The first batch of Love Island contestants heading into the villa has been unveiled, with a quantity surveyor and DJ, a Barbados-born student and a business owner among those looking for romance this summer.
The ITV2 dating show returns on June 1, with Maya Jama back at the helm as host.
Among the hopefuls is 21-year-old Robyn from Liverpool, who describes her ideal man as “tall, fair, muscles, nice teeth, pretty boy” — though insists personality matters more.
“I’m more into personality, though, they’ve got to make me laugh, be charming and have good manners,” she said.
The quantity surveyor says finding love is her “only goal”, adding: “There may be a little bit of drama but I’m going in there for myself, so I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.
“But I would like to think I’m a girl’s girl and that I handle situations quite well. I’ve got a mature brain.”
Also entering the villa is 28-year-old Hertfordshire business owner Lorenzo, whose type is “traditionally blonde” — though his attraction criteria are unexpectedly specific.
“One feature I look at is a girl’s arms, I don’t know why,” he admitted.
“Imagine like a Jessica Alba or an Angelina Jolie kind of arm and neck, I find that very elegant. Very niche, I know!”
Student Mica, 21, who is originally from Barbados and now lives in London, says confidence is welcome — but ego is not.
“A really egotistical, cringey man? That’s not my vibe at all,” she said. “I can’t have someone who’s more into themselves than they are me. They need to be obsessed with me.”
Elsewhere in the line-up is 25-year-old detective Lola from Kent, who is drawn to intelligence.
“I like someone who is smart who can teach me things,” she said. “Even if they’re not book smart, I like someone who is actually teaching me stuff.”
Nurse Angelista, 24, from Staffordshire, says she’s looking for “a listener and a doer”.
“You can’t just be listening and not doing,” she explained. “Someone that puts actions behind words and is patient.”
Other contestants hoping to couple up include electrician Samuel, 25, from Dudley; primary school teacher Sean, 25, from Galway; videographer Ellie, 24, from West Lothian; model Samraj, 25, from Birmingham; West End performer Ope, 27, from Lincolnshire; fashion business owner Jasmine, 27, from Dubai; and property broker Aidan, 23, from Kent.
Samraj hinted he plans to play it cool in the villa. “Without sounding arrogant, in the outside world, I don’t really chase that much, I’m used to girls coming to me,” he said.
“In the beginning, I’m not going to be pushing myself out there, I’m just gonna watch and see who I like.”
Ope says he has a soft spot for Northerners “because they’ve got better craic”, while Jasmine admits she “lives for the drama” and is drawn to someone “objectively hot, really charismatic and confident”.
The final contestant unveiled for the new series of Love Island is property broker Aidan, 23, from Kent who plans on just being himself and speaking to as many people as possible.
“I don’t really see it as competition,” he said. “If someone chooses someone else over me, then it just wasn’t meant to be.
“I think everything happens for a reason, so I just stay in my own lane and let things play out.”
Love Island returns Monday, June 1 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
