Fern McErlane
With the last series of Love Island behind us, it has become clear that this year’s lineup was lacking the show’s trademark Power Couple (Jake encouraging other boys to cheat? Creepy. Liberty deserves better. And we needn’t even mention Liam’s betrayal of Millie). Previous seasons have served up some much more admirable pairings, so why not take a stroll down memory lane to check up on the most successful Love Island couples?
We’ll be excluding the Winter 2020 Love Island as there are, surprisingly, far too many of its couples still together for this list. And we didn’t watch it. Enough said.
Dom Lever and Jess Shears, Season 3 (2017)
Cute couple tag: Twin flames
What’s their secret?
Dom and Jess are known for being the first couple to sleep together during this season, though it wasn’t a straightforward journey for the pair. However, despite Jess being dumped on day 17 (with Dom later coupling up with Tyla then Montana), the pair reunited after the show’s end. They’re now married with a child. Perhaps the distance and time apart sparked something real?
Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow, Season 3 (2017)
Cute couple tag: Humanitarian huns
What’s their secret?
Camilla’s time in the Villa was marked with fraught pairings, left brokenhearted by Jonny Mitchell and unsuccessfully trying for love again with Craig Lawson. Finally, a full month into this season, Jamie entered to sweep her off her feet. Outside of Love Island, they’re now seen continuing Camilla’s charity work together. Could it be that the couple that works, not plays, together, stays together? They’re also another Love Island couple to marry and have a child – their adorable daughter Nell was born October 2020.
Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey, Season 2 (2016)
Cute couple tag: Mum and dad goals
What’s their secret?
My personal favourite couple on this list. They paired up from the very first episode, Cara cracking jokes that they’d have a blast due to their shared Essex heritage. Neither even hinted at straying during this season, bickering like an old married couple – a realistic, if still idealised, relationship from the outset. It’s little surprise that after the show, they’ve since married (Nathan actually proposed to Cara in the Love Island villa, on a return visit the following year) and had two adorable children.
https://twitter.com/NathanMassey_/status/1198282505197146113?s=20
Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen, Season 2 (2016)
Cute couple tag: Problematic faves
What’s their secret?
Olivia had a rough start in the villa: spurned by Terry Walsh, secretly sleeping with best friend Rykard, then ‘mugging off’ new islander Adam herself. Even when Alex first entered the Villa, he slept first with Zara (notoriously costing her the Miss GB title). However, Alex and Olivia seemed drawn together and incredibly alike – both incredibly cheeky party animals. When they finally coupled up, it was to last – they married in 2018 and seem inseparable still, now building an Instagram-worthy home together. Maybe their relationship proves that it doesn’t always have to be opposites that attract.
5 years with you ✨ pic.twitter.com/phe6xAKgyJ
— Olivia Bowen (@OliviaDBuck) July 17, 2021
And finally, top of the list categorically has to be the unshakeable, infamous power couple…
Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, Season 5 (2019)
Cute couple tag: Loyal royalty
What’s their secret?
When Molly-Mae entered the Villa on day 4, Tommy was instantly besotted. During Casa Amor, he didn’t bat an eye at the new bombshells, preferring to sulk with Molly-Mae’s teddy Elly Belly.
It seems like many couples in the villa since have tried to replicate their romantic success (and score a sweet PLT brand deal in the process). Though they didn’t win Season 5, by Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea, their relationship is arguably a better prize. Celebrating their two-year anniversary recently, there have even been hints at an upcoming engagement. She watches his boxing matches… he supports her girlbossery… what more could you want?
Though they didn’t claim the crowns of Season 5 (won by Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea) their relationship is arguably a better prize.
Featured image courtesy of Khadeeja Yasser via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to the image.
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