We've been writing about Love Island for a LONG time now; as such, we spend most of our working hours chinwagging with former Islanders about their experiences on the show, and the rest of the time chinwagging with people we work with about what they've just said.
The show has undeniably turned into one beast of a cultural phenomenon over the years and being heat, we just won't be happy until every last drop of villa tea has been spilled.
And that's how we make a living – don't be jel, be reem.
Given that most Islanders are NDA'd up to their eyeballs just before and just after their villa experience, we do prefer to speak to the veterans about the real Love Island, who are slightly further removed (that doesn't apply to 'Messy' Mitch Taylor btw, his mouth started running before he'd left Majorca and we'll always adore him for that).
Anyway, the veteran Islanders are more likely to spill the tea that's going to shine villa life in a less-than-filtered light, and let's be honest, that's the tea we want to soak up; like when Sanam Harrinanan shared her grim villa toilet tea, or when Whitney revealed her x-rated villa hack – that stuff virtually arouses us here at heat.
The latest veteran Islander to share some rather, erm, spicy tea about villa life is India Reynolds. Remember India? She was one of Love Island 2019's last arrivals (alongside Harley Brash and Greg O'Shea), but boy, did she make an impact.
During her series she coupled up with one of the most iconic Islanders to ever grace the villa with his presence, Ovie Soko. As the basketball player was (and still is) loved by literally the entire nation, India made it to the final with her man, with many fans predicting they could win the show. Sadly, things just weren't meant to be and India and Ovie split four months after leaving the villa.
Yeah, that India.
These days – the days of Love Island 2024 – India is still slaying the post-Love-Island influencer game and has recently launched a new lingerie collection with Pour Moi called the India Loves Lingerie Collection.
During a chat with India about her new collection, we obv had to have a bit of a gossip about Love Island, and after a few minutes, India began to reveal a "nightmare" villa hygiene secret that frankly should shatter the glam, filtered image we have of Love Island for all of us.
While talking about getting ready for a night in the villa, India revealed the true hell the girls faced night after night...
She exclusively told heatworld, "There’s literally seven or eight girls, and there’s one shower. It’s a nightmare. Sometimes I’d have to shower outside because there physically wasn’t enough room, or you’d have to do your makeup and then shower because there wasn’t enough time.
"You’d be scrambling around, and you’d have jumped in the pool in the day so your hair will be wet. You’re like, 'What am I going to do with it in five minutes, are you joking?'”
Sorry, do your makeup and THEN get in the shower? No. Just no.
Speaking of more pleasant things, like a glamorous photoshoot and a new lingerie collection with Pour Moi, India said, “Pour Moi has always celebrated women in all their forms, and that's exactly what my latest luxurious lingerie collection embodies – beauty, confidence, and empowerment for everybody, every shape, and every size.”
When asked which set she feels shows her personality the most and why, the former Islander revealed, "My favourite piece in this collection is the champagne India Bold Floral Embroidery Non-Padded Bra, I just think it’s absolutely beautiful! The embroidery almost shimmers, it looks super expensive, and the extra detail looks gorgeous if you wear in the evening with a slightly open shirt or blazer. I also love it under something sheer. But we haven’t compromised on fit so you can wear it day to day under a t-shirt if you want to feel sexy. I live in the black which also has a beautiful suspender with it. I love sets that are multi-functional, and this ticks all the boxes."
Shop the new India Loves collection at pourmoi.co.uk.
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 TOWIE, Love Island and The Real Housewives of Cheshire all day 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 💅