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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Love Island stars who went back to ‘normal’ jobs – from Lidl checkout to NHS heroes

Many Love Island contestants have admitted to going on the show to find 'fame' instead of love - but not everyone has been as successful as Molly-Mae Hague and Wes Nelson after appearing on the ITV dating show.

The popular dating show has catapulted some of the biggest influencers, singers, YouTube stars, and NHS heroes to fame.

But after dipping their toe in the world of notoriety, a lot of former Love Island stars step out of the limelight for good and go back to their 'normal jobs' after their 15 minutes of fame.

Most recently, it has emerged that Love Island 2021 star Jake Cornish has shunned the limelight for good after he decided to head back to his normal job as a water engineer - but with some dancing on the side.

Jake, 25, has unveiled his new dance business called Energee SW.

Mixing dance music with aerobics and body combat, Jake took to his personal Instagram page to encourage his followers to sign up to the weekly classes.

But Jake is not the only Love Island star who has went back to his 'normal' job.

Greg O'Shea

Greg went back to his job as a professional rugby player (Instagram)
Greg fulfilled his dreams of playing in the Olympics (gregoshea/Instagram)

Although Greg O'Shea, 26, won the ITV show in 2019 alongside Amber Gill, he always had his eyes firmly set on going back to his original job as a professional rugby player.

The handsome heartthrob was dead set on playing for Ireland in the Olympics - a dream which he fulfilled last year - and so, he turned down opportunities which other Love Island stars would have lapped up in order to further their careers as a reality TV star.

Greg, on the other hand, recently told The Mirror that 'he couldn't think of anything worse' than doing nightclub appearances and flogging products on social media to 'get ahead'.

Rather than follow fame through more reality TV appearances, the Irish star continued with a career in sport.

Greg recently launched his own online fitness brand, where he does online exercise classes with fans.

Dr Alex George

Dr Alex went back to his job in A&E after finding fame on Love Island (Dr Alex George/Instagram)
Dr Alex George worked in Lewisham Hospital throughout the pandemic (Instagram)

Dr Alex George is arguably one of the biggest success stories to ever emerge from Love Island.

The 30-year-old NHS doctor appeared on the show in 2018, but after tasting fame, he decided to go back to his medical career in Lewisham Hospital.

Since then, Alex worked as a frontline worker throughout the entire pandemic - regularly sharing inspirational updates and snippets of the harrowing realities of working in A&E while Covid-19 swept the nation.

Last year, Dr Alex was appointed as the UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador within the Department for Education by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The former Love Island star is continuing to work hard to raise awareness for suicide prevention following the tragic death of his beloved brother Llyr who took his own life at the age of 19.

Malin Andersson

Malin went back to her job as a carer after Love Island (Instagram)
Malin is currently pregnant with her second child (Malin Andersson/Instagram)

Malin - who shot to fame on Love Island in 2016 - went back to work as a carer following her stint on the ITV show.

The former reality TV star felt that it was important to do her bit as she 'has the training so can offer a hand' in her department.

After finding fame on the show, Malin continued working as a carer three or four days a week, visiting up to six elderly people a day.

The kind social media influencer offers conversation and company as well as tending to their needs.

"Once I’ve got them up, washed and dressed them, administered their medication and fed them, I mainly sit talking to them," she told The Sun.

Malin is currently pregnant with her second baby and is due to give birth any week now.

Anna Vakili

Anna, 31, returned to work as a pharmacist to help in the fight against coronavirus (DAILY MIRROR)
Anna appeared on Love Island in 2019 (ITV)

Anna Vakili also went back to work after finding fame on Love Island in 2019.

During the pandemic, Anna, 31, returned to work as a pharmacist to help in the fight against coronavirus.

She had previously quit her job to appear on the ITV2 dating show and had no intention of returning until Covid swept the nation.

On her first day back amid the pandemic, Anna took to Instagram to reveal why she made the decision to go back to her roots after she spent five long years training to become a pharmacist.

"First day back working as a Pharmacist since leaving Love Island. It’s been almost a whole year! Wow can’t believe how fast it’s gone," Anna penned.

“Wasn’t really planning on registering yet but with everything that’s going on it felt wrong not to. We can all fight this together. Stay safe. Stay home. Save lives.”

Georgia Townend

Georgia now works for Lidl (Instagram)
Georgia appeared on Love Island for 24 hours (TikTok)

Marketing executive Georgia Townend may have only appeared on Love Island for 24 hours last year - but she made quite the impression.

Georgia, 28, revealed that she went on the show to 'genuinely find love' and after setting her sights on Hugo, she was utterly disappointed to discover he wasn't who she thought he was once they met.

After she was booted from the show after just one day, Georgia revealed that she was going back to her 'normal job' in Lidl.

On her first day back to work, Georgia posted a gorgeous snap of herself posing next to a Lidl poster inside the office.

The former Love Island star said her 'quick checkout' from the villa landed her back in her favourite place.

Rachel Fenton

Rachel Fenton returned to working as an orthopaedic clinical nurse specialist (Instagram)

Rachel Fenton returned to working as an orthopaedic clinical nurse specialist after the villa.

Last year, the 29-year-old shared a photo as she received her Covid vaccine, after battling coronavirus twice.

Rachel found fame on Love Island series two.

The bombshell dated co-star Rykard Jenkins for 18 months before their split in 2017.

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