LOVE Islanders can face a lot of stick from show critics – with Piers Morgan once branding them fame-hungry “dimwits“.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll find the 2021 series cast are far from a “stupid bunch of people” with a list of strange and successful hobbies to prove it.
Gamer geek – Shannon Singh
Shannon Singh, 22, from Fife, was previously a glamour model and has since dabbled in DJing.
She joined Love Island with an already impressive following, as she makes YouTube videos – including lifestyle and fashion content.
But she revealed on Love Island that she is also a gamer “geek” who loves playing video games and livestreams them online from her own Twitch account to her thousands of followers.
During a chat with events host Aaron Francis she said: “I game, I Twitch, I play COD.
“No I actually play it like really good.”
Ultra marathon runner – Priya Gopaldas
Priya Gopaldas, 23, has found her stride in Love Island, running rings around Brett and Matthew.
In real life she has a surprise interest outside of studying medicine at UCL.
The stunner is an ultra-marathon (over 26 miles) runner and loves exercising. She regularly shares pictures of herself running, quad biking and even sky diving.
The Love Island star also enjoys travel and has spent time in Jamaica, Dubai, Tanzania and Zanzibar to name a few.
Hat maker – Chuggs Wallis
Chuggs Wallis, 23, is a philanthropist and entrepreneur who has grown a business selling hats while donating some of the proceeds to charity.
He runs a company that customise bucket hats, named Booby Buckets – named after his favourite bird found in the Galapagos.
As the bird became the brand’s mascot, Booby Buckets soon had the opportunity to partner up with the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT).
The organisation is said to “work tirelessly to protect, educate & research the Galapagos Islands and its famous inhabitants”, including the eccentric blue footed bird.
But Chuggs is also a keen rugby player and surfer buff!
Cricketer – Hugo Hammond
Hailing from the same university as Chuggs, P.E. Teacher Hugo Hammond, 24, made history as the Island’s first physically disabled contestant.
Hugo is a graduate from Oxford Brookes University and has been a sportsman for years.
The avid cricketer has played for England PD (Physical Disability).
His interesting hobby has made him quite the jet-setter too, having toured in Bangladesh and Dubai with the team.
YouTube footballer – Toby Aromolaran
Toby Aromolaran, 22, is a semi-pro footballer playing for Youtube-inspired team Hashtag United based in Pitsea, Essex.
The non-league team has a huge online following after being founded in 2016 by YouTuber Spencer Owen, originally playing exhibition games.
Hashtag United’s games were filmed and uploaded to YouTube and became very popular, helping the club build a solid fanbase.
International DJ and dancer – Kaila Troy
Kaila Troy was one of the bombshells planted in Casa Amor with plans to stir up trouble.
And she’s used to stirring up a crowd having worked as an international DJ for five years.
The Dubliner’s work takes her all around the world from the USA to the United Arab Emirates.
She’s also a dancer and has her own range of eyelashes on sale.
Luxury car lover and PHD student – Brett Staniland
Brett Staniland, 27, is a PhD student and model from Derbyshire who joined Love Island on Day 38.
As well as his interesting work life he is a luxury car enthusiast who documents his love of flashy motors on his Instagram page.
Another interesting fact about Brett is that he has an identical twin brother called Scott and the pair are “mirror twins”.
He said: “We’re mirror twins. Our hair naturally parts the other way, I’m left handed, he’s right handed, he’s left footed and I’m right footed.
“There’s some blemishes on our skin which are perfectly opposite. I’m older by two minutes.”
Guide dog boarder – Faye Winter
Love Island fans know Faye Winter‘s bark is often bigger than her bite.
She’s a softie at heart, proven by the fact she volunteers for The Guide Dogs for the Blind association.
She has taken in a number of dogs in need of homes and recently opened up about saying an emotional goodbye to sweet Flossie, who was eventually placed with a new visually-impaired owner.
She shared: “Flossie – we knew this day was coming so how is it not any easier?
“I feel honoured to of been your boarder since the 10th of February 2020, the only thing I’m grateful to this pandemic for is giving me extra time with you by my side.”
