Alima Gagigo, the star of Love Island 2025, has spoken out about the extraordinary moment she delivered her sister at home, and she is determined to change the villa.
Love Island stunner Alima Gagigo is already making headlines – and not just for her villa debut. In a story that’s as jaw-dropping as it is heartwarming, the 23-year-old Londoner has revealed she once delivered her baby sister at home using a shoelace to tie the umbilical cord.
The incident happened in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, ahead of the brand new series kicking off on Monday June 9, Alima shared the extraordinary moment that proved she’s not just reality TV-ready – she’s resilient under pressure, too.
“Yeah! It was back in January 2020. My sister’s a COVID baby,” she said. “It was just me and my mum at home, and the labour was 15 minutes. I had to tie the umbilical cord with a shoelace while on the phone with paramedics. It was scary but amazing looking back.”
Alima is a wealth management client services executive living in Glasgow. Now, the educated beauty is swapping emergency home births for bikinis and bombshell drama in the sun-soaked Love Island villa, and she’s determined to make a difference while doing it. Representation, she says, is front and centre.
“100%. Watching women like Whitney changed my life last year, Alima told us. If I can be that person this year, it might inspire others who might want to perform in the future. The importance of representation
Following in the footsteps of fan favorite love island star Whitney Adebayo, who appeared as a bombshell on the 10th series, Alima is entering the ITV2 spotlight. And it turns out Whitney already has feelings for her fellow Islander.
This is the first time I’ve heard it, in fact, and I didn’t know that! She responded when she learned about Whitney’s online support. I adored her journey and continued to follow her. I could relate a lot to another woman with dark skin. She might be able to help me because she is aware of what I might be going through.
Her family has been cheering her on from the sidelines, and the support from her circle has been overwhelming.
“Everyone is buzzing!” Family and friends are incredibly excited. When she dropped me at the airport, my mother was particularly excited, taking pictures and everything.
And while Love Island’s latest season is already making headlines – ITV bosses recently confirmed they won’t shy away from showing sex on screen if it happens – Alima admits she is “going to stay true to myself.”
I don’t really do that kind of thing on the outside, so I don’t think I’ll be doing much in the villa either.
Fans are already enthralled by that upbeat energy. Alima is focused on being authentic, claiming she is “not really anxious” about how her role on the show will be perceived as a Black woman.
She continued, “Seeing women like Whitney and Mimii [Ngulube] last year who were themselves and came across amazing gave me confidence.” Regardless of stereotypes, I want to be who I am fully.
She is also unafraid to laugh, especially when it comes to her biggest dating blunders.
“I wouldn’t know what to say if someone rapped or sang to me and it was bad,” I would be honest. If it’s good, that’s fair enough, but not awkward.
Alima is undoubtedly more than prepared to hit the villa as the 2025 series debuts with a new group of hopefuls and more drama than ever.
From Monday, June 9th, Love Island will be available on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm every night.
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Source: Mirror
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