Shakira Khan EXCLUSIVE: The Truth About Love Island & Growing Up Mixed Race

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

FlightStory

Relationships, Society & Culture, Leisure

4.7 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 23 September 2025

⏱️ 104 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Love Island star Shakira Khan breaks her silence in her first ever podcast interview. In this exclusive conversation, Shakira opens up about growing up mixed-race in Burnley, the beauty standards that shattered her confidence, and the behind-the-scenes reality of life inside the Love Island villa. For the first time, she spills the tea on her fellow islanders, lifts the lid on the villa “divide,” and reveals where things really stand with Harry today.Shakira reveals: ◽ How bullying and identity struggles forged her confidence ◽ The surprising truth about Love Island casting and how she got on the show ◽ Why she broke down in tears to her chaperone before entering the villa ◽ Her unfiltered take on Harry and the accusations of gaslighting inside the villa ◽ Why she won’t judge another Love Islander again ◽ The truth about the villa “divide” ◽ Why she now feels proud of her mixed-race identity ◽ Where her relationship with Harry really stands - and if she sees a future with him Shakira Khan, We Need To Talk. Follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Follow Shakira: Instagram: https://g2ul0.app.link/XSsa2GZORWb TikTok: https://g2ul0.app.link/icWRTO7ORWb (00:00) Intro (02:16) Why is Shakira Ready to Tell Her Story Now? (02:53) Growing Up In Burnley (09:06) Shakira's Mixed Heritage (13:56) How Did Religion Impact Shakira's Upbringing? (19:04) Shakira's Young Social Circles (23:04) The P Word and Racism (25:54) When Did the Tide Change? (27:13) Romance and Racism (28:53) How Did Shakira Gain Self Worth? (31:50) Did Shakira Ever Have a Healthy Relationship? (34:20) Why Love Island? (40:04) How Did Shakira Get on Love Island? (52:41) Treatwell Ad (53:56) Tinder Ad (54:59) Shakira's Relationships on Love Island (01:00:57) Shakira Talks About Ben (01:04:27) Shakira Talks About Connor (01:07:28) Shakira Talks About Harry (01:13:08) Shakira Talks About Megan (01:14:54) The Divide in the Villa (01:22:49) Harry and Shakira's Mum (01:27:09) Perceptions of Shakira, Toni and Yasmin (01:31:11) What Did Shakira See in Harry? (01:37:30) What's Next for Shakira? (01:38:33) Most Memorable Conversation (01:40:29) Paul's Takeaways Sponsored by: Treatwell: http://Treatwell.co.uk with code PAUL20 - T&Cs apply Tinder: https://tinder.com/en-GB Get Your Tickets to the Love Better Tour: https://bit.ly/lovebetter-YT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:28.9	Terms and conditions apply.
0:30.9	This episode is presented by eBay.
0:34.7	Rob.
0:35.5	Everyone loves a deal and a bargain from time to time, don't they? Absolutely, mate. And do you know where you can grab a great deal? Talk to me. Where? The eBay app. Yes, you are correct. You didn't need to talk to me. I already knew it. I love eBay. When you're buying, you can discover loads of hidden gems. There's so many items where you think I would have never found that anywhere else. Then when you're selling, it's so simple and most importantly, free. It's free, Rob. When it's this easy to sell for free and there's great deals on things you love, you can't help but say when it's eBay. It excludes vehicles and business sellers. On Love Island, I feel like Harry was gaslighted other people. We could
1:11.7	all see what he was doing. Are you in love with him?
1:14.9	Shut the fuck up. You haven't got a halo around your head either. Going through high school,
1:21.0	the beauty standard was blonde, blue eyes, fake tan, and I was right at the bottom of the
1:27.4	barrel. And I really, really, was right at the bottom of the barrel.
1:27.7	And I really, really, really liked boy.
1:29.8	It was my first kiss.
1:30.9	But he was like racist.
1:33.6	He went to EDL March, but then there was a great shift.
1:37.4	In beauty standards.
1:38.8	What are you thinking you'll do?
1:40.0	I wanted to go on Love Island.
1:41.3	North Aldejaum female has been on that show and not being booted off.
	...

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