As Love Island’s first ever American bombshell, Toni Laites was never going to be a shy and retiring wallflower, was she? And, to be honest, her feisty, direct and no BS attitude is exactly why we love her.
We’re not the only ones either as viewers voted for her and Cach Mirjah Mercer to win Love Island 2025 in their hundreds and thousands and they went on to scoop the £50,000 prize money.
But one thing we’ve always wondered is how Toni ended up trading in life as a pool cabana server in Las Vegas for a spot on a British dating show. Well, we don’t have to wonder any more as an unexpected Love Island legend has spilled the tea.
Speaking on her Sunday Roast podcast, which she co-hosts with Pete Wicks, none other than Love Island 2017’s Olivia Attwood revealed how Toni was scouted for the show.
She said, ‘You know Mike Spencer, the producer? He found Toni in Vegas, she was a cabana girl - he was on his honeymoon.
‘He met her, got chatting with her and told her, “You’d be amazing on Love Island.” That’s how she got on [the show].’
So, Toni was hand-picked by Love Island’s executive producer? How iconic.
Olivia went on to lift the lid on a secret conversation she’d had with Toni after her big win. She explained, ‘I said to her, “What are you going to do? When was the last time you went home?”
‘She said, “I haven’t been home for months, I don’t know what to do,” because she’s now got this boyfriend who’s English. If I was her, I’d want to make the most of it and stay here for a bit.’
It seems like Toni will be taking Liv’s advice as during an appearance at the ITV Reality showcase last week, she said, ‘I’m here for God knows how long at this point. I feel like I’m going to have to find somewhere to live, America’s not for me anymore.’
Welcome to this side of the pond, hun.
WATCH Love Island’s top three girls Shakira, Yasmin and Toni reveal the secret nickname for their group in the villa 👀
Nathan Katnoria is heat and Closer online’s senior digital writer. He became obsessed with Love Island when Malin Andersson came back to confront Terry Walsh in series two and hasn’t looked back since. When he’s not interviewing former Islanders, Nathan is scrolling through their Instagram feeds for relationship updates and piping hot tea.