Love Island 2023 cast – meet the new contestants heading to the villa

Age: 28
From: Blackburn
Occupation: Fashion boutique owner

Why Love Island and why now? "It’s come at the perfect time in my life. I’m 28, I’m not getting any younger and I’ve been
single for eight months, so I feel ready to settle and find ‘the one’. I’m done with the ‘bad boys’, I just want to find my person and now is the right time."

What do you think you’ll bring to the Villa? "Definitely my northern charm with some humour, bubbliness and sass. My northern banter is going to be coming in with me. I think I’ll spice things up a bit, I’m a confident person, I can be fiery when I want to be, but I’m a girls’ girl so I know I will get on well with all of them."

Who have you got your eye on in there? "Tom, I think he’s a really down-to-earth guy and he’s family-orientated like me. Casey’s very good-looking, his eyes are gorgeous, and he seems like a down-to-earth genuine guy, too. However, I’m very open-minded; I could like any of them."

Age: 26
From: Tring
Occupation: Recruitment consultant

Why Love Island and why now? "I feel like now is the time to settle down and find a girlfriend. I've always said I want to be married with kids by the time I'm 30. I'm 26, so we are getting there!"

What do you think you'll bring to the villa? "I'll be the cheekiest boy in [the] villa. I can definitely see myself kissing a lot of the girls in there! So I guess, lots of entertainment and lots of drama!"

Why would you say you're single? "I came out of a serious relationship a year ago and I haven't really been looking for anything for the last year but after lots of fun, I've realised that now I want to settle down and find something real."

Who have you got your eye on and why? "There's honestly so many I have my eye on…"

Age: 22
From: London
Occupation: Senior estate agent coordinator

Why Love Island and why now? "All my single friends are starting to settle down, so whenever I suggest a girls' trip, everyone's staying in with their boyfriends. I want someone to do that with, too!"

What do you think you'll bring to the Villa? "Honesty. I'm a really honest person and I have no filter. I won't take rubbish from anyone, especially when it comes to guys!"

What's your 'elevator pitch' for why someone should want to date you? "I'm fun and I'm fit! I've got to back myself or no one else will!"

Age: 25
From: Norwich
Occupation: Business development executive at a law firm

Why Love Island and why now? "I’ve been single for three years and the roster is pretty dry, it's been dry for the last year, I don't know what happened, it's just not been a great time for me so I'm ready to find my husband."

What do you think you'll bring to the Villa? "I'll bring drama, fun and a bit of unpredictability."

What's your 'elevator pitch' for why someone should want to date you? "I'm fun, caring, smart and know how to have a good time. I feel like I'm the whole package; I'm flirty, forward and very confident."

Why would you say you're single? "I'm single because I fall in love really quick, but I fall out of it just as quickly. I could literally fall in love with a chair and then a week later be like: "Oh wait, no, that's a chair...' I fall in love quickly because I build up a character of someone in my head and then they breathe in the wrong direction and I'm like: 'Next!'."

How would friends/family describe you? "Super caring and kind but also a little bit of a liability, but in a fun way. 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."

Age: 26
From: From Tasmania, lives in Sydney
Occupation: Personal trainer and influencer

Previously, Jessie was a contestant on series 2 of Love Island Australia.

Why UK Love Island and why now? I'm single and have been for quite some time! I'm very lucky to live the life I lead, but it does get a bit lonely. 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!

What are you going to bring to the Love Island UK series? I definitely will be bringing energy to Love Island. There won't be a quiet moment. I'm going to bring those good vibes.

How would your friends and family describe you? A little bit of a wild child, if there's something I want to do I will go and do it, no matter how many times I'm told not to. I am very much the 'fun friend'.

Why would you say you're single? I probably do need to take a little responsibility – I do travel and move around a lot. When it comes to a relationship, I think I get scared. If there's someone I genuinely like, for some reason I back away or I start telling myself they're too good for me. I always end up doing the opposite of what I should be doing, so in the villa, I'll have to face those emotions.

Why did you and Todd, who you met on Love Island Australia, split up? I'd been on the show for quite some time before he came on, so I feel like the relationship was slightly unbalanced in that way – he knew a lot more about me than I knew about him. When we got out of the villa I thought everything was great and fun, however I just don't think we were both on the same page.

What Australian dating tactics will you bring to the Villa? With Aussies, what you see is what you get. I'm going to go in very raw, don't overthink things, and take things as they come – the laid-back Aussie attitude. Anything that doesn't go right, it'll just be like, 'Oh well...'

Age: 25
From: Melbourne
Occupation: Model and Content Creator

Previously, Aaron appeared on Love Island Australia series 3.

Why Love Island UK and why now? It was divine timing, I think it is the perfect opportunity for me to finally meet someone.

