Love Island 2021: The islanders in their own words as they prepare to enter the ...

Love Island's 2021 lineup has been revealed with this year's hopefuls including an OnlyFans star with footballers in her DMs, a civil servant with a history working on Brexit and an events host who has worked on a Royal Wedding. 

After the lineup was officially unveiled by bosses on Monday, the new series is set to return to screens on Monday 28th June, after last year's instalment was postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

Leading the way are OnlyFans star Shannon Singh, fashion blogger Kaz Kamwi, events planner Aaron Francis and the show's first ever disabled contestant, PE teacher Hugo Hammond. 

Alongside the hopefuls is civil servant Sharon Gaffka, Nando's waitress Liberty Poole, financial services marketing executive Chloe Burrows, semi-pro footballer Toby Aromolaran, water engineer Jake Cornish, labourer Brad McClelland and lettings manager Faye Winter.   

So as Love Island prepares for its long-awaited return to screens on Monday 28th June, here is everything you need to know about this year's sexy singletons.

Leading the lineup is OnlyFans model Shannon Singh, 22, who currently resides in Fife while making a living through her racy social media content after spending several years working as a glamour model.

She says: 'I used to be a glamour model when I was 18/19. I loved those days, I've got nothing to be ashamed of, they were my glory days. Now I'm more on Instagram/ YouTube. I've done a bit of commercial modelling. I can DJ as well.'

Admitting she tends to feed off energy rather than looks when it comes to finding a man, Shannon insists she won't couple up with someone if they're the 'convenient choice.'

Asked whether she has any claim to fame, she adds: 'I've got quite a lot of people who've been in my DMs… some I can't even say. A few footballers.' 

'I don't tend to meet up with people through Instagram and things like that. I like more natural settings. I've got a whole chunk of my teens and growing up that I've been 'locked in' relationships,' she continues. 

'So when I broke up with my ex, I wanted to have a year for me. I've 'seen' guys, but I wanted a year to myself to make sure I know what I want going forward.'

Sharon Gaffka, 25, is an Oxford-born civil servant who currently works as an operations lead for the Department Of Public Transport, who admits she decided to apply for the show as she's only the single girl remaining in her friendship group after her dating life was halted by the Covid pandemic.

Detailing her 'intense' job, she reveals she's spent the past year working on policy for Brexit and the government's transition period after the UK left the European Union last year.

She adds: 'I've been a civil servant since I was 18. I've worked in lots of different departments. I've been doing Brexit policy for the last year, I did a stint during the Coronavirus pandemic in the Department of Health so I was helping deliver testing kits and managing the operations. It's been an intense year!'

Sharon also reveals she's already crossed paths with a Love Island veteran, as she and 2019 star Molly-Mae Hague had the same pagent director when she won Miss International UK.

Describing her ideal partner she continues: 'I have this thing where if something doesn't work out with one person, I'll try and go for the other extreme to see if that works out. I tend to date someone who is taller than me even though my last long-term partner he was actually someone who was shorter than me. I'm quite an intellectual person so I want someone who can kind of match that.

'Somebody who can make me laugh and I can be myself around. I'm really clumsy and goofy. On social media, I look really put together but my friends who know me know I'll fall down the stairs.'

Asked what she's looking forward to most in the villa, Sharon says: 'Having a bit of normality. I live on my own so actually getting to see people on a daily basis. There are so many rules with dating and all of that is taken away. I don't have to do any weird guessing games. I don't have to think about when I'll next speak to him because he's sharing a bed with me.'

Luxury Events host Aaron Francis, 24, has had his own famous encounters through work on some of the country's biggest events, including the wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

He explains: 'Yeah, Eugenie's and Beatrice's over the summer. I hosted and chatted. It was nice and intimate. Everyone's chill. In my job you meet a lot of famous people… unless you're Beyonce, I'm not really interested. 

'Obviously this life is nice but it's not really something you can settle down with. Unless you're doing very, very well. For me the ultimate goal is family. I want to have like three or four kids.'

But despite crossing paths with the Royal Family, Aaron says the biggest star he's ever met is a grime legend, saying: 'Stormzy. At the Brits he was jokes! I was hosting the winners' room in 2020.' 

