Just under two weeks after the Love Island final, a celebrity expert has mapped out the future careers of the islanders. Since leaving the villa, the couples have been enjoying a new-found life in the limelight, with several interviews and public spottings fuelling speculation.
This year saw Julia Majchrzak and Lorenzo Alessi take first place, with Jasmine Muller and Kavan Murphy coming in second. Angelista Gunda and Simba Kudyiwa were awarded third. However, the past two weeks have seen the winners come under scrutiny, with Lorenzo being called out for liking photos on bikini-clad models on Instagram. He was also said to have saved videos edits of him and Jasmine on the show, leading to some fans calling him uninterested in his current couple with blonde bombshell Julia.
PR Expert's Predictions
Now, celebrity and PR expert has mapped out the careers of the 2026 cast – but the standout star might not even be a finalist. Speaking exclusively to OLBG, celebrity PR specialist Kayley Cornelius said: "While Julia and Lorenzo may have won Love Island by a landslide, the real competition begins now because what contestants do after the villa often determines whether they become a reality TV success story or simply another former Islander.
"Lorenzo in particular has the potential to flip the usual Love Island script. Traditionally, it's the female contestants who emerge as the biggest stars and highest earners from the franchise, but he has all the ingredients needed to become one of the show's biggest male success stories. He brought something genuinely different to the villa and broke away from the typical Love Island mould at a time when Islanders have become notoriously known for feeling very similar. That's incredibly valuable because audiences remember people who stand out."
Ellie's Potential
But one star could be even more successful – and she didn't even reach the final. Kayley added: "Another star I think could be set for huge success is Ellie. While she may have missed out on the final and her share of the prize fund, she’s left the villa with a strong personal brand which is arguably far more valuable. What she did particularly well was make a name for herself outside of her couple. So many Islanders leave the show being remembered as part of a pairing, but Ellie built her own identity from the very beginning through her personality, humour and the way she carried herself.
"She also created memorable moments that helped set her apart from the crowd, and it’s those little details are often what viewers remember most, and they're exactly the sort of things that make brands take notice.
"Realistically, it's unlikely we'll see anyone replicate the scale of Molly-Mae's success overnight because what she achieved goes far beyond being a popular Love Island contestant. While we have had many strong stars, it’s important to remember that Molly-Mae is very much the exception rather than the rule, and her success came from carefully distancing herself from the reality TV label and building a business empire that stood on its own merit.
"However, when you look at the biggest success stories from the show in recent years, including the likes of Shakira, Toni, Yasmin', and now contestants such as Lorenzo, Julia and Ellie, they all have one thing in common – they have brought something different to the table and managed to stand out from the traditional Love Island stereotype."
