A celeb body double, a farmer and the show’s first partially-sighted contestant have been confirmed as the first ten singletons heading to the Love Island villa for the upcoming winter series.
Boxing ring girl and actress 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, airport security officer Shaq Muhammad, 24, and TV salesman Haris Namani, 21, were also unveiled on Monday.
Love Island: Boxing ring girl and actress Olivia Hawkins, 27, who’s claim to fame is being a Michelle Keegan body double, is among the Islanders moving into the South Africa villa
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 and Emma Watson 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.
‘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,’ she explains of her varied career.
While she has had some career highs, Olivia is now focusing on her personal life. ‘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 says.
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
Love on the mind: While she has had some career highs, Olivia is now focusing on her personal life. ‘I’m 27 and I’ve never been in a relationship’
I’ll bring fun, vibes, I’m a very confident, bubbly person…. maybe a little bit of drama!’
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 says she’s excited to raise awareness of her condition, vitiligo, explaining it’s ‘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.’
Career: ‘I did a film with Jason Statham. 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,’ says Olivia
Model: Olivia has also worked with fashion brand PrettyLittleThing and starred in music videos for Craig David and DJ Tom Zanetti
She adds 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.’
‘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.
Science and PE teacher Kai Fagan, 24, meanwhile says he’s ‘single by choice’ but is ‘looking for the right girl.’
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’
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
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’
‘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,’ the Manchester based teacher adds.
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
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’
‘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.
‘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.’
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
‘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.’
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.’
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