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Meet Every Islander who Enters the Winter "Love Island" 2023 Villa

24/02/2023 - 04:35 PM

We need to pull you for a chat . . . because we have the lowdown on all the Islanders entering this year's winter "Love Island" [1]. As much as we hate to admit it, the cast have been dominating our conversations since the launch date in Jan., so we might as well get to know them all a little better — including the two new bombshells ready to turn heads.

The original Islanders included the first ever blind contestant, a body double for Emma Watson, and a bombshell footballer who entered just a few hours after the first 10 singletons stepped inside the South African villa. And as more bombshells are added to the mix, we'll be keeping on top of the who's who of the "Love Island" 2023 cast.

Also in a first for this year, ITV has announced new duty of care measures [2] to support the Islanders and protect their mental health, following years of criticism that they haven't been given the necessary resources. This includes enhanced training on behaviour in relationships and pausing all social media activity for the duration they are on the show. Following the ableist abuse Tasha Ghouri received [3] on social media last summer, and the death threats endured by Luca Bish's family [4], this can only be a positive step.

Series 9 of the reality show, and the second ever winter edition, is hosted for the first time by Maya Jama [5], who has taken over from Laura Whitmore [6]. After just the first episode, jokes were circulating on social media about Jama's "Love Island" looks [7] and slo-mo entrance, with one fan tweeting [8]: "Is Maya Jama allowed to win?"

Now, we don't want to tempt fate, but winter "Love Island" has a successful track record so far. Paige Turley and Finn Tapp won the 2020 series, which aired just before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the couple are still together [9]. Will this series bring just as much romance? And which couple will take the crown from 2022 winners [10], Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu [11] and Davide Sanclimenti? Only time will tell. In the meantime, take a look at the winter "Love Island" 2023 cast.

"Love Island" continues at 9 p.m. on ITV2 and ITVX.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Rosie Seabrook

The 24-year-old Industry Placement Advisro from Buckinghamshire has a tough job on her hands to turn heads at this stage, but she's up for the challenge. While she has her eyes on Kai, Casey, and Tom, she says she loves male attention. She also has a slightly odd phobia. "I have a really bad phobia of frozen food, I can't touch frozen food," she admits. "I can't go anywhere near the freezer. If my mum jam packs the freezer and I have to try and get something out that I need, I just can't... I have to ask someone else to get it out for me."

She caught the eye of Casey (while he was coupled up with Claudia), and ultimately stole his heart. The pair were voted out in the final week.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Keanan Brand

Brand is a professional rugby player from Wigan and says he has the "gift of the gab". "Samie is my number one, if I could draw my perfect girl based on looks it would be her," the 24-year-old says. "I think she's looking for someone that is cheeky and confident, and that's me! May the best man win. Jessie is also up there, I know she's with Will but I think me and her will get on well."

Keanan's time in the villa never truly got going and he was chosen to leave by Olivia and Maxwell after failing to find a romantic connection.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Sammy James

James is a beauty buyer from Leicester, but lives in Dubai, and the 27-year-old is not messing around when it comes to finding love. "I've got my eye on Casey. He's my number one, he's cheeky! His blue eyes remind me of the ocean and I love the ocean; it makes me feel calm and connected. That's the way he's probably going to make me feel," She says. "I also like the fact that he looks a little bit like Bradley Cooper [12] who is definitely my celebrity crush! And then Tom - for the eye contact!"

James didn't make it past the Casa Amor stage and was dumped from the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Cynthia Otseh-Taiwo

She's a dental receptionist and baker from London. Otseh-Taiwo considers herself a girls girl, but only to those that she has a friendship with. "Tom is the kind of guy I'd go for on the outside and Will looks like my exes!" the 25-year-old says.

Despite kissing Casey, Otseh-Taiwo wasn't chosen to stay past the Casa Amor section of the show.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Sanam Harrinanan

The social worker, 24, from Bedford has her eye on Kai. "Job wise I think that we'd connect a lot and I think he's cute!" she says. "Tom, I love his beard! He's not my usual type, but there's something about him that attracts me physically. Casey, he doesn't seem that serious and I think you could have fun and banter with him."

Harrinanan got her wish and is coupled up with Kai. The pair made it to the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Lynda Flix

Flix is a healthcare assistant and singer from Salford, and confesses she always fills the silence by busting out a tune. The 22-year-old has high hopes for Kai and Shaq. "They're both tall, dark and handsome. Tom too, I like his eyes and they seem to be doing something for the girls, I want to experience that," she says.

