Meet the stars of Love Island 2023: Biomedical science student Tanya Manhenga, PE teacher Kai Fagan and makeup artist Lana Jenkins are confirmed as first Islanders
A Liverpudlian student and a PE teacher have been confirmed as the first singletons heading to the Love Island villa for the upcoming winter series.
Tanya Manhenga, 22, a biomedical science student and model, is preparing to move into the luxury South Africa villa for the launch of the new series on January 16, it was confirmed on Monday.
Science and P.E. teacher Kai Fagan, 24, from Manchester was announced as the second singleton before makeup artist Lana Jenkins, 25, from Luton was unveiled as the third.
Islander: Boohoo model and student Tanya Manhenga has been confirmed as the first singleton heading to the Love Island villa for the upcoming winter series
Alongside her degree, Tanya has worked with brands including Boohoo and she is already represented by the talent agency Muse. She boasts 14.2k followers on Instagram.
Tanya revealed that she’s excited to raise awareness of her condition, vitiligo, explaining it’s ‘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.’
She added that she’s 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.’
Single and ready to mingle: Science and P.E. teacher Kai Fagan, 24, from Manchester was announced as the second singleton
Singleton: Tanya revealed that she’s excited to raise awareness of her condition, vitiligo, explaining it’s ‘a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it’
As for what gives her the ‘ick’? Tanya has very specific turn-offs, exclaiming: ‘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.
Kai meanwhile says he’s ‘single by choice’ but is ‘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,’ he adds.
Looking for love: She added that she’s 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’
Ready for some winter sun: Tanya has worked with brands including Boohoo and she is already represented by the talent agency Muse. She boasts 14.2k followers on Instagram
He says friends and family would describe him as ‘chilled, caring, very impulsive and a good guy. I always put my friends and family first and spend a lot of time with them.’
Kai is a Jamaican citizen, revealing he played rugby 7s for Jamaica while he still plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC.
As well as his sporting talents he says he ‘technically has three different degrees and went to three different unis.’
Ready for a lesson in love: Teacher Kai says he’s ‘single by choice’ but is ‘looking for the right girl’
Sporty: Kai is a Jamaican citizen, revealing he played rugby 7s for Jamaica while he still plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC
Makeup artist Lana has her own claim to fame, revealing she appeared in an episode of TV comedy Benidorm when she was six-years-old and living in Spain, while nowadays her work as a makeup artist sees her working with ‘lots of celebrities’.
The 25-year-old also reveals that she falls in love quickly, explaining: ‘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.’
As for what gives her the ick, it’s over-enthusiastic texters.
‘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 insists.
Headed to the villa: Makeup artist Lana Jenkins, 25, from Luton was unveiled as the third hopeful looking for love
On the lookout for love: Lana has her own claim to fame, revealing she appeared in an episode of TV comedy Benidorm when she was six-years-old and living in Spain
‘That’s a really big red flag for me! Also if I see a guy trip over, that’s an instant turn off.’
The ninth series of Love Island will be hosted for the first time by Maya Jama, after Laura Whitmore stepped down from the position following former presenter Caroline Flack’s tragic death in 2020.
In an interview with over the weekend Maya revealed she did not have to audition to present Love Island and accepted the hosting gig straight away.
She told The Times: ‘Once you start doing TV, you meet a lot of producers, through different shows, and the heads will be aware of talent . . . That’s weird, to call yourself talent, isn’t it? I talk for a living. It’s not exactly tap dancing everywhere or performing a ballad.’
Stunning: As for what gives her the ick, it’s over-enthusiastic texters. ‘If you send me question marks if I’ve not replied to you in a while, you’re gone,’ she insists
The one: The 25-year-old also reveals that she falls in love quickly, explaining: ‘I’ll probably tell them I love them in about a week’
‘So I think I’ve always been in their eye line, but I was super young when the presenter shifts were happening in the past.’
The presenter was having some time off when she got the call about the Love Island gig, explaining: ‘I got the phone call saying, “we wanna meet you.” Or, they offered it to me straight away? Or “They’re in discussions’? I’m trying to think! Anyway, I didn’t have to audition.”’
