All new Love Island 2023 series is back.
Barely three months after Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan won season 9 winter edition of the show, a new cast of boys and girls entered the Mallorca villa for the start of what could a beautiful journey of relationships and friendship.
Hosted by Maya Jama and narrated by Iain Stirling, the show began on June 5 2023 with ITV continuing their duty of care, such as asking contestants to pause their social media accounts to protect them and their families, just like was done in the winter edition.
Meet all the contestants.
Andre Furtado
Age: 21
From: Dudley, West Midlands
Occupation: Economics graduate and Entrepreneur
Instagram: @dre.furtado
Instagram followers: 21.2k (as at June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped: Day 12
Interesting facts:
André said: “I would say I fall too quickly, to be honest. When I look at beautiful ladies, before I’ve said hello to them I’ve already fallen in love. I’m already planning the wedding.”
Asked what he brings to the villa, the business owner replied: “I’m charming, I’m going to bring good looks and some language lessons. I’m going to teach the other Islanders Portuguese, Spanish and a little bit of Creole. I think I’ve got every slice of the pie.”
Mitchel Taylor
Age: 26
From: Sheffield
Occupation: Gas Engineer
Instagram: @mitcheltaylor_ TikTok: @mitchtaylor_12
Instagram followers: 36.5k (as at June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Mitchell said: “I thrive on being a gentleman,” said Mitchel. “I’ll shower you with flowers, I’ll take you on dates, I’ll fill your bedside drawer with your favourite sweets and chocolate.”
His biggest icks: “Food in your teeth and counting coins in your hand – when a girl stands at the bar counting out the coins to pay for a drink, it’s not for me!”
Ella Thomas
Age: 23
From: Glasgow
Occupation: Model
Instagram: @ellathomas_ TikTok: @3llathomas
Instagram followers: 50.2k (as at June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Ella said she knows what she wants in life and that she’s got a “big heart”, insisting that she’s “wifey material”.
She claims she catapulted into fame after appearing “in a Headie One and Burna Boy music video and I was once an extra in World War Z. I was 12 years old when I filmed it and got to meet Brad Pitt which was cool.”
Mehdi Edno
Age: 26
From: France/London
Occupation: Communications Manager
Instagram: @mehdiedno
Instagram followers: 14.3k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Mehdi says; “Looks are important but they aren’t everything, a good sense of humour and someone who is outgoing and up for an adventure is what I’m looking for.”
On how he woos girls, Mehdi said: “I simply start by speaking French, that usually gets girls interested.”
Catherine Agbaje
Age: 22
From: Dublin
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Instagram: Catherine_agbaje
Instagram followers: 36.8k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
She says friends would describe her as scribes herself as; “Someone who is fun and a loving character. They know I have so much love to give. I’m always smiling, I’m always happy, I’m always laughing…” And that smile of hers is 100% her own. “My teeth are real, people always think they are veneers! I had braces when I was younger”.
She is also proud of her degrees: “I have my undergrad and my masters in Psychology and Sociology and Real Estate,” she outlines.
George Fensom
Age: 24
From: Bedford
Occupation: Business Development Executive
Instagram: @georgefensom TikTok: @georgefensom
Instagram followers: 16.2k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped: Day 5
Interesting facts:
On what he looks for in a girl, George says: “I want them to be passionate about something, whether it’s a job or enjoying trips to the zoo on Saturdays. I prefer a girl who is naturally good looking, and someone who has even more banter than me- although I don’t believe that’s physically possible. I think those three qualities make for a perfect mix in a partner.”
He said he’s “the first person to bring the vibe up”, adding: “I’m always dancing, I’m always the one who wants to go out.”
Molly Marsh
Age: 21
From: Doncaster
Occupation: Influencer and musical theatre performer
Instagram: @mollygracemarsh TikTok: @_mollymarsh_
Instagram followers: 117k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Molly is the daughter of Coronation Street actress Janet Marsh, and have had the privelidge of visiting two Love Island villas: Majorca and South Africa.
She says: “With my job being in social media, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to go on press trips and I’ve actually been out to the Love Island Villas in Mallorca and South Africa.
“Having the experience to walk around both was amazing but to now actually live in the villa is going to be incredible.”
Molly suggests that, “I don’t go out and party and I don’t use dating apps, I’m actually quite old-fashioned, so there’s no better way to meet someone than by going into a Villa in the sun with the potential ‘one’ in there.”
Tyrique Hyde
Age: 24
From: Essex
Occupation: Semi-professional footballer
Instagram: @tyriquehyde Twitter: TyriquHyde
Instagram followers: 55.4k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Tyrique is a semi-professional footballer from Essex whose dad is the former professional footballer and coach Micah Hyde. and best friend is season 7’s Love Islander Toby Aromolaran – the pair were in the same class at school.
He is deaf in one ear, revealing; “I’m deaf in my right ear. I’ve got a tattoo next to my left one that symbolises strength and power in my good one.”
He is coupled with Ella who brought up the fact that they had met before in a Mayfair restaurant, though Tyrique could not recall.
