Inside Love Island winners' curse – real reason why so many head-over-heels couples have split after leaving villa

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Privacy NoticeNot many of Love Island’s winning couples seem to have the happily ever after that they’re hoping for after quitting the sun-soaked ITV2 villa. In fact, the majority of the champions split within just months of leaving the hit dating show. With Love Island now in it’s ninth year, it’s clear to see that there’s a pattern of winners not staying together after each series ends. Whether it’s a full year, a few months or even just days, the vast majority of the ITV2 dating show’s champions’ love stories end pretty quickly. According to relationship expert and Wingman founder, Tina Wilson, the majority of Love island couples will fail, “because their relationships are curated in a manufactured environment, so when they step out of the villa, and into the real world, it’s like a whole new start.” But there’s still hope for this year’s remaining contestants. Here’s the real reason why almost every couple have split after leaving the show…

Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay were each other’s type on paper back in 2017’s series three – but their romance only lasted until December that year
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

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Technically there are four winning couples who are still together and have broken the curse – Millie Court and Liam Reardon, who rekindled after a split, Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan, who are engaged after meeting in Casa Amor, Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey, from series two, and last year’s All Star winners Molly Smith and Tom Clare. But sadly, there’s a whole lot more couples who have fallen victim to the suspected Love Island winning curse, and split after just months together. Relationship expert Tina exclusively told OK!: “Within the villa walls these couples are told what to do; when to couple up, when to kiss, when to ‘pull someone for a chat’, so it’s not surprising that when these perfectly made up couples step out of the villa, there will be a very sharp shock as to how their relationship will work in real life. “The most similar experience would be a holiday romance, whereby two singles are together outside their normal lives, and spend an intense amount of time together. But like the Love Island couples, holiday romances generally do not work well when both step back into their real lives.”

There are four winning couples who are still together and have broken the suspected curse – Millie Court and Liam Reardon, who recently rekindled after a split
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Tina continued: “Along with that, these couples will step back into real life alongside social media, which will add another layer of stress and pressure for them to deal with. Like being in the villa, their social viewers will be watching and willing for them to report back on the next steps. The public are vested in these couples after watching them for weeks on end and they want to be part of the story. The couples will absolutely feel like they have to put their best foot forward under such scrutiny.” The first series in 2015 saw Max and Jessica win the money, and each other. However, after no more than 40 days back in reality and the duo split. Series two winners Cara and Nathan did split up, but fans were thrilled when they got back together and the married couple now have two kids. Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay were each other’s type on paper back in 2017’s series three – but their romance only lasted until December that year. They reportedly got into arguments over their hectic work schedules and were ‘living on top of each other’ in Essex.

The first series in 2015 saw Max and Jessica win the money, However, after no more than 40 days back in reality and the duo split
(Image: ITV)

The Essex lad and Welsh dancer revealed in a joint statement: “It is with sadness that we have decided to separate. We fell in love in the villa and want to thank all the fans of the show for supporting us. “Our lives have changed beyond recognition over the past few months and our hectic work schedules have made it difficult to make things work. We still have a lot of love for each other and will remain good friends.” One fan took to Twitter to share their sadness that the ‘curse’ had impacted their relationship. They wrote: “I really thought these two would marry and be together for ever. It’s looking like the curse of Love Island not Strictly.” Expert Tina added: “There has been a lot of chatter about a Love Island curse, and there certainly are extreme cases of good and bad from those that enter the villa. It must be remembered that Love Island is a one-off extreme experience and the highs and lows that come from such extremities need to be taken into consideration.”

Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham took the crown for Love Island series four after getting together on the very first day
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham took the crown for Love Island series four after getting together on the first day. The couple met each other’s families and even moved in together in a Canary Wharf apartment before getting a puppy. Jack had admitted on numerous occasions he wanted to marry Danny Dyer’s daughter in the future and Dani even joked about being engaged during a radio interview. But then in December, less than six months since winning the show, Dani confirmed the pair had split on social media, revealing: “It’s been an incredible six months and we will always have a place in our hearts for each other, but sadly we’ve come to the realisation that it’s not meant to be longterm.”

In season 5, Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea took home the Love Island crown after meeting towards the end of the show but their relationship in the real world lasted just 39 days
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In series five, Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea took home the Love Island crown after meeting towards the end of the show. But their relationship in the real world lasted just 39 days. Amber claimed Greg dumped her by text during an appearance on Loose Women in September 2019. She told the panel: “From my point of view I kind of still wanted to make it work and there was a call a few days prior, just chatting not specifically to do with that but definitely on that day it was like a text.” However making an appearance on The Late, Late Show, Greg broke his silence on his split from Amber, denying he dumped her over a text message and said the distance between them, as well as their busy careers, caused the separation.

Ekin-Su and Davide have been another winning relationship that has been up and down but the pair split for a second time in January 2024

Paige Turley and Finley Tapp, who won the South African series six in 2020, split in 2023. However, they then both appeared on Celebrity Ex On The Beach, with some viewers speculating that they faked their split so they could appear on the TV show. 2022 winners Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Davide Sanclimenti have been another winning relationship that has been up and down but the pair split for a second time in January 2024. It wasn’t long until they were spotted out together and rumours of the couple rekindling their romance soon began circulating. Then earlier this year, Ekin-Su took to Instagram to confirm she and Davide had decided to call time on their 18-month relationship. In a statement shared to her Instagram Stories, Ekin-Su told fans she’d “made the decision” to end the relationship after a “rollercoaster of ups and downs”.

Series 10 winner Sammy Root won the 2023 series with ex-girlfriend Jess Harding
(Image: instagram/@jesshardingox)

Series ten winner Sammy Root won the 2023 series with ex-girlfriend Jess Harding. But the pair ended their relationship just two months after taking home the £50,000 prize fund. It seems that there must be some curse looming over the winners as a staggering eight couples have broken up after winning. This year’s series has been giving us something to look forward to watching every night and the final is fast approaching. Ciaran and Nicole have been coupled up since the very beginning of the series, and things have been going well between them, with many fans suggesting they could be front runners to winning. The Welsh surveyor shocked fans in a heartfelt speech just days ago when he asked Nicole if she would be his girlfriend.

Nicole and Ciaran recently made their relationship official
(Image: ITV)

Sean Stone and Matilda Draper also went official with their relationship too. Tina told us: “The only solid couple in the villa to date is Kieran and Nicole, who have only had eyes for each other since they entered. “This initial attraction between them has grown stronger throughout the weeks and doesn’t appear to be forced for the camera or drama. They have a natural banter and ease between them that suggests they have genuine feelings for each other, and they stand a great chance of making it outside the villa if they can create an environment to give each other the reassurance they need. They live close by so that is a plus, also their families and backgrounds are similar so a great foundation. “As for Matilda and Candyman, this is a relatively new official couple so time will tell for them. There have been instances that Matilda would likely have binned Sean if they were in the real world, but in the villa its almost essential to forgive and forget as they share a bed. As the end of the series approaches, the level of drama will increase and so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnAmber GillCara De La HoydeDani DyerFinley TappGreg O’SheaJack FinchamJessica HayesKem CetinayMax MorleyNathan MasseyPaige TurleyAmber DaviesLove Island

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