Is it better to LOSE Love Island? A look back at the show's runners-up

Is it better to LOSE Love Island? A look back at the show’s runners-up who have married, had children and are still going strong… while past winners have been caught up in bitter splits and slanging matches

  • Over the six past series of Love Island, four couples who finished as runners-up have stayed together 
  •  In comparison, only two of the winning couples are still together 
  • Latest Love Island news and updates from the Series 7 contestants right here

Liam Reardon and Millie Court were crowned the winners of Love Island 2021 during Monday night’s grand finale, narrowly pipping Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows to the post. 

Although Liam and Millie were tipped as the bookies favourites for series seven, Twitter fans had heavily voiced their support for the runners-up, who had been deemed the ‘underdogs’ of the season after a rocky path to romance.  

Teddy Soares and Faye Winter came in third place, while Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank were booted from the villa first, placing fourth. 

Despite missing out on the £50,000 prize and the esteemed Love Island champions title, in past series, it’s been the second placing pair who have gone on to have the longest and most successful relationships.   

Now, MailOnline looks back at the stars who lost out on the winners title but went on to be the true winners when it came to their love lives… 


Is it better to LOSE Love Island? While Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows (left) lost out to Liam Reardon and Millie Court during the series seven finale on Monday, past series show the runners-up have more chance of staying together 

Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen: Series 2, 2016 

Sweet: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen met on series two of Love Island in 2016, when Alex arrived as a bombshell, with the couple ultimately finishing in second place

Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen met on series two of Love Island in 2016, when Alex arrived as a bombshell, with the couple ultimately finishing in second place. 

The couple, aged 27 and 30, moved in together within weeks and Alex proposed during a romantic trip to New York in December after just five months of dating.  

In September 2018, Olivia and Alex tied the knot in the first-ever Love Island wedding in front of friends, family and reality TV co-stars at Gosfield Hall, in Essex.

The couple are still just as loved-up as ever, documenting their married life from their lavish £1million Essex home where they live with their two French Bulldogs Winnie and Reggie. 

The ITV2 favourites have continued to capitalise on their popularity, and have become the show’s biggest financial success story, amassing a combined £4.3million fortune since leaving the villa. 

Loved-up: In September 2018, Olivia and Alex tied the knot in the first-ever Love Island wedding in front of friends, family and reality TV co-stars at Gosfield Hall, in Essex

AND WHO DID THEY LOSE OUT TO…

Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde

Success story: Not only are series two winners Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde still together, they are married with two children

Series two winners Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde managed to avoid the Love Island winners curse and are not only still together, but married with two children.

The road to happiness hasn’t been plain sailing for the duo, however. They split less than a year after the show, despite Cara being pregnant with Nathan’s son at the time.

They reconciled, however, and got back together at Christmas 2017, a few weeks before Cara welcomed their baby, who they named Freddie-George.

They later revisited the Love Island villa and Nathan shocked Cara by asking her to marry him. They got married in a low-key ceremony in the summer of 2019. They welcomed a daughter, Delilah, in 2020.

They have also appeared on TOWIE, as have many other Love Islanders following their stint in the villa. 

The road to happiness: They split less than a year after the show, despite Cara being pregnant with Nathan’s son. They reconciled, however, and got back together at Christmas 2017, a few weeks before Cara welcomed their baby, who they named Freddie-George. They welcomed a daughter, Delilah, in 2020

Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt: Series 3, 2017 

Smitten: Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt met on series 3 of Love Island in 2017, finishing in second place

Series three saw Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt narrowly miss out on the crown, finishing in second place. 

Camilla was initially unlucky-in-love during her stint on the ITV2 dating show, after her budding romance with Jonny Mitchell came to end as he began pursuing Tyla Carr. However things turned around when she met Calvin Klein model, Jamie, who entered as a bombshell. 

In February 2019, the couple, both aged 31, moved into their own home after living at his parents’ house following their exit from the ITV2 dating show.

The following year, the pair announced they were expecting their first child together, and in October 2020 they welcomed a baby girl called Nell. 

In February, Jamie proposed to Camilla with their baby daughter wearing a personalised baby grow which read: ‘Mummy, will you marry my Daddy?’

Congratulations! In February, Jamie proposed to Camilla with their baby daughter Nell wearing a personalised baby grow which read: ‘Mummy, will you marry my Daddy?’

WHO DID THEY LOSE TO? 

Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay

Champs: Kem Cetinay was crowned as the winner of Love Island alongside Amber Davies back in 2017. They split up just five months after winning

Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies were crowned the Love Island winners back in 2017 after coupling up in the first week of the show. 

Yet despite winning the hearts of the nation, the pair didn’t work out and split up just five months after winning.

