“I can’t believe we’ve gone from that to being ‘The Big Three’."
Love Island star Shakira Khan is continuing her winning streak after this year’s series, appearing on the cover of The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine alongside finalists Toni Laites and Yasmin Pettet.
Hailed as “The Big Three”, the three friends are front and centre of the glossy shoot, a striking image of how this season of the ITV2 dating show created stars beyond romance.
Shakira commands attention on the cover in a sleek one-shoulder figure-hugging black dress, paired with bold gold earrings.
With her brunette hair styled effortlessly, the look is a step away from villa bikinis and into the glamorous world of post-show fame.
Shakira, who finished runner-up with Harry Cooksley, told the magazine:
“‘Outcasts’ is what we called ourselves.
“I can’t believe we’ve gone from that to being ‘The Big Three’. This is a win for the weirdos! The real love story from this season has been our friendship.
“We always say we were never meant to be friends.
“We’re all so different, but we were always authentic to who we were, and we would always protect each other.”
Toni and Yasmin matched the 22-year-old in equally glamorous black ensembles.
The trio switched to white, with Shakira looking ethereal in a strapless white dress with a structured bodice and a voluminous skirt.
The silhouette gives off a chic yet romantic vibe, almost bridal in feel, but styled in a way that’s fresh and modern.
The fitted top highlights her figure, while the flared skirt adds drama and movement to the look.
She pairs it with simple gold stud earrings, letting the dress take centre stage without distraction.
Her dark tresses contrast beautifully against the crisp white fabric, softening the overall look and keeping it elegant rather than overly formal.
The Fabulous cover cements their place as the faces of the season, and for Shakira, it’s a moment that feels worlds away from her rollercoaster time in the villa.
She was pulled into a tense love triangle with Helena and Harry, which played out in front of viewers.
Nevertheless, Shakira rekindled things with Harry and since leaving the villa, their relationship has been moving forward.
She revealed: “After the final, Harry told me he loved me. Coming off the experience, you don’t know what’s reality and what’s not.
“I was thinking: ‘God, is this real?’ So to hear this from him, I was so emotional. I knew very early on I felt that way about him. That’s why I had to fight my feelings and I struggled. It was constantly head over heart, but heart won in the end.
“We’ve got a lot to work on. We’re not on the same playing field as everyone else with sunshine and rainbows, but we are not interested in anyone else. I’m excited to see where it goes.”
Beyond her romance, Shakira’s presence on the cover of Fabulous Magazine represents something bigger.
Unlike the stereotypical Love Island look, Shakira and her fellow cover stars are brunette, natural, and refreshingly different from past contestants.
And for Shakira, representing her Pakistani heritage is just as important.
She said: “There aren’t a lot of spaces for people of my ethnicity. Growing up, I never had someone [on TV] I could see myself in.
“I’ve had a lot of South Asian girls come up to me, nearly cry and say: ‘Thank you so much’. It makes me feel very proud.”
Shakira, Toni and Yasmin’s journey has even caught the attention of A-listers.
Shakira revealed: “It’s been bonkers. We’ve had so much support from people you don’t expect.
“We are in a group chat with Cara Delevingne, she wants us to go to Ibiza with her for her birthday and says she’s our biggest fan!”
From “outcast” to gracing the cover of Fabulous, Shakira Khan is proving her Love Island story isn’t just about romance; it’s about rewriting the rules of what it means to be a reality TV star.
Loading ...