IN CONVERSATION WITH TONI LAITES

interview by JANA LETONJA

Toni Laites isn’t your typical ‘Love Island’ winner. She made history this year as the first American to win ‘Love Island UK’, captivating millions with her unapologetic attitude, chaotic humour, and “no-nonsense brat energy.” Since leaving the villa, Toni’s done what few reality stars dare. With Charli XCX and Cara Delevingne among her fans, an i-D feature already under her belt, and a self-produced documentary on ulcerative colitis highlighting her advocacy for invisible illnesses, she’s redefining what post-villa success can look like.

You made ‘Love Island’ history as the first American to ever win the UK version. How does that feel now that the dust has settled?

Honestly, I feel like the dust will never settle. I think every day is still a shock to me because I didn’t think winning over a UK series as an American was even possible. I just have so much gratitude for how everything played out.

What made you want to go on ‘Love Island’ in the first place, and did you expect to connect with audiences the way you did?

Going on the show was never a goal of mine. If I’m honest, I hadn’t even watched it before. I got approached at work in Vegas a couple of weeks before the show was starting and my friends all convinced me to take this once in a lifetime opportunity while I had it. I didn’t go in with the highest of hopes being the first American on an obviously predominately UK centered show. Like everything else in life, I always have a “You’re either going to love me or hate me attitude.”

You entered as the first bombshell. What was going through your head that first day in the villa?

My nerves were honestly getting the best of me walking into that villa. The producers didn’t tell me much about anything at all and I had never seen the rest of the cast in the way bombshells normally do. I had no clue I was walking into Maya Jama telling me I had to steal a man on the spot. I remember being so happy I wore a long dress because my legs were literally shaking. My decision to steal Ben was definitely one made from panic. 

The show can be intense. How did you keep your sense of humour and authenticity in such a high-pressure environment?

I actually compared being in the villa to my job most of the time. Working in Miami and Vegas, I was used to sitting in the heat dealing with crazy customers and always having to put my best foot forward. The same big personalities and high pressure environments from home found me in Mallorca. I’ve always found success in being myself in the past, so I think it translated well on the show.

You’ve skipped the usual ‘Love Island’ post-show route — no fast fashion deals, no predictable sponsorships. Was that a conscious choice?

It was definitely a conscious choice to make these decisions, but I also have to acknowledge the privilege I have to even be able to make these choices. You never know what the outcome of the show will bring you in terms of success, and luckily I am in the position to be picky about my work. I want to create a long lasting, unexpected career and change people’s impressions of a typical Islander. 

You’ve already been featured in i-D, and even Charli XCX and Cara Delevingne have shouted you out. How does it feel to have that kind of cultural crossover?

I think moments like those are when Shakira, Yas and I were really like WTF. We spent 8 weeks in that villa thinking the whole world was against us, so for icons we’ve looked up to for so long to have any idea who we are was mind blowing. I think i-D was such a culturally shifting moment for our careers and I am eternally thankful for how so many different people resonated with us through their screens.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about ‘Love Island’ winners, and about you?

I think the biggest misconception about ‘Love Island’ winners or contestants in general is that we’re phony or materialistic. I have heard so many nasty things about how we’re only on the show for fame, my relationship is fake, we’re clout chasers, etc. Anyone who knows me knows I was being myself on that show and I’ve wanted to be in a serious relationship for so, so long. Winning the 25k and coming out to so many followers was just a bonus. I really left with the love of my life and my best friends. The biggest purchase I made was 6 months of rent so I could relocate for my new life, there was no shopping sprees over here.          

How do you decide what parts of your life to share and what to keep private now that everyone’s watching?

This is actually something I struggle with everyday. I came onto the show with 3k IG followers and only really posting for my birthday or when I’m on vacation. I didn’t have a TikTok account at all. Now I have over 1 million followers on both platforms and people expecting me to post everyday, but I will always put my mental health and privacy first. When I do post, it’s something I am proud of or find valuable to my followers. I do owe our fans parts of my life because I wouldn’t be here without them, but I think I create a healthy balance especially when it comes to my relationship.

How do you deal with online opinions, especially when reality TV tends to amplify everything?

I’d love to sit here and tell you online opinions have no effect on me, but in reality that’s not the truth. Luckily, the love outweighs the hate in my case, but sometimes I have to remind myself that the people’s opinions who matter aren’t hiding behind a screen and a fake username. You just have to laugh it off and think about how miserable one has to be to comment something nasty about someone else.

You’ve spoken openly about living with ulcerative colitis and even made a documentary about it. What inspired you to share that story publicly?

I honestly didn’t have a choice about sharing my story. Due to my very limited digital footprint from before the show, the one thing that came up when you Googled me was a story from my local Connecticut news about me being hospitalized at 17 from a debilitating UC flare and being able to go to prom. I had always dreamed about being able to educate people on IBD and thankfully now I have the platform to do so. I never want anyone to feel as lost and alone as I did when I was really sick and now I get to talk about what once made me so uncomfortable with one of my best friends.

What kind of projects are you most excited to explore next?

I think ‘Love Island’ made me realize that television was the perfect platform to showcase my personality, so I would love to be back on your TVs in the upcoming year. As we’ve discussed, I am really trying to change the idea of the typical Islander so I want to do things that are unexpected, maybe documentaries, or presenting, or working with brands who wouldn’t typically choose reality talent. I never could’ve imagined little waitress me would even be saying these words 5 months ago, so I am extremely excited for whatever the future brings.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent TONI LAITES
photography GEORGIE WILDING
stying NADA
interview JANA LETONJA