‘The Islanders need a back-up plan – in case being famous doesn’t work out’
The Love Island 2020 bombshell gives her advice to this year’s cast on life after the show
She was a finalist in the sixth series of Love Island, so Jess Gale knows all too well what it’s like to come out of the villa to a world of Instagram followers, brand deals and fame – as the four final couples will be doing this week.
And Jess – who entered the show with her identical twin Eve, and made the final with partner Ched Uzor – says that now is the time for the Islanders to capitalise on their window of opportunity if they want to make it as celebrities and social media influencers.
The 23-year-old tells Closer, “It’s a total whirlwind coming out of the villa. And if you want to make the most of your opportunities, it’s important to take things seriously when you leave and not get caught up. This week the Islanders need to make important decisions with regards to management, because that is going to shape the next few years of their careers.”
Despite finishing the show together in fourth place, Jess and Ched – who arrived during Casa Amor – split after just six months. Their series was just prior to the Covid pandemic, so lockdown and isolating made their relationship difficult to sustain.
Jess – who now has one million followers – had been studying for a psychology degree before the show, but abandoned that to become a fulltime influencer.
MILLIONS
Speaking about that decision, she admits, “I’m so lucky to be able to do something fun as a career. I love what I do, but I knew it wasn’t a given. I always had a back-up plan, which was to finish my final year at uni.
“So few Islanders actually manage to make it that you’ve got to think of the show as just a fun experience rather than anything for career progression.
“In a way, we were lucky. Although we missed out on events due to lockdown, the summer series of the show was cancelled, so we had longer to stay relevant!”
Indeed, the hit ITV series has launched the careers of many stars – including Molly-Mae Hague, Wes Nelson and Alex and Olivia Bowen – who all reportedly have millions in the bank, as well as millions of social media followers.
And speaking about who she believes will be this year’s big success stories, Jess says, “Samie Elishi is absolutely stunning so I don’t doubt that there will be loads of brands waiting to snap her up. I can also see Tanya Manhenga and Lana Jenkins going far as well.”