Montel McKenzie: More Than Just a Reality TV Star
When the name Montel McKenzie is mentioned, many immediately think of Love Island, the popular dating show that catapulted him to fame. However, spending just a few minutes in his company reveals a far more multifaceted individual than merely another reality television personality. At 28 years old, McKenzie has become a prominent figure in the Baller League, a six-a-side football tournament hailed as 'the future of football,' featuring influencers, celebrities, and former football stars. The league returns for its third season in the UK on Monday night, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
From Love Island to the Football Pitch
'After appearing on the show, you get labeled as a TV star and so forth, but if you know me, you know I am intensely focused on football,' McKenzie explained to Daily Mail Sport. 'It is something I have always strived to excel at. Being given this opportunity to be on Sky Sports, and to perform in front of all these celebrities and influencers, has helped me establish my identity as a footballer. People do not see me play at Folkestone, so the Baller League and Sky Sports on a Monday night have provided the platform to demonstrate that I do both, and both to a pretty high standard.'
McKenzie rose to prominence in 2023 when he participated in Love Island, hosted by Maya Jama, where singles are placed in a villa to find romance. Since then, he has garnered 165,000 followers on Instagram, and as his agency, Outreach Talent Group, notes on its website, he possesses a 'passion for fashion and lifestyle.' Yet, this represents only a small facet of his true character. Prior to the show, he was a semi-professional footballer, playing as a right-back for National League South side Hemel Hempstead.
Balancing Football and Fame
Nowadays, when not under the flashing lights and cameras of the Baller League, the defender's primary focus is with seventh-tier side Folkestone Invicta. However, securing a club after his stint on Love Island, including an appearance in the 2025 All-Stars installment, proved more challenging than anticipated. 'It is something that I found difficult,' McKenzie added. 'Initially, I thought it would help me because I believed there would be more eyes on me, or people would be watching out for me more. But it actually did not help me. Many managers did not sign me because they thought, "Oh, he might not be serious about football," so it kind of gives you a bad reputation in that space. Football does not really embrace the showbusiness aspect; they prefer to keep it strictly about football.'
'It is the same with people who have personalities; they do not want individuals to show the other side of themselves. That is why I think the Baller League is so excellent because you can express your personality, do your celebrations, and engage in a bit of banter. It just makes it a lot more enjoyable for the players, and more entertaining for the viewers as well.'
Baller League Experience and Personal Connections
McKenzie has participated in both seasons of the Baller League thus far, starting with YouTuber TBJZL's team, VZN FC, before moving to MVPs United—a team no longer part of the league—in the second season. At MVPs, he was coached by Jama, whom he knew well from Love Island, and Leicester City footballer Alisha Lehmann, who has since become a significant person in his life. While the tournament features unusual rules, such as long-range strikes counting as two goals, much of its appeal stems from the personnel involved, including Jama, Lehmann, and, of course, McKenzie himself.
However, the coaching setup is more complex than it appears. 'All the managers actually have a head coach alongside them as well, someone from a football background,' McKenzie continued. 'Every team is different, but they take the training sessions and are more involved with selecting the players. But the managers, obviously if you have an ex-pro, they will contribute. We had Alisha; she knows about football so she was offering her insights on how we were playing. Then if you have Maya, she is more inspirational, giving us a little team talk before the game and boosting our confidence. It was fantastic. I knew Maya already from the show, but when they provide that energy on the sideline, giving you that push, just seeing them there makes you play better.'
'Tactically, maybe not so much as they are not heavily involved. But their spirit on the sidelines was wonderful for us boys. All the managers do not want to feel like the character they are known for; they want to be a bit more serious. At the end of the day, the players are taking it seriously, so when your manager is messing around, it does not set the right tone. After season one, I said I could not play for a manager pulling stunts. I am genuinely there to win.'
Romance and Motivation on the Field
Through playing for MVPs, McKenzie developed what Love Island terms a 'strong connection' with Lehmann. The couple went public with their romance in January and have since shared multiple training videos together, with Lehmann—a Swiss international—now back in England with Leicester City after spells with Juventus and FC Como in Italy. When asked if it felt strange to be coached by his girlfriend last season, McKenzie clarified that it only enhanced his performance on the pitch.
'Throughout most of the season, we were not speaking,' McKenzie said. 'It was not like the whole season she was my girlfriend. It was more like halfway through toward the end. But definitely once we did start speaking, it made me play a lot better. Knowing that she was on the side, if I made a bad pass, I needed to get back and needed to go score. Naturally, it gives you that push, like having a family member or friend watching.'
