In a groundbreaking move for Love Island, a detective is set to enter the villa for the first time. Lola Deal, a 28-year-old detective from Kent, is swapping her magnifying glass and case files for bikinis and the hope of finding a 'green flag boy' this summer.
Detective Skills to Spot Red Flags
Lola believes her professional training will give her an edge in the dating game. Having studied criminology at university and honed her skills in reading people and solving crimes, she explained: 'I think my training will pay off. It's made me quite good at reading people and sniffing out the bulls***.'
Her track record with 'green flag boys' is impressive, and she aims to maintain it in the villa. 'I've been so lucky with the boys I've dated. They've always been lovely people. Proper green flag boys,' she said.
Career Break for Love
Lola had to take a career break to appear on the show. 'I do enjoy being a detective but I would never say never to change. And having that thing where you can manage work and relationships has been hard,' she admitted. She looks forward to building a connection without the usual delays: 'I am looking forward to being able to build a connection with someone where you don't have to wait 10 days to see them again.'
What She's Looking For
Lola hopes to find someone 'ambitious and nice' in the villa. Her physical type includes 'tall, Italian looking. Dark hair normally, even though I always end up with blondes! Light eyes but again, I'm not too fussy. I like someone who is quite big as in a good cuddler, good muscles kind of way.'
Personality-wise, she values humour and intelligence. 'I like someone funny, I think funny goes such a long way. I like someone who is smart who can teach me things. I like book smart but even if they're not book smart I like someone who is like actually teaching me stuff.'
She also appreciates kindness, citing an example: 'I saw someone helping someone else get a buggy down some stairs. That was fit.'
What Gives Her the Ick
Lola is clear about what she doesn't want: 'Someone really cocky, but not in a fun, fit way, in an arrogant cocky way. I don't love that or someone who doesn't really have much about them - the same type of chat.'
She has several 'icks', including the phrase 'cheeky chappy'. 'If someone says they are a 'cheeky chappy' that makes me sick to my core. It's such a thing people say and I'm like don't ever say that again, horrible! My big ick is backpacks, but nobody is going to have a backpack on in there! With a backpack there's too many things that can go wrong, I'm like 'angel, stop'.'
Family Support
Lola's brothers are excited about her appearance, though one plans to watch only the first episode and rely on his girlfriend to screen the rest. 'My brothers are very excited! One has said he will watch the first episode and then get his girlfriend to screen the other episodes and make sure there's nothing in there that he doesn't want to see,' she shared.
Love Island returns Monday 1st June at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