In a statement at the time they said: ‘With sadness, we’ve decided to separate. We fell in love in the villa and want to thank all the fans of the show for supporting us. Our schedules made it difficult. We’ll remain good friends.’

Kem has gone on to appear on shows such as Dancing On Ice, and will front a show with series five winner Amber Gill, focusing on mental health.

Amber has become a West End star, appearing recently in Nine To Five: The Musical alongside Louise Redknapp, working with Dolly Parton.

Kem is currently single, while Amber recently rekindled her romance with ex Nick Kyriacou.


Who are they dating? Kem is currently single, while Amber recently rekindled her romance with ex Nick Kyriacou

Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury: Series 5, 2019 

Gorgeous: Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury met on series 5 of Love Island in 2019, finishing in second place

Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury met on series 5 of Love Island in 2019, finishing in second place.

The influencer, 22, and boxer, 22, became official just weeks after their first villa date and moved in together a month after landing back in the UK in 2019.

Molly-Mae and Tommy currently rent a £1.3million flat in Cheshire as they hunt for their dream home.  

The couple have previously revealed they are ‘so excited’ for marriage and children and ‘talk about what the future holds every single day’.  

Done and dusted: Amber Gill won Love Island 2019 and the £50,000 prize money with Irish rugby player, Greg O’Shea, who was a late addition to the series

WHO DID THEY LOSE TO?

Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea

Amber Gill and Irish rugby player, Greg O’Shea were the shock winners of Love Island 2019 and the £50,000 prize money having only being coupled up for two weeks before the final.  

The couple met towards the end of the show after she was sidelined by her previous love interest, Michael Griffiths, who began dating Casa Amour newcomer Joanna Chimonides.

Greg appeared to be a true gentleman and a breath of fresh air for Amber which made him an instant fan favourite, but their romance was short-lived. Amber claimed he dumped her over the phone just weeks after winning the competition.

Greg then shunned fame after receiving death threats over the alleged text-dumping, which he passionately denies.


The honeymoon’s over: Greg appeared to be a true gentleman and a breath of fresh air for Amber which made him an instant fan favourite, but their romance was short-lived. Amber claimed he dumped her over the phone just weeks after winning

Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman: Series 6, 2020 

Lovely: Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman met on series 6 the winter edition of Love Island in 2020, finishing as runner-ups during the finale

Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman met on the first winter edition of Love Island in 2020, finishing as runner-ups during the series six finale. 

In May, just months after leaving the villa, the couple, aged 26 and 24, moved into their first flat together in a swanky new development in south west London.      

In January, the loved-up couple revealed they had welcomed a new addition into their home – a cockapoo called Nala.   

In July 2020, Luke declared marriage and kids are the couple’s ‘main priorities’ in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.    


New addition: In May, just months after leaving the villa, the couple, aged 26 and 24, moved into their first flat together in a swanky new development in south west London and in January they adopted a cockapoo called Nala

WHO DID THEY LOSE TO?

Paige Turley and Finn Tapp: Series 6, 2020

Making history: Paige Turley and Finn Tapp were crowned the winners of the show’s first winter edition

Paige Turley and Finn Tapp were crowned the winners of the show’s first winter edition. 

The Scottish singer, 23, and footballer, 21, decided to move in together into their own flat in Manchester in June 2020 after staying at her parents’ house in Scotland.  

Only recently, Finn revealed ‘there’s no question in his mind’ that he will marry Paige, he also teased that he has been thinking about proposing to his girlfriend.  


Sweet: The Scottish singer, 23, and footballer, 21, decided to move in together into their own flat in Manchester in June 2020. Only recently, Finn revealed ‘there’s no question in his mind’ that he will marry Paige

WHICH RUNNERS-UP DIDN’T GO THE DISTANCE?

Hannah Elizabeth and Jon Clark: Series 1, 2015

As seen on screen: Hannah Elizabeth and Jon Clark, both 31, made history by not only appearing on the first series of Love Island but becoming the first – and only – couple to get engaged in the villa

Hannah Elizabeth and Jon Clark, both 31, made history by not only appearing on the first series of Love Island but becoming the first – and only – couple to get engaged in the villa. 

Jon popped the question to the Playboy playmate during the declarations of love ceremony, but it wasn’t enough for the pair to be crowned the series winners, and within three months of leaving the villa, their romance fell apart.  

Jon said at the time: ‘The break-up hasn’t been good. We had arguments, there are things that happened between us, on both sides, not just mine. It just wasn’t working for us, we were arguing 24/7.’ 

