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4 September 2024, 15:23 | Updated: 4 September 2024, 15:29
Here are all the Islanders that returned to pre-villa or 'normal' jobs after their Love Island stint...
Some of the biggest and most followed influencers have hailed from the Love Island machine – but what about the Islanders that went back to their original job?
Many contestants from the hit dating show go on to score massive brand deals and even launch companies of their own, whereas others have kept things a little closer to home.
While the likes of Molly-Mae Hague, Gemma Owen and Ekin-Su Culculoglu have secured massive brand deals, some have returned to their old jobs alongside their new ventures.
From doctors to actors – here are all the ex-contestants, including Dr Alex, Amber Davies and Hugo Hammond, who have gone back to their roots.
Hugo was in the seventh season of Love Island but three years later he's gone and bagged himself a "normal" job. Before the show he was a PE teacher but couldn't return to that after the show.
He announced his new job on Instagram, saying: "There we land. After a whirlwind few years consisting of teaching, TV and travel I'm excited to announce that i will be joining the @pearcroft developments investment team, where I will be continuing to build my network and driving sustainable development."
Love Island 2023 star Tanya returned to university after reaching the final of series nine.
In a Q&A with fans she was asked whether she'd return to her studies at the University of Salford and she said she'd definitely be finishing her degree in biomedical sciences.
She said: "I'm definitely going to finish... I don't start things and don't finish them."
And she did! In July 2024 she shared a picture in her cap and gown with the caption: Beauty & Sciences God is Good.
Two months after leaving Love Island Andrew admitted his plans to stay in the property industry.
In a Q&A on his YouTube channel, Andrew said: "I don't really get a lot of pressure, I'm quite a relaxed guy. I went on the show, and I know it's probably hard to believe for a lot of people, but I went on the show to find love.
"It wasn't like a job opportunity for me or anything. If I go back into a normal real estate job, I'm quite happy with it."
Andrew, who is still with girlfriend Tasha two years after the show, hasn't exactly returned to his old job but he does often give buying and renting advice, he has a highlight on his Instagram sharing his knowledge.
He and Tasha have brought their first home together which they are currently renovating. They keep fans updated with all the changes on a separate Instagram, @lepageproperties, which suggests he might be working on more homes in the future.
Gemma secured a deal with PrettyLittleThing straight after her Love Island stint but she's also continued her career in dressage and is an international rider.
In a Q&A with fans, soon after the show, she was asked if she plans to return to dressage riding and Gemma responded: "The short answer is yes, I’m definitely going to be carrying on competing.
"At the moment things are obviously still up in the air so I can’t wait to get back into a normal routine but it’s something I’ve been training in forever so I’m not going to stop.”
She's also continued to run the swimwear brand OG Beachwear which she had before the show. And now she works as an ambassador for Holland Cooper a British tailor.
Casa Amor bombshell Billy quickly returned to the job he had before entering the villa, running a roofing company. And while he still roofing, and sharing it on his socials, he is also creating football content.
He was announced that he was signed to an agency called Alpha talent in 2024 and has a focus to create more sports content as well as fashion and home renovations.
Adam Collard is a series 8 contestant who decided to return to his old job just weeks after leaving the villa.
The bombshell contestant, who dated Paige Throne, works as a personal trainer and showcases his passion for working with clients on his socials.
Adam's bio reads: I help encourage people to look good & gain more confidence than ever with zero restrictions.
Season eight's Jay Younger said he'd be returning to the office less than a month after being dumped from Love Island.
The 28-year-old revealed to The Mirror that he's back in his hometown of Edinburgh and os ready to continue his day job as an investment analyst.
He told the publication: "I don't think my life will change that much if I'm being honest. I'm going back to work on Monday and sure there's some commercial opportunities out there in the short term, but I think longer term I'll be back at work doing my thing and back to my day job."
Since leaving the villa he has also been working as an influencer under a management teem, he's worked with brands like Adidas.
Season seven’s Rachel Finni returned to hospitality after being on the show. Rachel was a luxury travel specialist before signing up for the dating show in 2021.
After forfeiting her role for a summer of love, Rachel later revealed that’s she's now working as a sales executive for luxury hotels in London.
She told her followers online: “A lot of people don’t know this, but I’ve actually gone back to working in hospitality which I’m really enjoying so far.”
“My end goal is to focus as much as I can on my career, keep doing influencing on the side and hopefully one day be a housewife with my babies," she told her fans.
Of course, we had to start with this one! The clues in the name, Dr Alex George returned to being a medical practitioner after his infamous stint on the hit dating show in 2018.
The A&E doc has been using his platform to raise awareness on mental health and during the pandemic was a source for important information.
Since leaving the famous Majorcan villa and returning to the world of medicine, he's racked up an impressive following doing good. Alex has become an influencer, a mental health advisor as well as becoming an author, he released Live Well Every Day earlier this year to rave reviews!
Go Dr Alex!
Priya was a bombshell on season seven of Love Island, entering considerably late in the run of the show – but she made an impact.
Despite her summer of love and reality TV this year, she resumed her studies as a medical student and graduated in July 2023. Her IG bio reads: full time doctor part time runner.
Did you know Amber Davies was a triple threat? Before competing in Love Island's third series in 2017 as an OG Islander, the Welsh beauty was training in musical theatre.
Since her reality TV career, her acting dreams have become a reality as she made her West End debut in 9 to 5: The Musical back in 2019.
The 27-year-old has been cast in other West End shows like Bring It On, Back To The Future and Pretty Woman.
Greg O'Shea already had many strings to his bow when he entered the fifth season of the reality series. The Irish lad was studying law as well as being a rugby player – who says you can't do it all!?
After his summer of love wrapped up in 2019 he continued working hard at his sport – he even competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics!
But once the Olympics ended, Greg announced he was retiring from the sport, revealing he wants to pursue presenting and social media opportunities, much like the rest of his fellow islanders.
Anna Vakili could be seen in the 2019 promo video for Love Island working as a pharmacist, after taking a break from the profession she decided to return to her medical background during the pandemic.
In one post to Instagram, the 34-year-old star got real about stereotypes in the workplace: "Get you a girl that can do both!!
"For all the people throughout my studies/career who told me my image didn’t suit being a pharmacist and that I couldn’t be this glam girl that liked to take sexy pictures and go to work as a healthcare professional.
"I say you can do both and be whoever and whatever you want to be in life since being true to yourself is the most important thing you can do."
Well said, Anna!
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