Love Island 2025: Meet the contestants heading into the villa this summer

Countdown begins for the return of the hit ITV2 dating show

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The first batch of contestants heading into the Love Island villa has been announced, as ITV2 gears up for the launch of its twelfth summer series on Monday 9 June.

The 12 hopefuls have been unveiled as the countdown begins for the return of the hit dating show. With just days to go, anticipation is building as viewers prepare for another summer of sun, flirtation, and villa drama.

The new Islanders will be hoping to find a genuine connection — or at least survive a few recouplings — as they enter the Mallorca villa in pursuit of romance and the £50,000 prize.

ITV has confirmed more cast announcements will follow in the lead-up to launch night, with this year’s line-up once again promising a mix of personal trainers, influencers and bombshell energy.

Here’s everything we know about the first Islanders heading into the villa this year.

Sophie Lee, 29

Sophie Lee

ITV

The 29-year-old model from Manchester’s journey to the villa comes after a life-altering experience in her early twenties.

At 22, Sophie was working as a firebreather when a performance in the United States took a devastating turn.

During a show in Chicago, a gust from the venue’s air conditioning system blew flames back towards her face, leaving her with severe burns to her face and chest.

Following the accident, Sophie underwent a long recovery and has since rebuilt her life and career — turning to modelling, writing, and advocacy. She has penned a book about her experience and now works with the Katie Piper Foundation, supporting others living with burns and visible scars.

Ahead of her turn in the villa, she said her type is: “Someone who is fun, spontaneous, who has a lot of jokes and who is attentive. At the moment I’m only finding ones draped in red flags and ‘do not cross’ signs.”

Dejon Noel Williams, 26

Dejon Noel William

ITV

Personal trainer and semi-professional footballer Dejon, 26, has been confirmed as one of the new contestants entering the Love Island villa this summer.

Alongside his work in fitness, the 2021 Grenada national team player has built a social media following of over 11,000, thanks in part to his gym-focused posts. His Instagram bio reads: “I go beyond the gym — helping you build strength, confidence & discipline for life.”

Dejon, whose father is a former professional footballer, says growing up around the sport meant famous faces were a regular part of his childhood.

"My dad being an ex-professional footballer — I’ve met all kinds of famous people through him," he explained. "When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we’d go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I’ve met David Beckham — he was really nice."

As for who he’s hoping to meet in the villa, Dejon says he’s looking to couple up with “someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy.”

Meg Moore, 25

Meg Moore

ITV

Payroll specialist Meg Moore is heading to Mallorca in search of romance.

The blonde hopeful is hoping to find someone who ticks all her boxes. “I’d like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile," she said.

“He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with.”

Describing her current romantic status, Megan offered a tongue-in-cheek assessment: “Bankrupt, right now. But we’re going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits!”

Tommy Bradley, 22

Tommy Bradley

ITV

Landscape gardener Tommy is heading into the Love Island villa this summer with the hopes of finding someone with just the right mix of ambition and fun.

In the lead-up to the show, the newcomer has been documenting his intense training regime on Instagram, often alongside his boxer brother Jamie. When asked about his type, Tommy said: “A girl who is very ambitious, with a big personality, caring, but also someone that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. I don’t know if that’s asking for too much, but I want a bit of everything.”

He added that looks aren’t a dealbreaker: “I haven’t got a specific type in terms of looks, though.” And if he were the CEO of anything? “Taking hours to do my hair,” he joked.

Alima Gagio, 26

Alima Gagio

ITV

Scottish contestant Alima is trading her day job in finance for a summer in the Love Island villa. The 26-year-old currently works as a Wealth Management Client Services Executive. Now, she's swapping spreadsheets for sunloungers in the hope of finding her very own fairytale ending.

Asked about her ideal match, Alima said: “A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That’s it.”

Confident in her flirting skills, she believes she’d win the seal of approval from host Maya Jama.

“I think she’d hire me because I’m a good flirt,” she said. “I always ask guys on a night out to guess which country I’m originally from. If they get it right, they can get my number. But they never guess correctly, so it works really well if you don’t want to give a guy your number.

“I’m originally from Guinea Bissau. If they’re close and I really fancy them, I’ll give them my number anyway.”

