Some of the Love Island 2025 cast already have links to fame
The Love Island season is in full swing, with Maya Jama’s summer of love gracing ITV screens.
Having previously introduced us to telly gems like Molly-Mae Hague, Maura Higgins, Amber Gill, Chris Hughes and Curtis Pritchard, the show offers contestants not just a shot at love, but also the chance to become familiar faces in British households.
However, some of the islanders already have a brush with fame prior to their Love Island adventure.
Here’s what we know…
Sophie
Despite being the first Love Islander to be booted out of the villa, Sophie didn’t need the ITV dating show to make her mark.
This inspiring influencer was already creating content and had penned her own book following a horrific accident that left her with life-altering injuries.
At 22, Sophie faced a battle for survival after a fire-breathing accident caused an air conditioning unit to blow flames back onto her face. The Manchester-based dancer has been documenting her recovery journey on social media, including sharing hospital photos post-burns.
Sophie, who has featured on various podcasts and ITV’s Lorraine, suffered the accident in 2018 and later underwent surgery for a keloid tumour on her face. She’s now a motivational speaker, collaborates with Katie Piper’s foundation, and launched her book, In My Skin, in February last year.
At the time, she opened up: “It’s been a difficult process being so open with the trauma I’ve faced and adversity I’ve had to overcome and to now be at a place of peace has not been easy.
“I hope that from sharing my experience of racial discrimination, feeling outcast throughout my life, battling depression and eventually reaching the process of surgery, it becomes a read that others find helpful in their own journeys.”
Dejon
Hailing from London, Dejon is the latest addition to Love Island’s ever-expanding roster of nepo-babies, following the likes of Dani Dyer, Gemma Owen, and Jack Keating.
The 26-year-old lad is the offspring of ex-football ace Gifton Noel-Williams, known for his stints at Watford, Stoke City, and Burnley.
Both Dejon and his younger brother Isaiah are treading the family path, playing pro football; with the Love Islander representing Bedford Town and Grenada, while his bro kicks about for Kettering Town FC.
Before stepping foot in the villa, Dejon dished on his brush with fame, saying: “My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I’ve met all kinds of famous people through him.
“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.”
When probed about the nepo-baby label, he joked: “I’m sorry, what’s a nepo baby? This is the first time I’ve ever heard of nepo baby, and this is no joke. I’ve never heard it before. The first time I’ve been called a nepo baby. I don’t know how to react!”
Helena
29-year-old cabin crew member Helena has visited places all across the globe, with her Instagram page showcasing her glamorous trips.
Along the way, she appears to have crossed paths with various celebrities, and claimed she had a connection with none other than Justin Bieber.
“I don’t know him. Basically, when I was really, really young, I used to be, like a Belieber. I was just like a little fan girl for Justin Bieber.
“So yeah, he did follow me back, but that was on my old Twitter account. It wasn’t on my actual one. So, yeah, but when, obviously, when I was about 13, I was absolutely gassed.”
Closer to home, the reality star also boasts ties to Love Island’s very own Zara McDermott. She revealed: “I do know Zara McDermott. One of my friends is her best friend, but I didn’t actually manage to speak to her before I went in, because she’s really busy with filming her documentary at the moment.”
Radio Times reports that Helena’s star-studded circle extends to Gary Lineker’s son Angus and Piers Morgan’s son Spencer.
Harry
Keeping with the footie vibe, Harry isn’t just a semi-pro footballer, model, and gold trader – he’s also the body double for England ace Declan Rice.
The 30-year-old spilled the beans: “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.”
In other snippets of lesser-known fame, landscape gardener Tommy boasted about his brother, a professional boxer who once trained with Anthony Joshua. Shakira let slip that she’s donned princess attire for children’s parties, entertaining at events for “quite a few footballers’ kids”.
Megan also shared her brush with internet fame, recounting: “Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton. Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I’ve also done Panto.”
Love Island airs weeknights from 9pm on ITV1