What do you think you'll bring to the Villa? Besides being an Aussie, I'm different to most because I have a sense of awareness of who I am and what I'm looking for. When I'm talking to girls it's not on a surface level, I can dive deeper to try and build a connection.

What's your 'elevator pitch' for why someone should want to date you? I'm loyal, honest, great at communication and self-awareness so when it comes to dealing with obstacles and adversity in a relationship, I'm able to talk openly about how I feel to try and work around things. 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!

What did you learn from your last series that you will take into this one? In terms of dating, I've learnt that it's not always what meets the eye. Attraction is one thing, but making a connection and being able to build something with somebody is another. When I was in the Love Island Australia villa, I didn't open myself up to other opportunities that I could've possibly had. This time round I want to be testing the waters by being open-minded and giving everyone a chance. In terms of my experience in the previous villa, I went in there wanting to be myself and I can truly say I felt comfortable in myself in every way so I’d never change it.

Age: 25
From: London
Occupation: Model and Property Developer

Why would you say you're single? "I have very high standards because of the industry I'm in but also because of my family. My parents have a great relationship, I've got an amazing mother and father and I know what works in a relationship."

What do you think you'll bring to the Villa? "Sass, vibes and good energy. I'm a massive hype girl, I'm very complimentary so I hope to keep the vibes up in the Villa. I'll also bring spice, I'm a bit different and I don't think there's anyone in there that's like me so I reckon I'll keep things interesting."

What gives you the 'ick'? "Players and if someone's boring and doesn't have any aspirations or ambition. Also guys
that aren't into their fitness and health."

Age: 23
From: Barnsley
Occupation: Semi-Pro Footballer

Why Love Island and why now? "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. "

What do you think you'll bring to the Villa? "I'm a good laugh, a good vibe. I'm not snakey, I don't like that kind of stuff. If I've got an issue with someone I'll speak to them."

Why would you say you’re single? "Since my ex-girlfriend, no-one's really come to me and I've thought, 'Wow'. Until I have that, I'm not really going to settle for less. Not in a bad way, but the next person I get with, I want to marry."

Age: 22
From: Liverpool
Occupation: Student (biomedical science) and influencer

Why Love Island and why now? "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."

What gives you the 'ick'? "Guys that don't wear socks in the house. Why are your feet flapping all around the house? Guys have huge feet too, yuck. Also, guys in the bathtub with no bubbles, such an ick, no."

Tell us something not many people know about you? "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."

Age: 24
From: Manchester
Occupation: Science and PE teacher

Why would you say you're single? "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."

How would friends or family describe you? "Chilled, caring, very impulsive and a good guy. I always put my friends and family first and spend a lot of time with them."

Tell us something not many people know about you? "I'm a Jamaican citizen. Because of that I played rugby 7s for Jamaica. I play semi-professional rugby now for Burnage RFC. I've technically got three different degrees and went to three different unis."

Age: 25
From: Luton
Occupation: Makeup artist

What gives you the 'ick'? "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. That's a really big red flag for me! Also if I see a guy trip over, that's an instant turn off."

Do you fall in love quickly? "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."

What's your claim to fame? "In my work as a make-up artist I've worked with lots of celebrities. Also, when I was 6 years old I used to live in Spain and I was in an episode of Benidorm as an extra."

Age: 25
From: Essex
Occupation: Financial advisor

What do you think you'll bring to the villa? "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."

Tell us something not many people know about you? "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."

What's your 'elevator pitch' for why someone should want to date you? "I'm the most genuine person you'll meet. I'm genuine, caring and I'm a nice person - which you don't find these days."

Age: 20
From: Swansea
Occupation: Payroll administrator

Why Love Island and why now? "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."

What's your best – or worst – date story? "I went on a date once and I never saw him again. We went for food and shared a bottle of wine. As I was speaking to him he fell asleep! I had to clink his wine glass to wake him up."

How would friends or family describe you? "Energetic. 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."

Age: 23
From: Buckinghamshire
Occupation: Farmer

Why Love Island and why now? "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."

Tell us something not many people know about you? "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 and sets me up for a nice sleep."

Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? "Sir David Attenborough. Imagine hearing his calming voice talking while he’s feeding the animals, his top off, some short shorts… he would rock it."

Age: 26
From: North London
Occupation: Hair stylist

What do you think you’ll bring to the villa? "Energy and confidence. I’m funny, loud, feisty and charismatic."

What’s your ‘elevator pitch’ for why someone should want to date you? "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?"

Who is your celebrity crush? "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."

Age: 24
From: London
Occupation: Airport security officer

Why Love Island and why now? "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."

Do you fall in love quickly? "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."

Tell us something not many people know about you? "Every time I watch Dear John I cry. That’s my favourite film. Any time I’m with someone and they say, ‘Let’s watch a romantic film’, I’m like, ‘How about Dear John, how does that sound?’"