Whereas this summer time’s “Love Island” noticed Jess and Sammy take the crown, the unofficial queen of the present was arguably runner-up, Whitney Adebayo. The London-based Islander received audiences over together with her no-nonsense strategy to like and friendship, and is taking her new-found fame in her stride.
Not solely is she decided to be her genuine self on her social channels, she’s rebranding her profitable wig enterprise, launched her personal present on YouTube, and remains to be efficiently in a relationship with fellow Islander Lochan Nowacki 4 months on (sadly, winners Jess and Sammy weren’t meant to be).
“It is a large transition for each of us as a result of we’re very low key,” she tells POPSUGAR as we sit down for a chat to make amends for all issues in Whitney’s world. “We’re principally on the identical journey, however completely different journeys.” Her bond with Lochan has proved any skeptics incorrect, as the 2 typically share cute social media clips (“he is in his TikTok period”, she says) as they navigate life outdoors of the villa.
“It’s arduous. It is a steadiness,” she says. “Balancing relationships and dealing as a result of it typically blurs.” Identical to the Whitney we adopted over the summer time, she is eager to remain true to herself and preserve her personal life in addition to sharing elements with Lochan, “Individuality is unquestionably key, however I really feel like we’re doing effectively. Balancing the merge and the individuality.”
Whitney’s confident persona is infectious. With a refreshingly assured perspective, she claims she will get her direct strategy from her mum. “I simply do not actually imagine in mendacity. I am a nasty liar. I am a extremely dangerous liar,” she says. Her perspective, which noticed some explosive moments within the villa with different Islanders, even acquired her coining her personal catchphrase: “It is giving . . .”
Being comfy in her personal pores and skin is her character, and it interprets into physique confidence, too. Spending the summer time in a bikini in a villa that airs to tens of millions of individuals takes a specific amount of self-love, and she or he’s nailed a optimistic mindset. “Nobody truly cares,” she says. “It is like while you go to the fitness center, while you first begin a fitness center, you assume everybody’s you when the fact is everybody thinks about their very own targets. Individuals are fairly egocentric.” She provides, “I really feel prefer it all simply goes again to embracing your self and figuring out who you might be.”
“I really feel prefer it all simply goes again to embracing your self and figuring out who you might be.”
In relation to her personal endeavours, she’s eager to solely tackle alternatives that really feel genuine. She may have adopted within the footsteps of her fellow fast-fashion Islanders right into a trend deal – Jess has a set with Within the Model, Ella Thomas signed with Fairly Little Factor, and Leah Taylor has turn out to be an envoy for Boohoo – however that is not the trail Whitney desires to take. “I do know individuals count on me to do what regular individuals do once they come out of “Love Island”, however that is not me,” she says. “So I am solely gonna do issues that align with who I naturally am.”
A type of issues is her wig model, CC Hair. Maybe one of many causes Whitney is so comfy in her personal pores and skin is that she had a profitable ardour mission previous to showing on the present. “I really like my Afro, however it’s a protecting fashion,” she tells us. “I began my model in college. My ex advised me to get a interest and I simply began it as a result of it was one thing to do.”
It might have had humble beginnings, however it’s clear to see that is one thing Whitney is captivated with. With a relaunch within the pipeline, she desires to unfold consciousness of the human-hair wig business, make them extra accessible, and guarantee it will get the respect it deserves. On high of this, Whitney has her sights set on a presenting profession. She lately launched her new collection, “What’s It Giving?” on YouTube, the place she breaks down life dilemmas, which she hopes will proceed to develop.
Like her fellow Islanders, she left the villa to a notoriety that only a few individuals can say they’ve skilled, however for those who assume Whitney is more likely to lose herself to fame, you then’re very a lot mistaken. She prides herself in surrounding herself with the family and friends she had earlier than she went on the present, and her internal circle will not be one thing she takes evenly. “If I say you are my good friend, I imply like dictionary definition. Lots of people say it prefer it’s fairly lighthearted. Lots of people do not imply it once they say good friend, however I am like, if I say you are my good friend, I imply it,” she says. You understand what? It is giving . . . loyal.