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Love Island UK returned for its summer 2025 season on Sunday, 9 June, with a fresh group of contestants stepping into the iconic Mallorca villa in search of love. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the ITV2 reality dating series promises a summer of romantic highs, dramatic twists, and intense villa dynamics.
Among the 13 new Islanders is Shakira Khan, a 22-year-old from Burnley, Lancashire. Shakira is one of the youngest contestants this season, entering the villa alongside fellow 22-year-old Islander Tommy Bradley.
She works in marketing but also models and travels extensively, often posting updates from international locations on Instagram. Her arrival has already drawn attention, as she faces potential elimination in the next episode.
Everything the Love Island UK fans need to know about Shakira
Shakira Khan is 22 years old and currently works in marketing. While she is based in Burnley, Lancashire, she spends a significant amount of time travelling for her modelling work.
Her Instagram account, @shakirakhan16, features just over 15,000 followers after her appearance on the show. The account showcases her jet-setting lifestyle, with recent posts from places like Dubai, Turkey, Haiti, and Mexico.
Speaking about her relationship goals ahead of entering Love Island UK, Shakira said she was looking for someone charming and funny. She specified:
“Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny.”
She also commented on her dating experiences so far, saying:
“They’re all frogs. It’s a busy love life but I’ve not found ‘the husband’. I’m looking for ‘the one’. I’m looking for the ring.”
Shakira made it clear that certain traits are immediate dealbreakers. She said she can’t tolerate poor hygiene, especially bad breath, and specifically mentioned that garlic or onion breath on a date is an absolute turnoff. Despite being new to reality television, she didn’t hold back in describing her personality, stating:
“I could argue with a brick wall. If arguing was an Olympic sport, I'd have a gold medal. I will argue in your face just until I have no breath left. I'm stubborn.”
Shakira Khan’s Love Island UK journey begins with a twist
In the premiere episode of Love Island UK on 9 June, Shakira Khan participated in the opening twist, where couples were matched not based on first impressions or appearance but on dating profiles. Host Maya Jama introduced the change by saying:
“This year things are slightly different. You’ve told me what your type on paper is, but does that match your ideal man in reality?”
During the twist, each girl had to choose one of six dating profiles printed on heart-shaped cards—without knowing who they belonged to. When it was Shakira’s turn, she chose the profile of Ben, a taxi driver who introduced himself with the line: “No I’m not a catfish.”
Describing himself, Ben said: “My love life is a shambles, social media has ruined everything,” adding that while he frequently meets attractive women, he hasn’t had much luck with love.
Shakira, who works as a children’s entertainer in addition to her marketing role, had earlier stated that while looks matter to some extent, “he’s got to have the chat.” Initially, the pair appeared compatible, but the situation quickly changed by the end of the night.
A major twist followed when Maya Jama returned to the villa with a bombshell contestant. Toni, who arrived from the United States, said she was “tired of American boys” and was now looking for a connection in the Love Island UK villa.
Jama informed Toni that she could select any of the male contestants, including those already coupled up. Toni chose Ben, which left Shakira single and at immediate risk of being dumped.
Jama then gave Shakira a lifeline, telling her she had 24 hours to form a connection with one of the remaining boys or she would be sent home. This sudden development placed Shakira in a precarious position on her very first night in Love Island UK.
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Love Island UK continues on ITV2 at 9 pm BST on Tuesday, 10 June.
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