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Meet All the Love Island 2021 Cast Entering the Villa and Casa Amor This Year

16/08/2021 - 11:20 AM

On 16 June, the return date for Love Island's summer series [1] was announced, and excitement levels ran high. ITV shared that the dating show would return on Monday 28 June, after taking a break back in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Laura Whitmore will return as the show's host, alongside the show's narrator (and Whitmore's husband [2]) Iain Stirling. Along with a string of new contestants and an impressive new villa, Love Island's iconic water bottles [3] have also been given a new look this year, upgraded with double-walled stainless steel and a sleek matte finish.

As the series is well underway now, we've had an in-depth look into the lives of the contestants and the bombshells that we'll be closely watching for the final week of the show, and they look like a fun bunch. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about this year's Islanders, including the Casa Amor contestants, and the future bombshells.

27-Year-Old Brett Staniland from Derbyshire

Brett Staniland is a 27-year-old PHD student and model from Derbyshire. He's in the villa because he's "never really had a serious relationship" and he's feeling like the odd one out of all his friends. He has an identical twin brother, and his celebrity crush is Jennifer Lopez [4]. Interesting . . .

23-Year-Old Priya Gopaldas from London

Priya Gopaldas is a 23-year-old medical student from London. She's on the show because she's nearing the end of her time at medical school and wants a new challenge. In terms of the last year, Gopaldas said that "this year in particular has been so intense because of Covid. Our studies were interrupted midway and we were all told if that we wanted to. we could help out during the pandemic so I was working in ICU for the whole of February. You would come back after every shift exhausted so there definitely wasn't any time for dating or relationships.

The NHS has been really tough in the ICU with the long hours, but I find it so rewarding and it's made me really resilient. Being here is good for me because it's something absolutely different to my job."

In terms of celebrity crushes, Gopaldas has a pretty bizarre one. "This is a very strange answer but Boris Johnson," she told ITV. "I have a soft spot for him. It's the confidence but he is a total sweetheart on the inside and that's what I like in a boy. He's the prime minister, very driven but then on the inside he's a cuddly bear. I also love his blonde hair, that does it for me!"

24-Year-Old Aaron Simpson From Kent

Aaron Simpson is a 24-year-old footballer from Kent. He's on the show because he's "got all the player stuff out of his system" and he's now ready to finally settle down.

In terms of his dating life, he told ITV that "A lot of people have an assumption of me as being a typical player, but I got all of that out of my system when I was younger and now I'm a lot more laid-back when it comes to dating. A lot of people would assume that I go on lots of dates but I'm actually quite picky when it comes to who I date. Sometimes it can be hard to know if someone is genuine or not. My mum is really protective over me. The approval is always needed from mumsy, for sure."

22-Year-Old Mary Bedford from Wakefield

Mary Bedford is a 22-year-old model from Wakefield. She's got her eye on Liam in the villa and she's alredy got a game plan sorted: "I'm definitely not one to lay it on thick. I'll just do a bit of flirting and see how it goes. That's the whole aim isn't it?"

26-Year-Old Tyler Cruickshank from Croydon

Tyler Cruickshank is a 26-year-old estate agent from Croydon. He's in the villa because he wants to "get out there in my shorts and show off my abs" (amongst other things, we hope) . . .

He's got his eye on Kaz and Faye, and is hoping to become mates with Jake because he seems really genuine.

26-Year-Old Teddy Soares from Manchester

Teddy Soares is a 26-year-old senior financial consultant from Manchester. He's in the villa because he's ready for love, and he's not afraid to step on any toes to get there. He told ITV that "I'm cuddly, caring and all my friends, when they have an issue, they call me and confide in me. I'm always that person to lean on. I think I'm going to add that element with the boys. From a girls' standpoint, they're going to have to get used to me stirring a few pots and causing a bit of a ruckus. I do think hopefully, me walking into the villa the girls will have something to look at."

