Imagine going on a dating show in a foreign country on a whim. Now imagine winning it.
Since Toni Laites left the Love Island UK villa last year, having won the British public’s votes and our hearts, she’s gained two platonic soulmates in Yas and Shakira, uprooted her entire life to move to the UK, moved in with Cach who she won the show with, and became an ambassador for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, bringing awareness to the charity as someone who actually has ulcerative colitis. So yeah, she’s been pretty busy.
Before Love Island UK, Toni was the girl serving drinks in a Vegas bar, waiting to catch a break. Now she’s a certified British icon, using her newfound fame to do good in the world and bring the change she’s always wanted to see. We linked up with Toni to talk life post-Love Island, public perceptions, social media fame, and future plans.
In 2025, you captured the hearts of the British public, becoming the winner of Love Island UK Season 12. What’s been the craziest way that your life has changed since then?
“Definitely leaving behind everything and everyone I knew and loved in America. Moving to the UK is the biggest life change i’ve made in a while. I also now actually have to care about social media – I came onto the show with only 3,000 followers.”
Before Love Island, you were working in Vegas when you were reached out to with the opportunity to be on the show. Did you already know how big the UK Love Island audience was? Was that nerve wracking?
“I don’t think I had any comprehension of how big Love Island UK was to everyone here. The opportunity came to me around 6 weeks before the show started and I kinda just said to myself “why not?” and I was on the next flight to Mallorca. The thing that was most nerve wracking was not knowing how the UK public would take to me being the only American on the show.”
Despite coming across as authentically yourself, did you ever feel pressured to change yourself or act differently in front of the cameras?
“I think in the beginning there’s a lot of pressure to be perceived well and you think about the cameras a lot. I’ve always been myself in any social/work environment and it’s worked out for me thus far, so I wasn’t one to give into the “pressure”. By week 4 you forget there’s cameras at all and you only care what people think during a public vote.”
Your story on Love Island was almost as much about love as it was the strength of female friendship, given you left the villa with two brand new besties who you’re still close with now. Did you expect that going into the show?
“In Love Island we would always joke about wife swap and couples were changing on the daily but my one constant was my relationship with Shakira and Yas. It gets tough in there and I think female friendship is the only thing that consistently put a smile on my face during those 8 weeks. I’m also an only child so the friends I’ve made throughout my whole life become my family. Shakira and Yas were and will continue to be my sisters. I wouldn’t say it came as a complete shock to me.”
Dating shows like Love Island, and the culture around them, tend to pit women against each other. Why do you think your friendship with Yasmin and Shakira stood the test of time despite this?
“Lowkey it’s because we were never after the same men! But in all seriousness, us three girls had each other’s backs no matter what. I think we share similar ideas of what’s right and what’s wrong and had no issue speaking out against the others. The three of us were a bit ostracized in that villa and we leaned on each other in times of need. When we came together it was us against the world.”
Talking about the sometimes toxic/hypocritical attitudes towards women in reality TV, is there anything you personally think still needs to change within that industry?
“I think something I experienced first hand was the outdated ideology that outspoken women are kinda frowned upon. I struggled to find a partner in that villa because I was labelled as “too much.” It was only the men who were allowed to voice their opinions on things and make mistakes when it came to dating but hopefully my villa experience changes those attitudes.”
I know you’re an ambassador for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, bringing awareness to the charity as someone who actually has ulcerative colitis. How rewarding has it been to work with the charity that helps so many people like yourself?
“It has been a dream of mine since I was diagnosed at 17 to be able to make a difference within the Crohn’s and Colitis community. The reception of Yas & I’s ambassador announcement post brought me to tears. So, so many people of all ages sent me messages thanking me for using my platform for positivity and awareness for a horrible illness that affects 1 in every 120 people. It means so much to me to not only use my huge reach to just post pictures of myself.”
Having been on a globally watched reality show, it’s fair to say that a lot of people feel they know you pretty well, but what’s something that people don’t know or tend to get wrong about you?
“This is actually one of my biggest gripes with my experience…people watch you on an edited show everyday for 8 weeks and they swear they’ve known you their whole life. I think the biggest misconception is that I am some mean girl… I’m literally the biggest softy who cries at everything. I just don’t like to put up with any B.S.”
I have to ask about your relationship with Cach! How’s it been adjusting to life in the real world together, post Love Island?
“I think everyday my relationship with Cach gets better since being on the outside world. He is my whole world. I couldn’t have possibly survived the first couple of months in the UK without him. I think being in a couple in the outside world is definitely a challenge but it is also so rewarding. I love doing life with Cach and being able to adjust to my new life with him makes it all worth it.”
You’ve probably heard 2016 is coming back this year (so here for the King Kylie revival). What was your vibe like in 2016?
“I am SO here for bringing back 2016. I was 16 that year and totally thought I was a baddie. I was really into chokers, army green (not sure about this one), and becca highlighter. Omg we can’t forget VSCO filters too, they went triple platinum in my household. Drake and Future were also heavily bumped by my friends and I (idk who we thought we were).”
If you could say something to 2016 Toni, what would it be?
“Girl please stay inside for the love of God, haha!”
Can you tell us about a new goal you want to achieve in 2026?
“Not caring so much about what other people think. I’m obviously not used to having so many eyes on me and I’m a bit tough on myself at times.”
Lastly, what’s a slogan you’re living by right now?
“It gets greater later!!!!!”
Images shot by @georgie.wilding_
