Winter Love Island is just around the corner. The ITV2 and ITVX series starts on Monday, January 16 at 9pm, and ahead of its launch, bosses have revealed who will be taking part in this year's show.
Hosted by Maya Jama, the new season will take place in a new luxury villa in South Africa. It is the second winter edition of the popular dating show, the first took place in 2020 before further series were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It is the show's ninth series in total, with the 2023 winter line-up being announced throughout the day on Monday, January 9. The first islander to be confirmed was biomedical science student and influencer, Tanya Manhenga.
Also taking part this year is Swansea contestant Anna-May Robey, Michelle Keegan's body double Olivia Hawkins and a farmer named Will Young.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's Love Island line-up as ITV bosses confirm 10 new faces.
Love Island 2023 line-up
Tanya Manhenga
Age: 22
From: Liverpool
Occupation: Student (biomedical science) and influencer
Speaking about her reasons for joining the show shared her Vitiligo diagnosis, Tanya said: "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."
Tanya added: "I'm 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."
Kai Fagan
Age: 24
From: Manchester
Occupation: Science and PE teacher
On why he's single, Kai said: "I'm single by choice. I’m 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."
And on how his friends and family would describe him, Kai added: "Chilled, caring, very impulsive and a good guy. I always put my friends and family first and spend a lot of time with them."
Lana Jenkins
Age: 25
From: Luton
Occupation: Makeup artist
On her claim to fame, Lana said: "In my work as a makeup artist I've worked with lots of celebrities. Also, when I was six years old I used to live in Spain and I was in an episode of Benidorm as an extra."
She added: "I fall in love quickly. 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."
Ron Hall
Age: 25
From: Essex
Occupation: Financial advisor
Asked what he'd bring to the villa, Ron said: "Fun and charisma. I just want to be naturally myself in there, have good times and make memories. I think people will enjoy my company."
He added: "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 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."
Anna-May Robey
Age: 20
From: Swansea
Occupation: Payroll administrator
Speaking about why she has joined the ninth series, which will be the second winter edition of the show, Anna-May said: "I want a boyfriend, I want to find someone who makes me laugh. 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."
Anna-May says her friends and family would describe her as "energetic" and a "chatterbox." She explained: "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." You can read more about the Swansea contestant here.
Will Young
Age: 23
From: Buckinghamshire
Occupation: Farmer
Speaking of joining the show, Will said: "Having grown up on a farm, it’s been quite difficult juggling relationships and work. 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."
On what people might not know about him, Will added: "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."
Tanyel Revan
Age: 26
From: North London
Occupation: Hair stylist
Tanyel has promised to bring energy and confidence to the villa and describes herself as "funny, loud, feisty and charismatic." She said: "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?"
On her celebrity crush, Tanyel said: "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."
Shaq Muhammad
Age: 24
From: London
Occupation: Airport security officer
On signing up for winter Love Island 2023, Shaq said: "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."
Asked whether he falls in love quickly, the 24-year-old added: "My family and friends would say I do. 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. Sometimes that can be a bad thing. I’m a very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse. "
Olivia Hawkins
Age: 27
From: Brighton
Occupation: Ring girl and actress
Olivia said she'll bring fun, vibes, and "maybe a little bit of drama" to the villa and describes herself as a "very confident, bubbly person".
The ring girl and actress has been in films with both Jason Statham and Daniel Craig and has been a body double for both Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson.
She said: "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."
On why she's joined Love Island, Olivia said: "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."
Haris Namani
Age: 21
From: Doncaster
Occupation: TV salesman
Speaking about what he'll being to the villa, Haris said: "I’m different, I’m a unique guy, the way I act; confident, not awkward, especially with the girls. I’m friendly, I’m very respectful as well.
"Anyone who meets me, I don't think they have anything bad to say about me. I don’t give them that bad impression to say, 'Oh, I don't want to speak to him again.'"
Asked why he's joined Love Island now, Haris said: "I've never found love. I think this is the show that can help me. It’s the best opportunity for me to find the girl and find the right one. I’ve obviously not found the right one myself. " For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
- Winter Love Island airdate announced as Maya Jama takes over presenting duties
- Love Island 2023 first trailer with new host Maya Jama as ITV2 counts down to start of new series
- Winter Love Island 2023: Everything you need to know about new ITV2 series with Maya Jama
- Dancing on Ice 2023: Start date, line-up and judges
- ITV Dancing on Ice's Siva Kaneswaran was a 'mess' when The Wanted bandmate Tom Parker died and praises widow
