Genuinely not bull sh*tting you, back in late 2023 when we first learned that Love Island producers were making a Love Island: All Stars happen (and giving eventually giving it winter Love Island's slot – great choice) we began quietly manifesting an Oliva Hawkins return. Because, love her or hate her (and if you 'hate her' we hope it's just in a camp panto villain kind of way), Liv MADE winter Love Island 2023.
When she never popped up on the first All Stars, we just assumed she was biding her time to strike – like the cartoon 'villain' she is. Fast forward to the here and now, and it appears All Stars 2025 is her time.
Also, not Liv looking like Vanessa (Ursula's human form) from The Little Mermaid in all her new Love Island promo pics. As a gay man I can assure you, a gay was behind that...
It's giving oceanic goddess/siren.
We've genuinely always had Liv's back here at heat, so it was an utter joy to catch up with her on Zoom ahead of her All Stars debut next Monday (13 January). During our 14-minute chat with the telly queen, we managed to talk to Liv about her villain legacy and whether she'll be bringing a little bad girl into the villa for round two.
'Was I ever a villain?' she asked. Well, not in our eyes. Maybe a queen.
She added, 'It's tiring, isn't it? That label. I'm just me and some people will like me and some people won't, and that's the same with everyone. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, especially with reality television. No one really gets to know you as a person, there's only so much they can see, so obviously it's hard for the viewers.'
Speaking of her All Stars game plan, Liv admitted, 'I'm just going in as me. I'm going to be confident, bubbly as I always am, and hopefully just make some friends, make some more memories. I'm not going in with any preconceived ideas or anything, so just have a great time like I did last time.'
Wait, so no mad moving? AT ALL? Liv.
She continued, 'I'm a confident girl, but I don't go into things thinking I want to cause drama or be this controversial person. I just am a confident girl, and situations arise and I just face them how I face them. That's the way to go.'
So no villainous game plan? No. But Olivia is going to be making waves, that's for sure.
'I'm just going to go for it. You don't have time in there; every second is pivotal. But I'm definitely not going in with a game plan. I'm just going in as myself. Anyone that was to go in with a game plan, I don't know how they would, because it would collapse in two seconds. You can't force anything in there, everything just happens organically. So I'm just gonna be me, and that's all I can do,' she added.
That's right, Liv. Zero apologies. Unconditionally you. In the words of Mother RuPaul, we can't wait to see how this turns out...
*Evil cackle* (ours, not Liv's).
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Ben Pulsford is a digital writer for Bauer Media, writing for both Closer online and heatworld. When he's not getting paid to gossip about Big Brother, Love Island, and The Real Housewives of Cheshire, he's storming the London LGBTQ+ scene as drag queen, Beary Poppins. Both Ben and Beary are awaiting an invite to join The Real Housewives of Cheshire for series 18. The budget's not there, but the drama is 💅.