Love Island 2022 is just around the corner. The ITV2 dating show will kick off next week with a brand new line-up.
Among those taking part in the series this year is Swansea paramedic Paige Thorne, 24, student Liam Llewellyn, 22, from Newport, and international dressage rider Gemma Owen, who is the daughter of football legend Michael Owen.
There have been eleven contestants announced so far ahead of the dating show's return for series 8. Love Island 2022 will start on Monday, June 6 from a brand new villa.
Read more: Where is Love Island being filmed this year? Is it the same villa?
While still located in Mallorca, the new villa is rumoured to feature six bedrooms and have the biggest gym Love Island has ever seen. You can read more on the villa here.
But who will be heading into the villa? Here's the line-up for Love Island 2022.
Luca Bish, 23
From: Brighton
Occupation: Fishmonger
Luca is the eleventh Islander confirmed for Love Island series 8. The fishmonger said: "I came out of a four-year relationship about a year ago. I was enjoying being in a relationship, there were just things I didn’t like and we drifted apart."
The 23-year-old added: "When you actually look back at Love Island, you can see how many couples it’s genuinely made. I don’t know how many kids Love Island has made but there are a few aren’t there?"
Amber Beckford, 24
From: London
Occupation: Nanny
24-year-old Amber is the tenth contestant confirmed for Love Island 2022. The nanny from London hopes to bring "fun" to the villa.
Amber said of joining Love Island: "I think it just feels like the right time. This year it definitely feels like it’s two feet in. I feel like now I’m most definitely ready, and wanting to look for a boyfriend."
Asked what she'll bring to the villa, Amber added: "Hopefully fun! Have some chit chat with the girls. I can definitely be opinionated so I’m not sure how that’s going to go down."
And on "the ick", Amber said: "I don’t like guys that show off. I don’t like flashy, showy-offy guys - just have a personality and make me laugh. There was this one guy and he was trying to purposefully show off his car keys and we were literally in the middle of a restaurant!"
Andrew Le Page, 27
From: Guernsey
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Real estate agent Andrew is the ninth contestant announced for Love Island 2022. When asked why he signed up for the new series, the 27-year-old said: "Because I’m actually single for once, so I thought why not? This is the best time to give it a go."
Andrew describes himself as "very loyal", explaining: "I'm a good boyfriend as when I’m with someone I’m all for them."
Ikenna Ekwonna, 23
From: Nottingham
Occupation: Pharmaceutical Sales
Ikenna is the eighth contestant to be announced for Love Island 2022. The 23-year-old is hoping to bring "spontaneity and excitement" to the villa.
The pharmaceutical sales specialist said: "I'm not really shy to speak to people and I don’t really care too much about what people think." Asked why he's joined Love Island, Ikenna said: "I've only been in one past relationship but now I think I’m at the age where I could find someone."
Gemma Owen, 19
From: Chester
Occupation: International Dressage Rider and Business Owner
Gemma, 19, is an international dressage rider and business owner. She is the daughter of former professional footballer Michael Owen.
Gemma said: "Sport has always been a big thing for me and my family. My dad was a professional football player. I’ve competed for Great Britain in dressage since I was 11-years-old. I’ve travelled all across Europe competing in big arenas in big competitions.
"I would say I'm very competitive. [When it comes to relationships] I will always go for what I want. But at the same time, I’m not going to mess up something for someone who is in a proper relationship or get in the way of a couple if they have a genuine connection. I wouldn't do anything to another girl that I wouldn’t be happy with them doing to me."
Gemma says she's "fun, flirty and fiery" anf good at giving advice. She added: "I’m a good person to talk to, I’m very honest. If I want the same guy, I’d do it but in a nice respectful way."
On why she's joined Love Island, Gemma said: "I am open to finding love, I’m wanting to have a really fun summer. I was seeing someone and then that didn’t work out so I thought, 'Why not?'"
Davide Sanclimenti, 27
From: Rome, Italy (lives in Manchester)
Occupation: Business owner
Davide is the sixth contestant announced for Love Island series eight. The business owner says his "biggest dream" is to find someone he can spend the rest of his life with.
He said: "I think Love Island is going to be so much fun. I'm going to be the Italian stallion in the Villa! With my Italian charm, I can also be a very romantic guy.
"I'm good looking and I've realised since I first arrived in Manchester, a lot of English girls actually love me. They love to be around me and I love to be around them. It’s going to be fun, I’m looking forward to it. I want to find my soulmate, find my person so I can actually build something in the future, grow with them, be a family."
