![\"Picture](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_259001129-630e.jpg\")
\n\t\tShakira Khan was a contestant on last summer\u2019s Love Island, and finished in second place (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tShakira Khan was a contestant on last summer\u2019s Love Island, and finished in second place (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Shakira Khan came runner-up on\u00a0Love Island<\/a>\u00a02025 alongside her partner Harry Cooksley\u00a0\u2013\u00a0now\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0using her platform to bring awareness to domestic abuse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The 23-year-old was celebrated not only for her romantic connection on the show, but also her friendship with fellow finalists Toni\u00a0Laites\u00a0and Yasmin Pettet.<\/a><\/p>\n From the fierce loyalty she showed her girls during the season,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0clear she wants to support other women \u2013 and her involvement with Refuge\u2019s Home is Where the Hurt is campaign for\u00a0International Women\u2019s Day<\/a>\u00a0continues to prove that.\u00a0<\/p>\n Metro\u00a0spoke to Shakira about her experience\u00a0witnessing\u00a0domestic abuse while growing up\u00a0British-Pakistani\u00a0in Burnley,\u00a0Lancashire<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018That is the norm, domestic abuse is allowed,\u2019 she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shakira was keen to clarify\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0never\u00a0witnessed\u00a0violence in her own home, but\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0seen it in her wider circle of family and friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t \u2018Whether that be people\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0gone to school with and their mothers have gone through it, or colleagues with husbands who are coercing and controlling them.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It is completely normal, which is a real shame.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Although she pointed out\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not the case for all South Asian families, Shakira argued that her culture plays a part in normalising this behaviour.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n She said: \u2018I think what it stems back to is that it\u2019s been years and years of oppression against women, where they are almost property of the man.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Giving examples, Shakira explained: \u2018I know there have been women who\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0spoken\u00a0to\u00a0and their husbands\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0let them go shopping,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0let them go out and see their friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018He drops them off outside of work, picks them up outside of work, and\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0no other contact except the people at work. So that is like their sanctuary and they dread going home.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Emphasising how it can affect not just the women in families but also the kids, she said: \u2018Some of the children I went to school with would want to do every afterschool club on earth, because they didn\u2019t want to go home.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Years later, and Shakira thinks domestic abuse continues to be prevalent in her community now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Being witness to this perceived normality has shaped her in ways that she reflected on with\u00a0Metro.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It made me angry, but also in a way that I could channel it into a passion, to do something about it.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n She elaborated: \u2018There\u2019s like two ways you can react to a situation. You can be angry and then keep being angry and inflict that on somebody else. I could go and abuse my children, for example.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Or you can decide to break that cycle and do something about it. And\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0what I would like to do. I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want anybody to go through domestic abuse.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tRefuge: Home is Where The Hurt is\t\t\t<\/p>\n In England and Wales, one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and 75 women were killed by a current or former partner or family member in the year ending March 2025.<\/p>\n Refuge\u2019s International Women\u2019s Day campaign,\u00a0Home is Where the Hurt Is, exposes a devastating truth: the most dangerous place for a woman is her own home.<\/p>\n Watch the\u00a0charity’s campaign film here <\/a>to learn more.<\/p>\n Refuge\u2019s National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available on 0808 2000 247 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<\/p>\n If you or someone close to you has felt unsafe at home because of a current or former partner or family member, you can also contact Refuge here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The influencer from season 12 of the hit\u00a0ITV<\/a>\u00a0show wants to change things for future generations by encouraging people to challenge behaviours with the\u00a0appropriate support\u00a0behind them.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s\u00a0where Refuge comes in, who offer a 24\/7 domestic abuse helpline and a live chat service.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shakira acknowledged that asking for help might not feel so simple for somebody from a South Asian background.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I think it can be embarrassing, culturally. [\u2026]\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019re meant to stay in marriage.\u00a0Divorce<\/a>\u00a0is very stigmatised.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Leaving someone is stigmatised \u2013\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0property of your husband, if you have children with them,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0another external factor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018So,\u00a0I think a lot of women\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0spoken to feel very trapped and that\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0nothing that they can do.\u00a0So,\u00a0they put up with\u00a0it and\u00a0feel like\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0no other choice.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Shakira recounted an incident at work where she challenged a colleague who said if their wife talked back to them, then\u00a0they\u2019d\u00a0\u2018slap her\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n She said it turned into \u2018a whole HR\u00a0palaver\u2019 and\u00a0acknowledged that confrontation is \u2018not always the right way.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I think it can also put you in a dangerous position fighting back. I\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0recommend that. I think the thing to do is to speak to somebody.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n The reality TV star also wanted to reinforce the idea that this is something that needs to be addressed by both genders: \u2018Whether that be a son protecting a\u00a0mother or\u00a0not following in the footsteps of a father.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s not just for women; I really think that men should educate themselves on this\u00a0too and\u00a0start breaking down those generational patterns.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t When asked if she felt like there might be a fear from those outside the South Asian community of causing offence and being perceived as racist for implying abuse, Shakira responded: \u2018Absolutely.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018But anybody could be a victim of domestic abuse, whether that be male or female, any\u00a0gender<\/a>, any race.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I do think it could be a sensitive topic. [\u2026] But\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0why I would like to talk about it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve\u00a0seen it firsthand within my extended family.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I am half South Asian. I went to a\u00a0predominantly South\u00a0Asian primary\u00a0school,\u00a0I come from\u00a0a very diverse\u00a0town.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018So\u00a0I know it exists \u2013 you hear all different kinds of stories, and it is very real.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_271103563-4ac8.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe TV star remains close friends with her fellow finalists (Picture: Alan West\/Hogan Media\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_283717201-d159.jpg\")
\n\t\tShakira said she\u2019s always known if she had a platform, she\u2019d want to use her voice for other (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz\/Zuma Press Wire\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_262105622-066e.jpg\")
\n\t\tAfter leaving the villa, she appeared on shows like Loose Women and Lorraine (Picture: Ken McKay\/ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_257128159-b21f.jpg\")
\n\t\tShakira wants to help future generations make positive changes for the South Asian community (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Mandatory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_287142102-ef08.jpg\")
\n\t\tShakira recounted an incident at work which turned in \u2018a whole HR palava\u2019 (Picture: Alan West\/Hogan Media\/Shuttersto)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_255012751-faa5.jpg\")
\n\t\tShakira thinks it\u2019s everyone\u2019s responsibility to stop abuse (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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