26-Year-Old Kaz Kamwi from Essex

Kaz Kamwi [5] is a 26-year-old fashion blogger from Essex. She's on the show because she loves meeting new people, and she's ready for a real relationship. She told ITV that "I'm fun, dramatic, spontaneous. Friendly as well. Light-hearted. Life is a party – I'm not the mum in the group, my friends are not looking at me to look after them!"

25-Year-Old Chloe Burrows from Bicester

Chloe Burrows [6] is a 25-year-old financial services marketing exec from Bicester. After a string of "awful situationships", she's hoping that Love Island will help her to find Mr. Right. In terms of what she's looking for, Burrows told ITV that "I want someone who is really funny and caring and will do nice little things for you. And then obviously someone who you can depend on to not ditch you. Because I am quite a big character and quite loud, they would have to be [just] as loud, if not more. I could never be with someone who is quiet. Someone that gives you a bit back."

26-Year-Old Faye Winter from Devon

Faye Winter [7] is a 26-year-old lettings manager from Devon. She's on Love Island because after a year of lockdown, she's ready for new experiences (who isn't, right?). In five years, she's told ITV that she "would like my own estate agency or my own charity shop. I want someone who I can go on holidays and stuff with for the next couple of years, and have a really fun time. And then start thinking about kids and serious things in three or four years' time."

21-Year-Old Liam Reardon from Wales

Liam Reardon is a 21-year-old bricklayer from Wales. He's on Love Island because he's struggling to find a girlfriend, and currently he has his eye on Kaz and Chloe.

24-Year-Old Millie Court from Essex

Millie Court is a 24-year-old fashion buyer's administrator from Essex. She's on Love Island because "I've never done anything like this before. I just want to throw myself into it and have fun with it," and describes herself as "a very spontaneous and adventurous person. I'm always up for doing something new and challenging myself."

Her usual type in the villa is Liam, but she's also drawn to Toby and Brad, so we look forward to seeing how that ends up going . . .

22-Year-Old Toby Aromolaran from Essex

Toby Aromolaran [8] is a 22-year-old semi-pro footballer from Essex. He's never been in a relationship before, and hopes that Love Island will be the thing that gets him there. He told ITV that "I've played football since I was about six, but it's really come into a new light for the past year since I joined a team called Hashtag United. They're very social media focused. Everything is on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. Playing with them has really made me fall in love with the game again."

24-Year-Old Jake Cornish from Weston-Super-Mare

Jake Cornish [9] is a 24-year-old water engineer from Weston-Super-Mare. He's on Love Island because he's newly single, after being in a relationship for seven years, and hopes to take the opportunity by the horns.

In terms of his type, Cornish told ITV that "Looks wise, always gone for blondes. But for me, the main thing is having respect and having good fun, and someone who will be loyal to you. I've had messages from girls that have got boyfriends and husbands. This is why I don't trust anyone." His celeb crush is Billie Faiers, so hopefully he'll find someone that matches up in the villa.

21-Year-Old Liberty Poole from Birmingham

Liberty Poole [10] is a 21-year-old waitress at Nando's [11] and marketing student from Birmingham. She's taking part in this year's Love Island because she's never "had that nice, happy relationship, so I think it will be nice and something for me to experience. Obviously, I want the best summer ever because we have been in lockdown for a year, so it would be nice to go away and enjoy the sun and make friends as well."

Her usual type is a "tall, alpha male, confident, cheeky chappy sort of guy," but after some unlucky experiences with players, Poole is trying to change her ways.

24-Year-Old Dale Mehmet from Glasgow

Dale Mehmet is a 24-year-old barber from Glasgow. He's looking forward to trying something different on Love Island and said that "If I meet someone then that would be amazing. But I take everything as it comes. I'd like to meet someone I like and can move forward with, but I'll just take it as it comes."