Ruchee Gurung
Age: 24
From: Sutton
Occupation: Beautician
Instagram: @rucheewawo
Instagram followers: 49.3k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped: Day 9
Profile:
Ruchee is a beautician from Sutton who is “a relationship kind of girl, but so far it’s not worked out for me. So I’m looking forward to hopefully finding the right person in the Villa.”
Zachariah Noble
Age: 25
From: South East London
Occupation: Personal trainer and basketball player
Instagram: @zachariah_noble97 TikTok: @zachariahnoble97
Instagram followers: 18.6k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Zach says his friend would describe him as: “a lovely guy, hard-working, competitive, and confident. My friends would definitely say I’m the guy they can rely on to bring the banter.”
The basket baller who sister is DJ and I’m A Celeb star, Snoochie Shy says he signed up to Love Island because “You only grow as a person when you take yourself out of your comfort zone. Being 25, I’m at a crossroads where I’ve been having fun, but I also want to have the peace and harmony that comes from being with the right woman.’
Sammy Root
Age: 22
From: Kent
Occupation: Project Manager
Instagram: @sammyroot_ TikTok: @sammyroot_
Instagram followers: 5.7k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 4
Dumped:
Interesting fact:
Samy says the three most important things that he looks for in a partner is: “She’s gotta have a nice bum, an amazing personality and be family orientated.”
Charlotte Sumner
Age: 30
From: Bournemouth
Occupation: Dental Nurse
Instagram: charlottesummer_x
Instagram followers: 9.5k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 8
Dumped: Day 12
Interesting facts:
Charlotte decided to apply because: “Friends and family kept telling me to apply for Love Island so I thought, why not? The age I’m at and the experiences I’ve had, I feel ready to meet my Mr Right.”
Leah Taylor
Age: 27
From: Manchester
Occupation: Social Media Marketing Business Owner
Instagram: leahjtaylorr TikTok: @leahjtaylor
Instagram followers: 47.7k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 8
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Leah is best friends with Maura Higgins who was in season 5 of the show, and dated Danny Williams who was also in season 5.
Jess Harding
Age: 22
From: London
Occupation: Aesthetics beautician
Instagram: @jesshardingox TikTok: @jesshardingox
Instagram followers: 72.7k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 1
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Jess thinks she is a really good girlfriend but “…every boy is giving me the ick at the moment. I feel like it’s fate because I’m saving myself for Mr Right in the Villa!”
On why boys are giving her the ick: “when a guy stunts for money, that’s an ick. Showing off all their designer clothes because most of the time they’re probably fake anyway! Another one is when a boy runs for the train and the train goes without him. Lunch Boxes also – just go to Tesco and get a meal deal!
Whitney Adebayo
Age: 25
From: Camden, London
Occupation: Hair business owner
Instagram: whitbrownsx_
Instagram followers: 20.2k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 3
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Whitney says she joined the show to “have fun and have a lit summer”, and thinks she will bring to the show: “good vibes, I can be really silly and funny but I can also get deep. It depends on the person and the situation but I am a very adaptable person, I know how to read the room.”
Scott Van-der-Sluis
Age: 22
From: Connah’s Quay, North Wales
Occupation: Professional goalkeeper
Instagram: scottvds17 Twitter: @scottvds17
Instagram followers: 11.2k (as at 18 June 2023)
Entered: Day 3
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
The footballer was granted release from his contract with Irish Shelbourne Football club in order to pursue reality TV.
When asked why he is still single, he explained: “I’ve been single through my own choice, as well as circumstances. I’ve moved around a lot with football and I’ve been based in Dublin playing football for over a year. I’ve been single for 3-and-a-half years so it’s been a while so I’m ready and open to anything!”
Mal Nichol
Age: 25
From: London, originally from Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation: Picture researcher
Instagram: @mallurpaal TikTok: @badgorlmal
Instagram followers: 10.8k (as at 22 June 2023)
Entered: Day 16
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
Mal is a 25 year old born, Malissa on September 9 in Scotland.
She used to work for HEAT and Closer magazines. She is an ex-girlfriend of season 8’s Love Islander, Jay Younger, whom she is alledged to have date for 6 months.
Jay is famous for sneaking up to the terrace with Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu for a smooh. Ekin-Su was coupled up with Davide at the time.
Asked why she’s joining Love Island, Mal said: “Since I moved to London, having the balance of seeing friends, work and gym, it’s really difficult to date at the same time. It’s quite exhausting to date in the real world. When you strip it back to no distractions or social situations your pure focus is on people. I’m intrigued to find a connection.”
Montel McKenzie
Age: 25
From: East London
Occupation: Account Manager, Semi-pro footballer
Instagram: @montelmckenzie
Instagram followers: 5,774k (as at 22 June 2023)
Entered: Day 16
Dumped:
Interesting facts:
He, on his entry into the villa, said: “Watch your girls because the guy that gets all of the girls is coming into the Love Island villa.”
Set to find his dream woman, Montel’s eye were on Catherine Agbae, Leah Taylor and Ella Thoma.
