In a sizzling twist that has set tongues wagging, Love Island’s Helena Ford has seemingly thrown shade at her fellow villa stars, igniting a firestorm of drama just weeks after leaving the sun-soaked Spanish villa. The blonde bombshell, who captured hearts during this year’s series, appears to have taken a bold swipe at her former co-stars Shakira Khan, Toni Laites, and Yasmin Pettet with a cheeky TikTok post that’s got everyone talking.
Helena, who was coupled up with Harry Cooksley for much of the season before he dramatically recoupled with Shakira Khan—leading them to a runner-up finish—shared a playful video from a hairdresser’s chair. With her hair wrapped in foils, she showcased her transformation into a radiant blonde, but it was the audio she chose that raised eyebrows. Miming to a clip from actress Ariana Greenblatt, who played the “mean girl” daughter in the Barbie movie, Helena lip-synced: “Whatever, we all know blondes have more fun, because their bleach is in their hair, let’s talk about it.” The subtle dig didn’t go unnoticed, with fans speculating it was aimed at Shakira, Toni, and Yasmin, who were often portrayed as the villa’s “mean girls” this season.
5 Love Island star Helena Ford appears to take a swipe at some of her show rivalsCredit: @helenaforddd / TikTok
5 She seemed to poke fun at Shakira, Yasmin and ToniCredit: @helenaforddd / TikTok
5 Helena was dumped by Harry who moved on with ShakiraCredit: @helenaforddd / TikTok
5 Shakira, Toni and Yasmin said they made good friends in the villa
The timing of Helena’s TikTok couldn’t have been more pointed, dropping just as i-D Magazine published a feature interview with the trio, where they celebrated their brunette pride and, in Shakira’s case, representation of the South Asian community. Shakira reflected on her Love Island journey, admitting she initially feared being overlooked in a villa where “blonde hair, blue-eyed girls” typically steal the spotlight. “What have I signed up for?” she mused in the interview. “Everyone’s gonna love the blonde hair, blue-eyed girls, we see year in year out on Love Island. I thought, based on initial attraction, it wasn’t going to go well for me, but I was pleasantly surprised.”
The brunette trio also opened up about the frosty dynamics they faced in the villa, describing an atmosphere rife with “classic high school behaviour.” Shakira didn’t hold back, detailing the “snickers, whispers, and dirty looks” they endured. “When you come around the corner and they stop talking, you feel isolated, it feels frosty, really tense, and it’s not nice,” she said. “It wasn’t a bad edit; we tried to fix it, but that was our experience, we lived it.” Despite the tension, Shakira, Toni, and Yasmin leaned on their tight-knit friendship to navigate the villa’s challenges with grace.
Helena’s TikTok jab has sent shockwaves through the Love Island fandom, with many interpreting it as a direct response to the trio’s comments about the villa’s cliquey vibe. The post has sparked heated debates online, with some praising Helena for her bold clapback and others accusing her of stirring the pot. Meanwhile, Shakira, Toni, and Yasmin have remained unfazed, focusing on their post-villa successes. Toni, who won the series alongside Cach and pocketed a cool £50,000 prize, continues to shine, while Shakira and Harry, as well as Yasmin and Jamie, are proving their relationships are built to last.
Yet, amidst the romantic triumphs, the trio emphasized that the real prize from their Love Island experience was the unbreakable bond they forged. “We bagged ourselves new fellas, but the friendships we made are the true win,” Toni said in the i-D interview. Their resilience in the face of villa drama and Helena’s pointed jab only underscores their strength as a unit.