Mica Harris is among the six women taking part in Love Island’s 2026 summer series, but her relative was originally pegged for a spot on the show
Kimberly Nhundu Under 35s Screen Time reporter
20:00, 30 May 2026
Mica Harris is one of the starting line-up of girls in Love Island’s 2026 summer series(Image: @mica_harris/Instagram)
One of the new Love Island girls has revealed she wasn’t the casting producers’ first pick.
Mica Harris is among six women heading into the Majorca villa on Monday (June 1st) and she first came across the opportunity last Christmas.
The 21-year-old student was in her home country of Barbados when an ITV talent scout approached her older sister, Viviana, with hopes of getting her on the show.
“I was at home and my sister was out and she [casting producer] started speaking to my sister about the show, and was actually initially asking my sister if she wanted to do it,” Mica revealed to OK! and other publications before starting her TV stint.
But Viviana turned down the opportunity and recommended Mica to the casting team.
Mica’s older sister Viviana was originally approached by Love Island producers (Image: @mica_harris/Instagram)
“My sister was like ‘No, but my little sister would love to,'” Mica recalled. “Then the casting producer reached out to me, we started speaking and then the whole process kind of got going.”
Now that she’s on the cast, Mica believes her journey was “serendipitous” because she had always told friends that she would take part in Love Island if the opportunity arose.
With just days left until the new season kicks off, the newfound reality star is “really excited” for a new challenge.
“I like to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I think when an opportunity like this arises, you should take it,” she added.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
It seems things aligned for Viviana too because she found a new boyfriend after turning down the ITV role.
When asked why her sister rejected the gig, Mica explained: “She lives in New York, first off – she’s not even in the UK. And I don’t think she can imagine herself being on TV.
“She’s very similar to me, we’re both very loud and bubbly. But she also just started at a new job and she’s very content with her life in New York. Funnily enough, now she has a boyfriend. So it’s good that that didn’t work out.”
Love Island’s new summer series begins on June 1 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.