Shakira Khan, the 23-year-old who shot to fame on the 2025 series of Love Island, is now competing on Celebrity MasterChef. She hopes to impress judges Grace Dent and Anna Haugh with her cooking skills.
Born in Burnley, Lancashire, Shakira worked in marketing and as a children's entertainer before becoming a household name on the ITV dating show. She has a background in youth theatre, having appeared in productions including Oliver, Grease and Bugsy Malone.
A New Challenge in the Kitchen
Speaking about her decision to join the show, Shakira said: "I’m always up for a challenge and I love cooking, but I’m a simple cook. I’m good but I want to go out of my comfort zone and learn ‘sick recipes’, it will be fun. I want to make my family proud and show the flavours I grew up with. I also want to prove to myself that I can improve and surprise people."
While viewers may know her for her fiery personality on Love Island, the MasterChef kitchen could reveal a different side of the star.
Love Island Journey
Shakira entered the Love Island villa as an original contestant in the show's 12th series. She quickly became a fan favourite for her outspoken personality, humour and memorable one-liners. During her time in the villa, she was romantically linked with several Islanders before eventually coupling up with Harry Cooksley.
The pair made it to the final and finished as runners-up. Their relationship continued after leaving the villa in 2025, and they have since moved in together. Their time on the show was marked by a love triangle involving fellow Islander Helena Ford, which created plenty of drama.
Beyond the Villa
Shakira has also appeared on Loose Women and Love Island: Aftersun. She became a host of Love Island: The Debrief alongside Yasmin Pettet and Toni Laites. The star is set to appear in ITV's new entertainment competition The Box, alongside celebrities including Joey Essex, Ranvir Singh, Sara Davies and Graeme Souness.
Celebrity MasterChef returns Tuesday, August 18 from 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
