclaimed: ‘Straight away! Of course! Golden ticket.’
Record-breaking viewing figures saw the last series of Love Island, which aired in summer 2022, become the most-watched series ever on ITV Hub, amassing over 269 million streams.
The debut winter series aired in January 2020 – shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic – and was won by Paige Turley and Finn Tapp.
Plans for a second winter series were shelved in 2021 amid concerns surrounding the pandemic.
Paul Mortimer, Director of Reality Commissioning and Controller, ITV2, said ‘Love Island has once again proved itself to be the nation’s favourite talking point across the summer, and we’re always blown away by the show’s ongoing impact and talkability amongst our younger audience.
New home: The new supersized luxury eco-retreat villa boasts stunning mountain views and is nestled away in a ‘protected area’ in the heart of the Franschhoek wine valley
‘So, rather than just serving up a Summer of Love, we thought we’d make 2023 the Year of Love with two full series of the show.’
The new supersized luxury eco-retreat villa boasts stunning mountain views and is nestled away in a ‘protected area’ in the heart of the Franschhoek wine valley in South Africa’s ‘millionaire row’.
The villa is the biggest one yet of all the series, boasting a giant pool and surrounded by palm trees and typic]ally costs around £430 per night to stay in per room.
It is is also environmentally friendly, with the estate having 100 percent off-the-grid status which allows it to generate its own electricity, water and numerous food sources.
In a new move for 2023, the ITV2 dating show has enforced a new social media ban while contestants are inside the villa.
Updating their duty of care policy, Love Island bosses have banned Islanders’ social media activity during the show and will give enhanced training around behaviour in relationships after a controversial summer series.
In previous seasons, families and friends have been appointed to man islanders’ social media accounts – often posting on their behalf.
But now ITV have said a comprehensive package of welfare measures remain in place for programme contributors to ensure stars are fully supported before, during and after the filming period.
As part of extended measures to protect both the Islanders and their families from ‘the adverse effects of social media’, participants will be asked to pause handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.
LOVE ISLAND 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Tanya Manhenga
Name: Tanya Manhenga
Age: 22
Location: Liverpool
Occupation: Student and model
Something not many people know about her: ‘I have Vitiligo, which is a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it.’
‘It’s on my lip and I have a stripe on my hair. Not many people know that but I think it’s quite cute.’
‘I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a vibe.’
Lana Jenkins
Name: Lana Jenkins
Age: 25
Location: Luton
Occupation: Makeup artist
Something not many people know about her: ‘In my work as a makeup artist I’ve worked with lots of celebrities.
‘Also, when I was 6-years-old I used to live in Spain and I was in an episode of Benidorm as an extra.’
Anna-May Robey
Name: Anna-May Robey
Age: 20
Location: Swansea
Occupation: Payroll assistant
Something not many people know about her: ‘I went on a date once and I never saw him again.’
‘We went for food and shared a bottle of wine. As I was speaking to him he fell asleep!’
‘I had to clink his wine glass to wake him up.’
Tanyel Revan
Name: Tanyel Revan
Age: 26
Location: North London
Occupation: Hair stylist
Something not many people know about her: ‘My celebrity crush is Channing Tatum – I don’t like pretty boys, they give me the ‘ick’ because they always have a crap personality.’
‘Channing Tatum is handsome but not too pretty. He’s manly and he can dance.’
‘If a man can dance I’m in love with him straight away.’
Kai Fagan
Name: Kai Fagan
Age: 24
Location: Manchester
Occupation: Science and PE teacher
Something not many people know about him: ‘I’m a Jamaican citizen. Because of that I played rugby 7s for Jamaica.’
‘I play semi-professional rugby now for Burnage RFC.’
‘I’ve technically got three different degrees and went to three different unis.’
Ron Hall
Name: Ron Hall
Age: 25
Location: Essex
Occupation: Financial advisor
Something not many people know about him: ‘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’ve got two different coloured eyes, one blue and one green.’
Will Young
Name: Will Young
Age: 23
Location: Buckinghamshire
Occupation: Farmer
Something not many people know about him: ‘Every night I light a candle and meditate for 20-25 minutes.’
‘A girl I was seeing told me to meditate, I tried it and loved it. I stopped seeing her and carried on meditating! It’s a nice way to self reflect’
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