Aaron, who has been single for around six or seven months, goes onto explain that in recent months he's been far more focused on his skincare regime, explaining: 'I am into skincare, not many guys are. My skin used to be terrible. I cleared it up at uni and my confidence blew from there. 

'Now when girls look at me, I'm not thinking, ''Ah she's looking at my dead skin'', I'm thinking, ''Ah maybe she fancies me.'' It changes the vibe completely! So I kind of promote that on socials and stuff just because I know boys don't know about it and they are wondering about it. But they are too shy to ask about it.'

Describing his dream partner, he continues: 'I need someone that is passionate about what they are doing - from scientist to anything - you can tell when someone is speaking about something and they are actually smiling while they are talking. I love that. 

'I don't like when people are doing a job just to make money and then they kind of just live for the weekend. Especially because I work on the weekends. And usually someone that works out. I work out every day.'

P.E. teacher Hugo Hammond, 24, who has made history as the show's first ever disabled contestant, describes his ideal partner as someone who 'doesn't take themselves too seriously, who can be a best friend first that could turn into a romance.'

Describing himself he says: 'Tall, dark and handsome. That was a cliché answer! The real answer is funny, around my friends and family I'm always the one to get things going and to have a laugh. 

'Charming, self-proclaimed charmer. I've got the gift of the gab which has put me in good stead when I've been single in the past. And I'm a gentleman, my mother raised me well. I'm very respectful.'

Explaining his ideal date, he continues: 'I can give you the blueprint of my usual date. I'm a big fan of actually doing something rather than just a sit down dinner. Me being a sporty guy, something like mini-golf. I love a cocktail, so a cocktail afterwards. My favourite cocktail is Sex on the Beach, that's a go-to!'

Given his love for sport, it's no surprise that Hugo is a competitive man, admitting: ''Im really competitive. Obviously, I'm from a sporting background. That comes hand in hand. 

'I'm sure it's going to translate into dating as well. If there is an opportunity to become the alpha male around everyone else. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it and giving it my best.'

Discussing his cricket career, he continues: 'I've actually played cricket for England PD (Physical Disability). I've been to Bangladesh, Dubai, I've been everywhere to play cricket. I was born with clubfoot. 

'I had lots of operations when I was a kid. You can only really tell when I walk barefoot. I've got a really short achilles heel. I walk slightly on my tip toes.'

Liberty Poole, 21, is a waitress and marketing student from Birmingham, who confesses she's no stranger to an awkward split having witnessed some toe-curling breakups during her time working in Nando's.

She reveals: 'Yeah, I've seen some people walk out on the other person and then it's just really awkward because the staff are like, ''Do we clear the plates, do we not clear the plates? Do we ask them if they're okay? Do we not ask if they're okay?'' I've had people try and rinse me for a date at Nando's, get the discount and stuff. But I've never had a date in one. 

'I've had a few things happen at work. I've had a napkin shaped as a rose given to me which was cute, that was when I first started working there and then I've been proposed to. It was a bit unexpected! He was on his own, he'd come into the restaurant every week and he got down on one knee and was like, ''Will you marry me?''. 

'But in his hand, it was a charity support badge not a diamond ring or nothing. So I was thinking, that's one way of saying I'm a charity case when it comes to love!'

Describing her ideal man she continues: 'So I like tall, alpha male, confident, a cheeky chappy sort of guy. But obviously that's always usually combined with player types, which is where I go wrong. So I am trying to change my ways and go for more of a nicer guy that is going to treat me right.'

Of her dream crush she continues: 'Alex Bowen looks wise but obviously he is with the beautiful Olivia. But celebrities in general, Jamie Dornan or Theo James.'

Despite hoping to find love in the villa, Liberty also divulges the greatest date she's ever been on, saying: 'Yeah! There was one where we went for a few drinks and then we went to this old school bar and I got picked up on the dance floor like in Dirty Dancing. 

'I was swung about on the dance floor like that. I felt like I was in a movie or something and then I went to the bathroom and these girls were like, ''Oh my God, are you on that date with that guy?!''

Water engineer Jake Cornish, 24, resides from Weston-Super-Mare, reveals he became a single man at the beginning of lockdown following a seven-year romance, and he still has a preference for blondes.