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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Winter Love Island 2023 rumoured contestants - Molly-Mae lookalike to ex-islanders

The winter version of Love Island is almost here, with the brand-new series will be kicking off on Monday January 16 in South Africa.

Maya Jama is set to take over hosting duties from former host Laura Whitmore, who quit in 2022, and her debut has been teased in a series of ads as she gears up to ‘take love by the horns’.

This will only be the second series of the winter version after ITV2 was forced to cancel the show due to air in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ahead of the winter 2023 series, rumours have already been rife about who could potentially be heading into the villa to find love - with former Love Island stars thrown into the mix.

But, who exactly will be the winter Love Island 2023 contestants? Here are all the clues we know so far.

Ron Hall

(ronhall__/Instagram)
(ronhall__/Instagram)

Essex boy Ron Hall is reportedly the series first ever partially sighted contestant with the 26-year-old joining the single line up.

The finance worker is said to be already in South Africa to begin this year's winter Love Island, as it returns after a three-year hiatus.

A source on the ITV2 show told The Sun : "The casting team are excited by the signing. It’s a really positive move to have more diversity on-screen, especially as there are so few blind people on telly.

"Ron is great guy, he’s got loads of mates and is sports mad, he loves golf and has recently taken up boxing.

"He’s keen to meet new people and, hopefully, find love.

"He’s also really open about his disability and is hoping to raise awareness and help others by discussing it on screen."

Tanya Manhenga

Tanya is the first stunning singleton who is reportedly set to enter the Love Island villa (@talkswithtt_/Instagram)
Tanya calls herself a digital creator' on her profile (Instagram)

Tanya is the first stunning singleton who is reportedly set to jet off and take part in the series later this month.

Biomedical science student Tanya is 22 and is already a rising star on Instagram as she boasts more than 11,500 followers on the social media platform.

She refers to herself as a 'digital creator' on her profile and has worked with a string of fashion brands including Boohoo as well as show brands Ego and Simmi Shoes.

Tanya's Instagram profile is littered with a series of stunning selfies showing her on lavish trips and glammed up ready to go out on the town.

Tanya's Instagram profile is littered with a series of sizzling bikini snaps (Instagram)

However, her most recent snap may have hinted at her rumoured upcoming Love Island stint as she posted two photos of herself in a drop shoulder jumper and jeans and cryptically wrote in the caption: 'Calm before the storm'.

Meanwhile, a source has told The Sun: "Tanya really is the whole package, she’s a smart as she is stunning and she looks set to be one this series most popular Islanders.

"She’s an Islander in waiting, already moving in the same circles as former cast members and with brand deals already under her belt.

"But her followers already know she’s got a personality to match."

Chloe Baker

Love Island bosses are said to be vetting model Chloe Baker for the upcoming series (chlobaker/Instagram)
The TikTok star has worn clothes for Missy Empire and Lipsy London (chlobaker/Instagram)

Love Island bosses are believed to be vetting model Chloe Baker for the upcoming 2023 winter series of the ITV reality series.

The TikTok star has modelled clothes for Missy Empire and Lipsy London, as well as fast-fashion brand PrettyLittleThing and has regularly been compared to former islander, Molly-Mae Hague.

Model Chloe could be among those entering the South African villa this year, according to the MailOnline.

Model Chloe could be among those entering the South African villa this year (chlobaker/Instagram)

The blonde beauty may even be lucky enough to follow in the footsteps of her lookalike and PLT creative director Molly-Mae , who found love with boxer Tommy Fury on the 2019 series.

In a potential hint to her exciting 2023 plans Chloe kicked off the year telling her 15.3K Instagram followers it will be the 'same circle, same game' but a 'different level' as she posed in a sparkly, floor length dress.

The influencer, who is represented by Nemesis Models management in Manchester, also has 12.7K followers on TikTok.

Arabella Chi

Arabella Chi who has sent the rumour mill into overdrive (arabellachi/Instagram)
The blonde bombshell appeared on the 2019 series of Love Island (arabellachi/Instagram)

After former islander Adam Collard made his bombshell comeback to Love Island last summer, rumours have been rife that some more familiar faces will be entering the villa for a second time this winter series.

One of those famous faces is none-other than Arabella Chi who has sent the rumour mill into overdrive with a cryptic Instagram post to ring in the New Year.

The blonde bombshell, who appeared on the 2019 series of Love Island where she found brief love with Wes Nelson, teased she may be returning for another chance at love in the South African villa.

Arabella found love with Wes Nelson after the show (Instagram)

In a mysterious post, where the blonde beauty posed in a steamy swimsuit shot, Arabella teased that is set to make a TV comeback.

“Super excited for the year ahead coming back on your tv screens this month.

"So keep your eyes peeled as you don’t want to miss it," she penned.

Joanna Chimonides

Joanna appeared on the 2019 series as a Casa Amor bombshell (ITV)
Joanna shared a cryptic snap from Cape Town (Instagram)

Another former Love Island star who has hinted at a possible comeback to the ITV2 show is Joanna Chimonides.

The former Love Island star, who also appeared on the 2019 series as a Casa Amor bombshell, dropped a huge hint that she is set to enter the villa as she posted a cryptic snap from South Africa.

Taking to her Instagram stories, Joanna let fans know that she is currently in Cape Town as she shared an image of a road sign.

Love Island returns on Monday January 16 on ITV2.

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