26-Year-Old Matthew MacNabb from Belfast

Matthew MacNabb is a 26-year-old strategic marketing consultant from Belfast. He's entering the villa because he's up for an adventure and he's hoping to have some fun. MacNabb is pretty confident that he'll have to step on some toes to get what he wants, but he believes that "the guys haven't known the girls that long so it's not really a huge issue. I'm sure if they have a problem they'll approach me."

25-Year-Old Amy Day from Surrey

Amy Day is a 25-year-old performer from Surrey. In terms of dating, Day said that "I'm clearly not very good at dating myself. I'm looking forward to the experience and the potential of finding someone I might not have met," so here's hoping that the Love Island experience works its magic.

20-Year-Old Salma Naran from Dublin

Salma Naran is a 20-year-old model and influencer from Dublin. She's on Love Island to find the one, and believes that "it's the perfect atmosphere [because] you don't have the outside world distractions. It looks like time moves fast in there in a good way."

24-Year-Old Medhy Malanda from Luton

Medhy Malanda is a 24-year-old American football player and model from Luton. He's here to step on toes and is a firm believer that "It's part of the game, if you're not happy to have your toes stepped on then don't come to the show; especially when it comes to Casa Amor. I'm here for that."

24-Year-Old Harry Young from Glasgow

Harry Young is a 24-year-old car salesman from Glasgow, and he's one of the first contestants to ever enter the villa via Tinder. In terms of his game plan for the villa, he said that "People will potentially be coupled up so if you want to get what you want and or if you have a connection with somebody, you're going to have to step on toes or ruffle a few
feathers."

22-Year-Old Lillie Haynes from South Shields

Lillie Haynes is a 22-year-old trainee accountant from South shields. She's entering the villa because "I wanted to meet loads of different people that I wouldn't normally come across and date them all essentially and then pick who I like from that bunch rather than sticking with one and rolling with that. So – variation!"

23-Year-Old Clarisse Juliette from London

Clarisse Juliette is a 23-year-old brand owner from London. She's joining the Love Island cast because she's "bored of hugging my pillow . . . it's time to find a boyfriend. I feel like guys are coming in here to actually find a girlfriend as well." Fingers crossed for you, Clarisse!

21-Year-Old Lucinda Strafford from Brighton

Lucinda Strafford is a 21-year-old online fashion boutique owner from Brighton. In terms of her first impressions, she told ITV that "Liberty's a similar age to me, so I think I'll probably get along with her, she seems funny. I like Kaz, she seems really bubbly. I can tell Faye can stand up for herself, but I also quite like that about her. So I don't feel like we'll rub against each other."

25-Year-Old Sharon Gaffka from Oxford

Sharon Gaffka [12] is a 25-year-old civil servant from Oxford. Currently, she's the only single member of her friendship group and hopes that her time on Love Island will be able to change that. She's been a civil servant since the age of 18 and has recently worked on the government's Brexit policy and coronavirus response.

Despite her last partner being shorter than her, Gaffka does tend to date taller guys, so we're hoping that she'll have some height-related luck in the villa.

24-Year-Old Hugo Hammond from Hampshire

Hugo Hammond [13] is a 24-year-old P.E. teacher from Hampshire. He's on the show in the hopes that he'll have an amazing summer and be able to "put himself back out there." In terms of his work, he told ITV that "it's great to be able to pass on that enthusiasm to be physically active to the younger generation, and hopefully, they feel the same about me teaching them."

Aside from teaching P.E., Hammond has also had a pretty impressive career in cricket. "I've actually played cricket for England PD (Physical Disability). I've been to Bangladesh, Dubai — I've been everywhere to play cricket. I was born with clubfoot, and I had lots of operations when I was a kid. You can only really tell when I walk barefoot," he said.

28-Year-Old Kaila Troy from Dublin

Kaila Troy is a 28-year-old international DJ from Dublin. She describes herself as "the life of the party" and finds it hard to date because she travels so much. Here's hoping that a month-long holiday away is what she needs to find the one.