When asked if she said yes immediately, Maya exclaimed: ‘Straight away! Of course! Golden ticket.’
Record-breaking viewing figures saw the last series of Love Island, which aired in summer 2022, become the most-watched series ever on ITV Hub, amassing over 269 million streams.
The debut winter series aired in January 2020 – shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic – and was won by Paige Turley and Finn Tapp.
Plans for a second winter series were shelved in 2021 amid concerns surrounding the pandemic.
Paul Mortimer, Director of Reality Commissioning and Controller, ITV2, said ‘Love Island has once again proved itself to be the nation’s favourite talking point across the summer, and we’re always blown away by the show’s ongoing impact and talkability amongst our younger audience.
New recruit: The ninth series of Love Island will be hosted for the first time by Maya Jama , after Laura Whitmore stepped down from the position last year
New home: The new supersized luxury eco-retreat villa boasts stunning mountain views and is nestled away in a ‘protected area’ in the heart of the Franschhoek wine valley
‘So, rather than just serving up a Summer of Love, we thought we’d make 2023 the Year of Love with two full series of the show.’
The new supersized luxury eco-retreat villa boasts stunning mountain views and is nestled away in a ‘protected area’ in the heart of the Franschhoek wine valley in South Africa’s ‘millionaire row’.
The villa is the biggest one yet of all the series, boasting a giant pool and surrounded by palm trees and typic]ally costs around £430 per night to stay in per room.
It is is also environmentally friendly, with the estate having 100 percent off-the-grid status which allows it to generate its own electricity, water and numerous food sources.
In a new move for 2023, the ITV2 dating show has enforced a new social media ban while contestants are inside the villa.
Love Island duty of care protocols in full – ahead of 2023 series
The full duty of care process is outlined below:
Pre Filming and Filming
– Registered mental health professional engaged throughout the whole series – from pre-filming to aftercare.
– Thorough pre-filming psychological and medical assessments including assessments by an independent doctor, psychological consultant and reports from each Islander’s own GP to check medical history.
– Potential Islanders are required to fully disclose in confidence any medical history that would be relevant to their inclusion in the Villa and the production’s ability to provide a suitable environment for them.
– Managing cast expectations: detailed explanations both verbally and in writing of the implications, both positive and negative, of taking part in the series are given to potential cast members throughout the casting process and reinforced within the contract so it is clear.
– Cast are told they should consider all the potential implications of taking part in the show and work through this decision-making process in consultation with their family and those closest to them, to ensure they feel it is right for them.
– Senior Team on the ground have received training in Mental Health First Aid.
– A welfare team solely dedicated to the Islanders both during the show and after.
Aftercare
– Bespoke training on dealing with social media and advice on finance and adjusting to life back home.
– A minimum of eight therapy sessions will be offered to each Islander when they return home.
– Proactive contact with Islanders for a period of 14 months after the series in which they have appeared has ended, with additional help provided where applicable.
– We encourage Islanders to secure management to represent them after the show and manage them should they choose to take part in other TV shows, advertising campaigns or other public appearance opportunities.
Updating their duty of care policy, Love Island bosses have banned Islanders’ social media activity during the show and will give enhanced training around behaviour in relationships after a controversial summer series.
In previous seasons, families and friends have been appointed to man islanders’ social media accounts – often posting on their behalf.
But now ITV have said a comprehensive package of welfare measures remain in place for programme contributors to ensure stars are fully supported before, during and after the filming period.
As part of extended measures to protect both the Islanders and their families from ‘the adverse effects of social media’, participants will be asked to pause handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.
LOVE ISLAND 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Tanya Manhenga
Name: Tanya Manhenga
Age: 22
Location: Liverpool
Occupation: Student and model
Something not many people know about her: ‘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.’
Lana Jenkins
Name: Lana Jenkins
Age: 25
Location: Luton
Occupation: Makeup artist
Something not many people know about her: ‘In my work as a makeup 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.’
Kai Fagan
Name: Kai Fagan
Age: 24
Location: Manchester
Occupation: Science and PE teacher
Something not many people know about him: ‘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.’
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