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Charleen Murphy has been unveiled as one of the new bombshells on Love Island, a surprise confirmed during the programme’s recent episode that teased the upcoming Casa Amor twist. The Irish influencer’s appearance has renewed interest in her past near-miss with the show: she previously auditioned for the winter series filmed in South Africa in early 2020.
How viewers first saw her
At the end of Friday’s episode, producers cut to a trailer showing Charleen arriving at the villa alongside five other new women. The brief footage left little doubt about her role: she was introduced as a shock entry intended to shake up existing couples ahead of the Casa Amor segment.
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Cast members and fans were told she has already singled out a few Islanders she’s interested in, though the programme has not published detailed pairings yet.
A close call with the show in 2020
Charleen has spoken before about nearly joining Love Island during its first winter edition. In a 2021 interview with EVOKE she said she auditioned for the South Africa series and advanced through two rounds of selection.
“I was flown to England for the auditions, and I just wasn’t chosen,” she told the publication. She described the process as tightly controlled, with producers testing contestants on how they might react inside the villa.
Charleen also suggested comparisons with former contestant Molly-Mae Hague may have worked against her at the time. “They have a really set idea in their mind each year who they want,” she said.
Life since the missed opportunity
Although she missed out in 2020, Charleen later found a relationship off-screen with footballer Dano Mandroiu, a player for Shamrock Rovers. That partnership has since ended, leaving her single ahead of this new stint on the show.
Her plan for the villa
Charleen has been clear about her approach: she intends to remain genuine rather than rely on a rigid strategy. “I’m naturally a flirty person, I’ve got a good heart and good energy,” she said, adding that forcing a game plan can feel inauthentic.
She plans to speak to all the boys and keep an open mind. “People could surprise you, so you never know! I’ll be bringing the Irish charm,” she said.
For viewers in Ireland, her arrival adds a familiar face to the mix and raises fresh questions about how the Casa Amor twist will reshape existing relationships in the villa.
