Love Island has provided its fair share of iconic besties - Chris Hughes and Kem Cetinay, for example- as well as successful couples like Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury (and considerably more unsuccessful couples). However, it has given us very few national treasures. One such rare treasure is Love Island 2020’s Shaughna Phillips, who once she walked through those villa doors, never looked back. Made famous for her iconic “Congrats, hun” one-liner, she is now better known for being a full-blown influencer.
We sat down with Shaughna to discuss all things beauty, Celebration Day, and first and foremost, Love Island.
When asked if Shaughna expected to see any familiar faces on the next series, it was a resounding no, and for a very surprising reason. “I actually think I’ve kind of aged out of it now. Definitely still watching it, but in terms of knowing people going on… now, I think all of my friends are too old… I really am [ageing myself up]. It’s because I live like a middle-aged woman, so I just forget that I am actually 30.”
Since we plan to be applying for the show well into our middle-ages, we had to disagree.
Shaughna revealed that she came to a realisation while on a recent trip to Ibiza with countless other influencers - and our very own journo, Aimee Jakes, see proof below.
On this trip, Shaughna made a pact with herself and honestly, we all need to jump onboard. “I just went to Ibiza with Shein and I actually made a pact that I wasn’t going to age shame myself while I was over there. And I didn’t do it, so maybe I need to make that pact more often.”
Shaughna also opened up to Closer about her dad, Eddie, who sadly passed away in 2016. Shaughna has planned a touching tribute for him just in time for Celebration Day.
“I’ll be celebrating my dad this Celebration Day. He passed away in 2016 and this is kind of my first Celebration Day where I’m a parent, which is terrifying. And it’s really important for me that I make it kind of a happy day instead of a sad day.”
“I’ve bought my dad a plaque at the Arsenal stadium. He was a big, big arsenal fan and I know he would have absolutely loved that, and it was really special that I did that for him. And I really want to make it like a lovely place to go and kind of remember him with my daughter as well, so that’s what we intend to do.
“He was my best friend… He was so, so pivotal and so important in my life, and still is, still is at the forefront of my mind when I make certain decisions… Don’t get me wrong I still celebrate him and I remember him every day, but to have a particular day is really important to me.”
Celebration Day is an annual celebration of past lives, that takes place each year on the last Bank Holiday of May. For more information check out CelebrationDay.
WATCH: Love Island's Shaughna Phillips' body journey shoot with Closer magazine
Sarah O'Byrne has been writing for Closer since May 2023, but this is mainly just to fill time until her Love Island application gets accepted.