Ben Holbrough, 23

Ben Holbrough

ITV

Private taxi driver Ben is joining this year’s Love Island villa in search of romance, admitting his love life needs a serious turnaround.

The 23-year-old from Gloucester stands at 6ft 2in and describes himself as someone who knows exactly what he’s looking for when it comes to coupling up.

“Someone sexy, good looking, good chat, good vibes, nice teeth and good eye contact — they’re all the traits I look for,” he said. “Oh, and also a cute smile. I just look at you and know I can be around you all day, every day.”

When asked to describe the current state of his romantic prospects, Ben didn’t hold back: “Bankrupt. I’d have been out of business a long time ago. That’s exactly why I’m here.”

Helena Ford, 29

Helena Ford

ITV

Londoner Helena is boarding the Love Island villa this summer, swapping long-haul flights for late-night chats and recouplings in Mallorca.

The cabin crew member and travel influencer is a friend of ex Islander Zara McDermott and regularly shares her globe-trotting adventures with her TikTok followers.

When asked what kind of Islander she’s hoping to couple up with, Helena didn’t hesitate: "Somebody funny or Northern.

“I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you’ll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed."

Kyle Ashman , 23

Kyle Ashman

ITV

Kyle, a 23-year-old water operative from Stafford, is among the fresh faces heading into the villa this summer.

When it comes to romance, Kyle is keeping things simple. Asked what kind of Islander he’s hoping to meet, he said: “Someone that’s fun, confident and just themselves.”

And when it comes to his flirting credentials, Kyle believes he’s got what it takes to impress — at least at first.

“I’d say I’d be hired," he said when asked if Maya Jama would keep him on based on his chat. "I just go with it, find something to compliment a girl on and go from there.”

Megan Forte Clarke, 24

Megan Forte Clarke

ITV

Dublin native Megan Forte Clarker, who now lives in Brighton is a musical theatre performer and also works as an energy broker, recently starred as one of the Ugly Sisters in a production of Cinderella.

But it’s her confident on-screen presence, Irish humour and resemblance to Love Island alum Maura Higgins that are already drawing comparisons.

When asked about her type, Megan, 24, said: “Someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they’re not bad looking, that’s always a plus.

“I love a boy that’s a bit pasty, like Timothée Chalamet. I don’t mind scrawny, or a bit of a ‘dad bod’. I’m 5ft1 so any height really.”

Blu Chegini, 26

ITV

Blu, a 26-year-old construction project manager from London, is heading into the Love Island villa for the twelfth summer series of the hit ITV2 show.

When it comes to who he’s hoping to couple up with, the Oxford Brookes University graduate said: “Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way.”

As for his flirting style, Blu is realistic — but confident. “She’d fire me,” he admitted, when asked whether host Maya Jama would hire or fire him based on his flirting alone. “But I’ve got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting!”

Shakira Khan, 22

ITV

22-year-old Shakira from Manchester is gearing up to swap jet-setting for dating in Mallorca.

Currently living in Burnley and working in marketing, Shakira has built an Instagram presence showcasing her love of travel — with sun-soaked snaps from destinations including Haiti, Dubai and New York.

Asked about her ideal match, she said: “Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny.”

And how would she describe the state of her love life? “Booming… but they’re all frogs,” she admitted. “It’s a busy love life but I’ve not found ‘the husband’. I’m looking for ‘the one’. I’m looking for the ring.”

Harry Cooksley, 30

ITV

Harry, a 30-year-old gold trader, model and semi-professional footballer, is stepping into the Love Island villa with a CV as varied as his talents.

The midfielder, who plays for Farnham Town, has earned the nickname The Surrey Zidane from fans thanks to his skill on the pitch. But it’s not just football that’s put him in front of the camera — Harry also works as a body double for England international Declan Rice.

“I’m the body double for Declan Rice,” he revealed. “So when he does a shoot, any body close-ups will actually be me. You’ll never see my face, but you’ll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing.”

When it comes to who he’s hoping to meet in the villa, Harry says he’s drawn to someone who stands out for the right reasons.

“The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me,” he said. “I don’t think I’d go for the most obvious girl — I like a real sweet girl.”

Love Island series 12 returns on Monday, June 9 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

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