Flix didn't make it past the Casa Amor stage.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Lydia Karakyriakou

The way to Karakyriakou's heart is through carbs! The retail assistant from Glasgow says a bowl of pasta makes her happy, and she is hoping Casey will make one for her. "I love his personality. After seeing the way he spoke with Lana about their situation, I thought he was really upfront. I respect that he didn't beat around the bush and was honest
about the way he felt," the 22-year-old explains.

Karakyriakou shared a cheeky kiss with Tom, but it wasn't meant to be and she was dumped from the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Layla Al-Momani

Al-Momani thinks she'll be a "standout Islander". The brand managing director 28, from London also reveals she has a famous ex who has written songs about her, but has her eye on a couple of Islanders. "Ron! He's cheeky and he's like a lad. I really fancy Will, too. My type is Louis Theroux and he just gives that vibe. I also fancy Shaq, but he seems to be unavailable!" she says.

Al-Momani caused fireworks when she kissed farmer Will, but was left single in the recoupling and dumped from the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Maxwell Samuda

Samuda, 23, is a finance student and restaurant host from London so he might have served up the girls some better meals than they had last week! His sights are set on Samie. "She keeps it real and she seems like she's not afraid to speak her mind," he says.

Samuda might have had an eye on Samie, but he found a connection with Olivia and the two coupled up post-Casa Amor. However, the couple were voted out by the public.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Kain Reed

Reed, 21, loves a challenge so is ready to get grafting. "If I had my choice it would be Samie, as soon as I start talking to her I think there's a good chance it could happen," the ebergy consultant from Newcastle says. "I also like Lana, she's obviously coupled up, but in Casa Amor the other boys aren't there so we'll have to see what happens won't we?!"

Reed wasn't kept on past Casa Amor, despite grafting with the girls.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Ryan Weekley

"I'm repping for the gingers!" says the 22-year-old steel erector from Nottingham. He's also looking at Samie as a potential love interest, so it looks as though there's going to be some Casa Amor competition.

It looked like Weekley was getting close to Samie, but it didn't work out and he was dumped from the Island.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Martin Akinola

Akinola, 27, is keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to which girls he'll be chasing, but he's got some good advice from his friend and "Love Island" alum Dami Hope from the 2022 series. "He said, 'Do your thing, be yourself and everyone else will get to know you, and get to see why we're friends.' He was saying, 'You tell the boys on a night out, "This is how to talk to a girl", now go and show them how it's done.' I was like, I can do that!" the software engineer from Dublin says.

Akinola saw sparks fly with Tanya, and the two recoupled post Casa Amor. After a very fiery few days, with Tanya caught in her feelings with Shaq, he was left single and dumped from the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Frankie Davey

The pro boxer from Ipswich has his eye on two girls, but one is mysteriously harder to pursue. The 22-year-old's worst habit? "A bad habit my dad told me I have is I can never pass a mirror without looking in it...," he jokes.

Davey was dumped after he failed to make a connection with the girls in Casa Amor.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Casa Amor: Bayley Mummery

Another Samie fan, Mummery is a family-orientated operations manager from Surrey. "Samie, she's my type to a T. If you asked my mum or dad my type they would literally describe her," says the 25-year-old.

Mummery was dumped from Casa Amor after he wasn't chosen to couple up with any of the girls.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Claudia Fogarty

If you're not familiar with Claudia, you're likely to know her dad, motorcycle racer and former "I'm a Celebrity" winner, Carl Fogarty. So just what the 28-year-old's dad think about her being on the show? "He was really for it. My dad said he was really proud and to take the opportunity to find someone that's not a d***head, that's exactly what he
said to me!" the fashion boutique owner from Blackburn says. Although he did have a word of warning. "Absolutely no sex on TV he said, he hasn't really watched it before so it's going to be a bit of a shock. I just said get a blind fold on, shut your eyes, if you don't like it, turn it off."

