‘They knew he was my type!’ Dumped Love Island star Zara Lackenby-Brown reveals she’s dating Jordan Odofin – as they hit out at bosses for ‘robbing’ them of a villa romance
Former Love Island contestants Jordan Odofin and Zara Lackenby-Brown have hit out at show bosses for not enabling them to couple-up in the villa.
The pair, who got together after returning to the UK, said they felt ‘robbed’ when they entered the villa days apart, insisting it was obvious the would have been perfect for each other.
They said they felt ‘robbed’ that they were not given the opportunity to get to know one another in South Africa.
Zara, 25, told the Sunday People: ‘They [the producers] knew Jordan was my type before I even walked in
‘I left the villa thinking my dream man doesn’t exist, and days after Jordan arrives. I understand they have storylines to follow but I deserved to find love.’
Love lost: Former Love Island contestants Jordan Odofin, 28, and Zara Lackenby-Brown, 25, have hit out at show bosses for not enabling them to couple-up in the villa
Passing ships: The pair, who got together after returning to the UK, said they felt ‘robbed’ when they entered the villa days apart
Jordan, 28, said he expected to pair with Zara in the villa but learned she had been given the boot from the show shortly after his arrival.
He said: ‘Before going in I was asked for my top three and I said Zara was my number one, so naturally I was looking for her. It made my villa experience very different – I was in a friendship couple the whole time.’
MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.
It comes after Jordan admitted he slid into Zara’s DMs to ‘shoot his shot’ during a recent appearance on The Morning After podcast with Indiyah Polack and Sam Thompson.
He said: ‘On Aftersun, I spoke about Zara. And on my way home, I was with my boys and I was like, ‘Should I just message Zara right now?’
‘As I was headed to the DMs, [it said] ‘typing’.’
Shocked podcast host and former Love Island star Indiyah exclaimed: ‘Oh my god, that’s fate! You’re going to get married, you’re going to be together!’
When asked what Zara had sent him, Jordan replied: ‘Oh, I saw you on Aftersun. There was a little bit of chat here and there.’
High hopes: Jordan said he expected to pair with Zara in the villa but learned she had been given the boot from the show shortly after his arrival
End of the road: Jordan arrived after Zara was dumped and he later left the villa with Ellie Spence (pictured)
Co-host Sam asked: ‘Did you get butterflies?’
Jordan replied: ‘Yeah! I can’t lie, my brother pulled over the car, my other boy was there and yeah, we were just a bit excited.’
Jordan said his ‘usual type’ was not in the villa after he learned Zara had been dumped ahead of her arrival.
He said: ‘My usual type wasn’t in the villa when I got there.’
Speaking about Zara, he added: ‘We’ve been speaking. She was definitely my top three.
‘We’re going to go for a drink in London. I think she’s stunning, she’s beautiful.
‘I like the way she carries herself.’
Love Island continues on ITV2 and ITVX on Sunday at 9pm.
LOVE ISLAND 2023: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Tanya Manhenga
Name: Tanya Manhenga
Age: 22
Location: Liverpool
Occupation: Student and model
Something not many people know about her: ‘I have Vitiligo, which is a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it.’
‘It’s on my lip and I have a stripe on my hair. Not many people know that but I think it’s quite cute.’
‘I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a vibe.’
Lana Jenkins
Name: Lana Jenkins
Age: 25
Location: Luton
Occupation: Makeup artist
Something not many people know about her: ‘In my work as a makeup artist I’ve worked with lots of celebrities.
‘Also, when I was 6-years-old I used to live in Spain and I was in an episode of Benidorm as an extra.’
Tanyel Revan
Name: Tanyel Revan
Age: 26
Location: North London
Occupation: Hair stylist
Something not many people know about her: ‘My celebrity crush is Channing Tatum – I don’t like pretty boys, they give me the ‘ick’ because they always have a crap personality.’
‘Channing Tatum is handsome but not too pretty. He’s manly and he can dance.’
‘If a man can dance I’m in love with him straight away.’
Olivia Hawkins
Name: Olivia Hawkins
Age: 27
Location: Brighton
Occupation: Ring girl and actress
Something not many people know about her: ‘I did a film with Jason Statham and had a nice 10-minute convo about life.’
‘I’ve been a ring girl for KSI, I played a waitress in James Bond with Daniel Craig and I’ve also been a body double for Michelle Keegan and Emma Watson.’
Tom Clare
Name: Tom Clare
Age: 23
Location: Barnsley
Occupation: Semi-Pro Footballer
Something not many people know about him: I’m a High School Musical fan
Name: Samie Elishi
Age: 22
Location: London
Occupation: Senior Estate Agent Coordinator
Something not many people know about her: ‘I’m a really honest person and I have no filter. I won’t take rubbish from anyone, especially when it comes to guys!’
Name: Maxwell Samuda
Age: 23
Location: London
Occupation: Finance Student and Restaurant Host
Who did he have his eye on in Casa Amor? Samie. She keeps it real and she seems like she’s not afraid to speak her mind.
Name: Rosie Seaford
Age: 24
Location: Buckinghamshire
Occupation: Industry Placement Advisor
Something not many people know about her: ‘I have a really bad phobia of frozen food, I can’t touch frozen food.’
Kai Fagan
Name: Kai Fagan
Age: 24
Location: Manchester
Occupation: Science and PE teacher
Something not many people know about him: ‘I’m a Jamaican citizen. Because of that I played rugby 7s for Jamaica.’
‘I play semi-professional rugby now for Burnage RFC.’
‘I’ve technically got three different degrees and went to three different unis.’
Ron Hall
Name: Ron Hall
Age: 25
Location: Essex
Occupation: Financial advisor
Something not many people know about him: ‘On meeting me, you’d never know I am blind in one eye.’
‘It was the result of a football injury when I was 8. I’ve got two different coloured eyes, one blue and one green.’
Will Young
Name: Will Young
Age: 23
Location: Buckinghamshire
Occupation: Farmer
Something not many people know about him: ‘Every night I light a candle and meditate for 20-25 minutes.’
‘A girl I was seeing told me to meditate, I tried it and loved it. I stopped seeing her and carried on meditating!
‘It’s a nice way to self reflect.’
Shaq Muhammad
Name: Shaq Muhammad
Age: 24
Location: London
Occupation: Airport security officer
Something not many people know about him: ‘I’m a very emotional person. It can be a blessing and a curse.’
‘Every time I watch Dear John I cry.
That’s my favourite film. Any time I’m with someone and they say, ‘Let’s watch a romantic film’, I’m like, ‘How about Dear John, how does that sound?’
Jessie Wynter
Name: Jessie Wynter
Age: 26
Location: Sydney
Occupation: Personal Trainer
Something you may not know about her: She was on series two of Love Island Australia
Name: Casey O’Gorman
Age: 26
Location: Tring
Occupation: Recruitment Consultant
Something not many people know about her: ‘I’m really squeamish. I once cut my hand and passed out’
Name: Sanam Harrinanan
Age: 24
Location: Bedford
Occupation: Social Worker
Who did she have her eye on in Casa Amor? ‘Kai is my number one. Job wise I think that we’d connect a lot and I think he’s cute!’
Name: Keanan Brand
Age: 24
Location: Wigan
Occupation: Professional Rugby Player
Something he would put in his dating profile: ‘I’m of Irish heritage so I’ve always got the luck of the Irish with me.’
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