Davide says his family and friends would describe him as a "very deep" person with a good heart, who is always ready to support people in their moment in need.
Asked what he'll bring to the villa, Davide said: "My personality and my Italian charm. I’m 27 now, I’m getting serious about my life and my goals. My biggest dream is to find someone I can spend the rest of my life with."
Tasha Ghouri, 23
From: Thirsk, Yorkshire
Occupation: Model and dancer
Tasha is the fifth contestant to join the Love Island line-up. The 23-year-old is a self-professed "party animal" and says her family and friends would describe her as "wild."
She said: "I love my prosecco and to have a dance - I'm always on the dance floor. I’m very loyal to my friends and family, I'll always have their backs. I’m the type of person to put others before me.
"They would definitely say I'm a nap queen - I love napping! I think they'd also say I'm inspirational because of my hearing and my cochlear implant. I inspire quite a lot of people because I’m really open about it."
Tasha says her dating life is a "shambles" and that she's ready for a relationship. The model explained: "My dating life has been a shambles. This is an opportunity for me to find 'the one' and have a great summer at the same time.
"I'm definitely ready for a relationship. I’m 23 now so I'm ready to get to know someone, go on holidays and travel with them."
Liam Llewellyn, 22
From: Newport
Occupation: Masters Student (Strength & Conditioning)
Student Liam is the second Welsh contestant on their way to the villa for 2022, after Paige, who you can read more about below.
He says: "I think 22 is a really nice age to meet someone, you’ve got your years ahead of you so you have time to experience stuff and grow together. I think Love Island is a great opportunity to meet someone, you’re in with a load of different types, so you can get to grips with what you really like about people."
He jokes his mother would describe him as 'a little s**t' but really admits that she knows he's a 'good kid'.
"They’d probably say quite generous, quite caring, happy, chatty, chirpy, bubbly. I wear my heart on my sleeve, I can’t hide how I feel about anyone. I’m probably quite emotional as well come to think about it."
On how to impress the girls in the villa, he adds: "Pay them a compliment! The thing that girls quite like is that I’m not just like, “You’re mint.” I’m like, “Your eyes are piercing, I’m lost in your eyes.” Or I’ll say something like, “You’ve got nice feet” or something."
Indiyah Polack, 23
From: London
Occupation: Hotel waitress
Hotel waitress Indiyah is the latest contestant to be announced for the Love Island 2022 line-up. The 23-year-old said: "I feel like I’m at a stage in my life now where I'm ready to meet new people and start dating properly. I have been single for some time and I feel like for my generation of people, it's quite hard to date without being influenced by social media and stuff like that.
"Love Island particularly is like a closed space and I think it is a great place to get to know someone one-on-one and build a real connection."
Indiyah added: "I feel like I’m going to bring a lot of flavour and vibrancy. I feel like I’m quite a down to earth person, so it shouldn’t be an issue to meet a lover or a friend."
Dami Hope, 26
From: Dublin
Occupation: Senior Microbiologist
Dami is the second contestant to be announced for the 2022 line-up. He is a senior microbiologist that hails from Dublin in Ireland.
Speaking about joining the show this year, Dami said: "This year I was kind of being more open to new things and I think actually that's why I put myself out there to get some new experiences. Love Island is a different experience, I will be talking to different girls, it might not go well with some, might go well with others, so it’s a fun experience."
Paige Thorne, 24
From: Swansea
Occupation: Paramedic
Paige Thorne is the first islander confirmed for this year's line-up. The 24-year-old has said she's joining the show as she hasn't been able to find love in Swansea.
The Welsh contestant said: "In Swansea there is just no-one I can find, I've tried and there’s just nobody there anymore. I need to break out and broaden my horizons and Love Island just brings everyone together for me.
"I haven't got to go out and I haven’t got to swipe. So, hopefully they can just come to me now!"
Paige says she will bring lots of "positive and bubbly" energy when she heads into the villa on Monday, June 6. She added: "I am a good cook and I'm quite mumsy so I’ll look after anyone that needs looking after.
"If I had to pick a signature dish, it would probably be a Sunday dinner. My roasties are up there, I think Gordon Ramsay would be impressed - I think he would be like ‘9/10 or 10/10'."
Love Island starts at 9pm Monday, June 6on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox. We'll keep adding the contestants as they are announced here.
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