Claudia went head-first into a couple with Casey. While he kissed a couple of girls during Casa Amor, it cemented Claudia's feelings for him . . . until Rosie arrived and he chose to focus on her. Claudia was chosen by Olivia and Maxwell to leave the villa after having no romantic connections with anyone else.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Casey O’Gorman

Tring-born O'Gorman, 26, is aiming to bring his naughty personality to the villa, claiming he'll be the "cheekiest boy" to enter. "I can definitely see myself kissing a lot of the girls in there!S o I guess [I'll be bringing] lots of entertainment and lots of drama!" the recruitment consultant says.

Case, Casey, Casey. There was Lana, then Claudia, then Casa Amor, then Rosie. After having a very busy few weeks, he left with new bombshell Rosie in the final week.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Jordan Odofin

Odofin is 6ft 5 so is set to give Tom a run for his money in the height stakes. The 28-year-old HR advisor from London is single by choice, saying, "I'm very picky in terms of what I like, if someone does something that I think is an 'ick' then I'll be off. I want to go into the villa and build a genuine connection with no distractions."

After a public vote just before Casa Amor, Odofin was voted out of the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Samie Elishi

Brunette Eilshi, 22, works in an estate agents in North London. "I'm a really honest person and I have no filter. I won't take rubbish from anyone, especially when it comes to guys!" she says. It looks like the lads will soon be put in their place.

Couple up with Tom, the pair made it to the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Ellie Spence

Spence, 25, is a business development executive at a law firm. While she was originally up for the public vote to enter the villa as the first bombshell (Tom ended up being the chosen one), the Norwich native is finally getting her chance at love. "You know when you have the mums of the group when you go out? I'm the one swinging on the chandelier refusing to go home. I'm definitely a good time girl," she says. It's likely to be wild ride for the Islanders with Spence in the villa.

Despite being in a platonic couple with Jordan, she was voted out of the villa via a public vote just before Casa Amor.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Spencer Wilks

He's a Belieber with a famous UFC cousin and Wilks, 24, thinks he is the full package. "I'm fun, I'm cool, I'm just all round husband material. If you want a husband, I'm your guy," the sex toy business owner from Bournemouth says. "I want to go travelling, I want to see the world. I'm loyal, I'm loving, I'll make you tea in the morning. I can't cook very well, that's unfortunate. I'm honest."

Despite being coupled up with Olivia, Wilks was dumped after he was in the bottom 3 boys after a public vote. The girls chose for him to leave in a double dumping.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Jessie Wynter

Two bombshells arrived at the end of week one, yet both have been on the show before. Personal trainer Wynter, 26, is from Tasmania, Australia and appeared on series 2 of the reality show down under. "All of my friends are settling down, and it's time for me to do the same. The last time I had a relationship, it was in the Love Island Australia Villa - so let's go!" she says.

Having spent the whole of her "Love Island" experience coupled up with Will (via a rocky post-Casa Amor period), the pair were voted least compatible due to their long distance homes and were dumped days before the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Aaron Waters

Having failed to find love in "Love Island Australia" series 3, Waters is putting UK women on his radar. The 25-year-old model from Melbourne says: "I think the key to any good relationship is being content in yourself and I'm very happy in myself and who I am. I'm also very good looking, obviously!"

Sadly, after finding himself in the bottom 3 boys after a public vote, the girls chose him to be dumped from the villa after he failed to find a connection with anyone.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Zara Deniz Lackenby-Brown

"My love life is a bit shambolic so it would be nice to date in a different environment as whatever I'm doing at the
minute isn't working," said the 25-year-old model and property developer from London. "I'm very loving to a fault, I am a Leo and people often think Leos are arrogant but we're just very self-assured, we love ourselves but we have the same capacity to love other people," she says. "I'm very loyal but that means I sometimes put others before myself. But this is Love Island so I'm not going to go in there and let the girls takeover."

While fireworks flew as the bombshell got caught in a love triangle with Tom and Olivia, ultimately the romance wasn't meant to be. She was left single during a recoupling that saw Tom choose Ellie, meaning Zara was dumped from the island.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: David Salako

His celebrity crush is Megan Fox [13], he can sing but doesn't have the confidence to bust a tune in public, and confesses that he follows a fair few girls on social media. "Listen, there's only one David Salako. There we go. If you're in a relationship with me it'll be nothing but good fun, vibes. I think I'm alright looking as well..." the 24-year-old money advisor from Essex said as he arrived in week one.