Despite a bitter split, the pair left fans hoping for a reconciliation when they reunited on Love Island: What Happened Next back in October, as viewers claimed there was ‘chemistry’ and ‘unfinished business’ between the pair. 

Jon – who went on to enjoy a brief stint on TOWIE – is believed to be single, while glamour model Hannah is also single and is focused on being a mother to her son Reggie, 21 months, who she shares with her former fiancé George Andreetti. 


Back on?  Despite a bitter split, the pair left fans hoping for a reconciliation when they reunited on Love Island: What Happened Next back in October, as viewers claimed there was ‘chemistry’ and ‘unfinished business’ between the pair

WHO DID THEY LOSE TO?

Jessica Hayes and Max Morley

First winners: Jessica Hayes and Max Morley scooped the first ever Love Island winners titles after beating bookies favourites Jon and Hannah to the crown

Jessica Hayes and Max Morley scooped the first ever Love Island winners titles after beating bookies favourites Jon and Hannah to the crown. 

Despite defying the bookmakers, the pair couldn’t make it outside of the villa, and ended up splitting just 40 days after the final.    

Jess is now a mother to son Presley, two, and engaged to Dan Lawry whom she met in the spring of 2018.

Meanwhile, Max is believed to be single after pursuing romances with a fellow reality stars Zara Holland, Charlotte Crosby, and Laura Anderson. He has also appeared on Ex On The Beach.  

In fact, the first season of Love Island is the only series to have no couples left together. Although fourth place Cally Jane Beech and Luis Morrison became the first Love Island pairing to have a baby together – they ended up bitterly splitting in 2018, with Cally Jane accusing Luis of cheating on her when she was pregnant with their daughter Vienna, now four. 


Different experiences: Max has dated the likes of fellow reality star Laura Anderson [pictured left] while Jess is now a mother to son Presley, who will be two this year, and engaged to Dan Lawry whom she met in the spring of 2018 [pictured right]

Laura Anderson and Paul Knops: Series 4, 2018 

Happy ending? Laura Anderson was dubbed unlucky-in-love before meeting Paul Knops, having been ditched by both Wes Nelson and Jack Fowler during her time in the villa

Laura Anderson was dubbed unlucky-in-love before meeting Paul Knops, having been ditched by both Wes Nelson and Jack Fowler during her time in the villa. 

Despite thinking she had found The One in Paul, their romance also proved to be short-lived, with Paul dumping Laura just two months after the show ended.  

While Paul was accused of ‘faking’ his romance with Laura amid claims he had a secret girlfriend on the outside world, he insisted this wasn’t the case, claiming he had called time on their relationship because they ‘weren’t compatible’ and he is ‘looking for a wife’. 

His search seems to have been fruitless, however, is Paul is believed to be single. Meanwhile, Laura reconciled with her ex Dane Bowers this year and the pair are currently living in Dubai. Laura first dated the Another Level singer back in 2018 but they split up after six months when Dane was widely reported to have cheated on her


Loved-up: Paul is believed to be single. Meanwhile, Laura reconciled with her ex Dane Bowers this year and the pair are currently living in Dubai

WHO DID THEY LOSE TO? 

Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham 

In it for the long run? Dani Dyer – daughter of British actor Danny – and Jack Fincham were together throughout the entirety of their Love Island tenure

Dani Dyer – daughter of British actor Danny – and Jack Fincham were together throughout the entirety of their Love Island tenure before they were crowned the series four winners.

They coupled up on day one and went on to win the series, moving in together swiftly after and bagging their own reality show spin-off Jack & Dani: Life After Love Island.

The pair ended up briefly splitting four months after winning the show, but rekindled their romance, only to split again in April 2019. 

Just nine months later, Jack shocked fans when he announced he’d welcomed a baby with his ‘great friend’ Casey Ranger who he was not romantically involved with. However, Casey recently claimed that Jack had only seen his daughter ‘three times in eight months’. 

Meanwhile, Dani also welcomed a baby – son Santiago – with her former boyfriend Sammy Kimmence in January 2021. However, the pair ended up splitting in July after Sammy was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for conning two pensioners out of £34,000. 


Shock: Jack welcomed a baby with a ‘great friend’ nine months after splitting from Dani. Dani then welcomed a baby with Sammy Kimmence in January who she split from after he was jailed for conning two pensioners out of £34,000

Love Island 2021 – Meet the contestants 

Which Love Island Series 7 couples are still together? 

Where are the Love Island winners now – and what are they worth? 

When is the Love Island Finale 2021? 

Which Love Island couples are still together?  

Love Island 2021 – the contestants 

Which Love Island Series 7 couples are still together? 

Where are the Love Island winners now – and what are they worth? 

Which Love Island couples are still together?  

 

 

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