Usually reality TV shows are all about winning - but Love Island seems to prove it’s actually better to lose.
Bookies’ favourites Millie Court and Liam Riordan were crowned 2021 champions during Monday night’s final.
The Essex girl and Welsh lad, who became boyfriend and girlfriend just moments before being announced as the winners, ended up splitting the £50,000 cash prize.
Some Love Island viewers were gutted they pipped Chloe Burrows and Toby Armolaran to the post, especially considering they became an official couple during their final night in the villa.
However, there is strong evidence to suggest that runners-up Chloe and Toby might actually be better off in the long run.
In fact, if this Love Island fan theory is to be believed, they will be smiling all the way back to the UK and it’s actually Millie and Liam who need to be concerned.
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Many viewers have pointed out that coming in second place is actually far more advantageous for a solid relationship.
Most of the couples finishing runners-up up in past series are still together to this day - with second placed stars having given us long-lasting relationship, marriages and even babies.
In stark contrast, there is only one winning couple who is actually still together and most don’t make it past a few weeks.
Perhaps the pressure of being champions is too much, or a relatively smooth ride to victory doesn’t provide a good foundation for the outside world.
There is also an argument that the runners-up actually become more famous and have more successful careers once they leave the villa.
Here’s a look at why finishing in second place could actually be a lot more preferable to first.
Series 1
The first ever winners of Love Island were Jessica Hayes and Max Morley, who split just six weeks after leaving the villa.
Angry Jess recently claimed she wish she had stolen the £50,000 prize money from Max.
Somewhat surprisingly, they managed to beat firm favourite Jon Clark and Hannah Elizabeth, who not only became an official couple but actually got engaged in the villa.
Jon and Hannah did also split relatively quickly despite being destined for marriage, but he became the most famous Islander to come out of the series.
Jess and Hannah fell out of the limelight and Max had a lewd stint on Ex on the Beach, while Jon joined the cast of The Only Way is Essex for two years.
Series 2
The top two couples from series 2 have actually both gone on to have incredibly relationships, although one was a lot smoother than the other.
Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey coupled up on day one and managed to win the show in 2016.
They briefly split in 2017 but got back together just weeks before Cara gave birth to their first son.
Cara and Nathan went on to get married and had another baby last year.
But it’s actually runners-up Olive Buckland and Alex Bowen who have gone on to become bigger stars.
Olivia and Alex got married in September 2018 and have had their own TLC programmes Olivia and Alex Said Yes and Olivia and Alex: Happily Ever After.
Series 3
Series 3 is where Love Island really hit the big time and produced a whole host of Islanders who have very much stayed within the public eye.
Montana Brown launched her own clothing range, Olivia Attwood joined TOWIE and Chris Hughes is now a rapper, horse racing specialist and cricket presenter.
But it was Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay who took the crown over Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt.
Amber and Kem are certainly the bigger names - with the Welsh actress going on to star in West End musical 9 to 5 and the Essex lad becoming a popular TV host and Dancing on Ice star.
However, their relationship didn’t last as they split after just 132 days of dating following a string of rows.
Meanwhile, Camilla and Jamie have gone the distance and had a daughter in October last year.
Then in February this year, the popular couple revealed they were engaged with an adorable picture of baby Nell wearing a baby grow which read: “Mummy will you marry my dad?”
Series 4
This time round the winners were another pair who coupled up just seconds after seeing each other for the first time.
Dani Dyer, daughter of hardman actor Danny Dyer, clinched victory with Essex lad Jack Fincham.
They may have won the hearts of the public but their seemingly perfect match ended in April 2019.
Remarkably the pair then got back together, then split for good just months later, and now have children with different partners.
This year doesn’t really back the theory as Laura Anderson and Paul Knopps came second and broke up just weeks after the series ended.
They didn’t spend much time together and they were hit by claims the relationship was fake as Paul confessed they were “not compatible”.
Series 5
Love Island’s biggest underdog story featured in series 5 when Amber Gill and Greg O’Shea came out of nowhere to win.
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury were firm favourites to win the series, but were beaten by a last-minute couple.
Amber became a national treasure but Greg was only in the villa for two weeks and walked away with a girlfriend and £25,000.
Sadly, Greg and Amber split up via a text message just five weeks after winning the title.
Tommy and his girlfriend Molly-Mae are still very loved-up and live together in Manchester - with the influencer getting the seal of approval from the boxer’s famous brother Tyson Fury.
Series 6
Winter Love Island may not have been the most exciting series but it has provided an incredible four lasting relationships.
Former semi-pro footballer Finn Tapp and singer Paige Turley are still very much in love and now live together in Manchester.
But second placed Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman are also still going strong and moved into their own place in London.
There now seems to be more attention going the way of Siannise and Luke T, who have being keeping millions entertained on TikTok.
Series 7
It remains to be seen whether this year’s winners, Millie and Liam, will last outside the villa.
There are already concerns that the distance may prove too much for this real-life Gavin & Stacey as Liam lives in Wales - four hours away from Essex-based Millie.
Fans are already speculating that the future could be brighter for runners-up Chloe and Toby.
After the results of last night’s final were announced, Love Island fans took to Twitter to claim Chloe and Toby had nothing to be worried about.
“Don’t worry guys, it’s always the second place couples that last xx,” tweeted one viewer.
Another agreed: “Right but the second place couple stays together so chloe and toby really won so we can chill”
“Okay but tbf…second place isn’t a bad place to be,” argued a third.
While a fourth added: “The couple that come second is always more compatible anyway”
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