Sadly, Salako couldn't tempt Tanya to choose him at the recoupling, so he was the first to be kicked out of the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Tom Clare

The semi-pro footballer from Barnsley was the first bombshell to enter the villa at the end of episode one. The 23-year-old is a self-confessed "High School Musical [14]" fan, and hates it when women wear "too much" makeup, like "blue eyeshadow and stuff? Girls don't need that." He says, "I want to meet someone. It's good going out and having a laugh but I miss sharing stuff. Life's too short. These opportunities don't come around often."

Coupled up with Samie, the pair made it to the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Tanya Manhenga

The 22 year-old from Liverpool is on the lookout for a boyfriend in the villa, although she's not into men who don't wear socks in the house so lads, be warned! The biomedical science student, who also names being an influencer as her occupation, has vitiligo, a skin pigmentation condition. "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," she tells ITV.

Coupled up with Shaq (with Martin in between), the pair made it to the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Kai Fagan

"I'm single by choice. I'm looking for the right girl. I feel like I have quite high expectations," Fagan says. "I don't feel I should commit to someone unless I'm absolutely buzzing over them, because it's not fair on them." The 24-year-old science and PE teacher resides in Manchester, but is a Jamaican citizen. He plays semi-professional rugby and has three different degrees so is not one to underestimate.

After meeting Sanam during Casa Amor, the pair only had eyes for each other and made it to the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Lana Jenkins

Jenkins, 25, admits she falls in love quickly and can work out pretty quickly if she thinks a person is right for her. The makeup artist from Luton does have a couple of red flags, though. "I don't mind people texting me all the time but if you send me question marks if I've not replied to you in a while, you're gone," she says. "Also if I see a guy trip over, that's an instant turn off."

Coupled up with Ron, Lana found herself in the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Ron Hall

Essex boy Hall is heading to the villa to "have good times and make memories". On first look, you might not be able to see that the 25-year-old financial advisor is 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," he says. "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!"

Ron finally made it official with Lana and the couple got to the final.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Anna-May Robey

Self-confessed "chatterbox" Robey, 20, is on the lookout for someone who makes her laugh, especially as her mum keeps bugging her to find a boyfriend. Although the payroll administrator from Swansea did once have a date once fall asleep at the table! "I'm always running around singing and screaming," she says. "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!"

In week two, Robey was dumped from the villa after she was in the bottom three girls and the Australian bombshells chose her to leave as she was in a friendship couple with Kai.

Winter "Love Island” 2023 Cast: Will Young

No, this is not the popstar, but a 23-year-old farmer from Buckinghamshire. Young has found it difficult to juggle relationships with his work and now thinks he is "mature enough to go and find a wife". He meditates each night for around 20-25 minutes with a candle to self-reflect and set him up for sleep, although he might struggle to find a little alone time in the villa!

Will was dumped with Jessie just before the final after being voted as least compatible by his fellow Islanders.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Tanyel Revan

The 26-year-old hair stylist from London is on the lookout for a Channing Tatum [15] lookalike. "I don't like pretty boys, they give me the 'ick' because they always have a crap personality," she says. "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."

Another "Love Island" OG was kicked off before Casa Amor as Jordan was left having to choose between Ellie and Tanyel. The latter ended up leaving the villa.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Shaq Muhammad

Muhammed, 24, is a romantic at heart. The airport security officer from London is hoping to meet his "future wife" on the show. Not afraid to show his sensitive side, Muhammed is a "very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse," he says. His favourite film? "Dear John".

Shaq only had eyes for Tanya the whole series and the pair got to the final together.

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Olivia Hawkins

She's 27-years-old, but never been in a relationship and feels she's now ready to find the love of her life. Hailing from Brighton, Hawkins has already has a taste of the limelight as she works as an actress and ring girl. "I did a film with Jason Statham and had a nice 10-minute convo about life," she says. "I've been a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress in James Bond with Daniel Craig [16], and I've also been a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson [17]."

Winter "Love Island" 2023 Cast: Haris Namani

"I've never found love. I think this is the show that can help me," Namani, 21, says. The TV salesman from Doncaster
won't saying those three words too soon, though. "I've never taken a girl home, I'm not going to say I've fallen in love until I've taken them to meet my mum and dad or sisters and brother."

During a surprise public vote, Namani found himself in the bottom three boys. After the new Aussie bombshells had to choose which boy and girl to dump, Namani was the chosen one to pack his bags and go, leaving Olivia, who he was coupled up with, behind.


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