23-Year-Old Sam Jackson from Clitheroe

Sam Jackson is a 23-year-old maintenance engineer from Clitheroe. He's "had his fun" and believes that he's now ready for a real relationship, so we're looking forward to seeing how his journey in the villa goes.

26-Year-Old Jack Barlow from East Sussex

Jack Barlow is a 26-year-old racing car driver and coach from East Sussex. He joined the Love Island cast because "I've been single for about two years now. To be honest, I'm ready to meet the one. Not necessarily get married at this age but just experience life with somebody and start a new adventure. We've all been deprived of a bit of adventure over the last year."

28-Year-Old Georgia Townend from Essex

Georgia Townend is a 28-year-old marketing executive from Essex. She's on Love Island because she's been single for five years and "exhausted all other options on how to meet people." She's looking for someone with "a solid flirt to roast ratio" and in terms of her favourites in the villa, she's determined to get to know Hugo and Teddy.

27-Year-Old Abigail Rawlings from Beaconsfield

Abigail Rawlings is a 27-year-old tattoo artist from Beaconsfield. She's in the villa to find love, and doesn't care how she'll get it. In terms of her favourites, she's said that "I really like Toby - I'm going to steal him from Chloe at the first chance I have."

Aside from Toby, her celebrity crushes include Justin Bieber and Zac Efron [14]. She said that "I realised recently that the thing I was attracted to in Justin was how much he loved Hailey [Bieber]. I want someone to love me as much as he loves Hailey." Don't we all, Abigail.

28-Year-Old Andrea-Jane Bunker from Hertfordshire

Andrea-Jane Bunker is a 28-year-old hair extension technician from Hertfordshire. She's signed up for Love Island because she has had the worst luck with men. "I feel like this is the one thing I haven't tried. I thought why not? Let's give it a go", she told ITV. Bunker admitted that she's most attracted to Teddy, but Hugo and Aaron have also caught her eye.

29-Year-Old Rachel Finni from London

Rachel Finni is a 29-year-old luxury travel specialist from London. She joined the villa in episode five, just shortly after a shock re-coupling. She's always been a fan of the show, and is hoping for a "great experience" in the Love Island villa.

In terms of her ideal partner, Finni told ITV that "I don't need a man for anything. I can buy my own home and take care of myself. I just love knowing I have another person there that I'm going through life with."

23-Year-Old Chuggs Wallis from Surrey

Chuggs Wallis is a 23-year-old business owner from Surrey. His business is selling customised hats and he signed up for Love Island because he's "scared of ageing". From his first impressions, his potential matches from the villa appear to be Liberty, Faye, and Chloe.

24-Year-Old Aaron Francis from London

Aaron Francis [15] is a 24-year-old events host from London. He's been single for six or seven months now and is finding the dating scene pretty difficult to navigate post-pandemic. "Everyone's wearing masks. You can't really see anyone, which makes dating a lot harder," he told ITV.

Having worked at Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's weddings over the summer, Francis isn't phased by celebrities and just wants to meet someone who's passionate about what they're doing. "I don't like when people are doing a job just to make money and then they kind of just live for the weekend. Especially because I work on the weekends," he explained.

26-Year-Old Brad McClelland from Northumberland

Brad McClelland [16] is a 26-year-old labourer from Northumberland. He's on Love Island to date people face-to-face and spent the summer in a hot villa, of course. In terms of his work, he told ITV that "I try and make as much money as I can by doing as little as possible. They'd probably say – not lazy, as I'm energetic – I just try to get away with doing literally nothing." Can't relate . . .

22-Year-Old Shannon Singh from Scotland

Shannon Singh [17] is a 22-year-old model from Fife, Scotland. Singh previously started out as a glamour model [18] aged 18 and now works primarily on Instagram and YouTube. She's on Love Island because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and in the hopes that she'll meet a good-looking guy. Not just anyone though: "if he's a handsome hunk, but it's like talking to a brick wall and I'd rather watch paint dry, it's not going to be great," she told ITV.


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