Love Island contestant Shakira has bravely opened up about her real name and the backlash she received for changing it. The 21-year-old, who hails from Surrey, shared her emotional journey during a heart-to-heart with fellow islander Joey Essex.
Shakira explained that her birth name is actually Charlotte, but she chose to go by Shakira as a tribute to her Colombian heritage. "I changed my name legally when I was 18," she revealed. "My dad's Colombian, and Shakira is a big part of my culture."
The decision, however, wasn't met with universal acceptance. "I got a lot of backlash for it," Shakira admitted. "People were saying, 'Oh, you're not really Shakira, you're just doing it for attention.' But it's my name now, and it means a lot to me."
Joey Essex, known for his own reality TV journey on The Only Way Is Essex, offered his support, saying, "At the end of the day, if that's your name, that's your name. People should respect that."
Shakira's revelation has sparked conversations among Love Island fans, with many taking to social media to defend her choice. One viewer tweeted, "Let people be who they want to be! Shakira is her name now, end of story."
The Surrey native has quickly become a fan favourite on this year's series, known for her bubbly personality and striking looks. Her openness about her name change has only endeared her further to the audience.
As Love Island continues on ITV2, viewers will be watching closely to see if Shakira finds love in the villa - and whether her name story influences her journey in the competition.
