With the dust settling on Season 8 of the hit reality dating show Love Island, fans have begun to realize that the latest incarnation lacked one of the things that made the show so strong: female friendships. Since the inception of the show, several female contestants looking for love end up making profound platonic relationships with other women in the villa, many of which have lasted much longer than the winning romances.
Whether it's Cara and Olivia, Anna and Amber, Maura and Molly-Mae, or Kaz and Liberty, watching the best female friendships blossom on Love Island remains one of the most pleasant surprises the show has to offer.
Cara And Olivia - Season 2
In Season 2 of the popular reality dating show, Cara De La Hoyde and Olivia Bowen (nee Buckland) spent a ton of time together inside the villa getting to know each other and supporting each other's romantic decisions. Olivia was quick to encourage Cara to pursue a romance with Nathan, with whom she now shares two children. The two even grew closer after the show ended, with Olivia asking Cara to be her bridesmaid at her wedding to Alex Bowen.
While Cara and Olivia reportedly had a fall out in 2018, the two repaired their rift in 2020 (per Capital FM), with Olivia saying "life is too short" to stay mad. Since the lockdown, Cara and Olivia have been "chatting quite a bit" and regularly keeping tabs on each other. While it's been a while, it's impossible to forget the juicy gossip, joke-telling, and candid conversations about love Cara and Olivia demonstrated.
Camilla And Montana - Season 3
While Gabby Allen and Camilla Thurlow had a very supportive friendship during season 3, it was the bond between Camilla and Montana Brown that really resonated among fans. The two hung out in the villa for 50 days together, bonded intensely, trusted each other's opinions, and really went to bat for each other several times on the show.
Proving the old adage that actions speak louder than words, the way in which Montana asked Camilla if she wanted her to laugh so it would appear to Jamie as if she wasn't upset really went above and beyond what is seen among the female friends on the guilty-pleasure dating show.
Amber And Olivia - Season 3
The combustible chemistry between Amber Davies and Olivia Atwood lit up the screen from day one during Season 3, leading to one of the funniest and most entertaining gal pal dynamics on the show. Despite their six-year age gap, Amber and Olivia hit it off from the jump and spent 52 days in the villa getting to know each other well. They remain close friends to this day and often enjoy nights on the town together.
Between their hysterical double date with Kem and Chris, their candid confessionals together, or their support for one another during the Casa Amor drama, Amber and Olivia never wavered in their loyalty to each other. For a perfect example of their natural rapport, enjoy a hilarious Christmas party rant the pair made well after the show ended.
Dani And Samira - Season 4
Londoners Dani Dyer and Samira Mighty had one of the strongest female bonds on Love Island Season 4. Just one year apart in age, the two shared similar interests and sensibilities that drew them together almost instantly. However, what really makes their bond so memorable is the motivational pep talk Dani gave to Samira in her most vulnerable moment.
"You are one of the most amazing, beautiful, stunning, secure, funniest girls I've ever met," says Dani as she continues to support Samira with glowing words of encouragement that instilled confidence in her and gave her the strength to open her heart in the villa again. A true friendship that persists to this day, it's easy to see why Dani and Samira care for each other so much.
Anna And Amber - Season 5
Despite admitting that she didn't like Amber Gill upon her first impression (via YouTube), she and Anna Vakili became one of the strongest gal pals in Season 5. One of the biggest bonding points came when Anna went ballistic on Michael for shockingly dumping Amber when she did nothing to deserve it.
Both extremely fierce, independent, and strong-willed, Anna and Amber always had each other's backs and rarely had any sort of dust-up or row between each other. The biggest tell-tell sign of their lasting bond? The two remain close three years after the show ended, with their effortless chemistry on display as they reveal hidden Love Island secrets viewers missed in Season 5 (per YouTube).
Maura And Molly-Mae - Season 5
The heated rivalry between the hilariously outgoing alpha females Maura Higgins and Molly-Mae Hague turned into one of the sweetest and most memorable female friendships in Love Island history. At first, they vied for Tommy Fury. However, once Tommy and Molly-Mae got together and Maura found her match in Curtis, the two began besties in the villa who traded as many witty jokes as helpful pep talks.
Like the best Love Island gal pals, Maura and Molly-Mae remain extremely tight in 2022, proving that intense romantic rivals can be reconciled and improved en route to becoming genuine besties. Watching the playful interactions between Maura and Molly-Mae prove that they're also the funniest female friendship other than Season 3's Amber and Olivia.
Yewande, Anna And Amber - Season 5
Although Yewande Biala lasted just 22 days in the villa, the emotional support she received from both Anna and Amber deserves to be included among the most touching and tender female bonds on the acclaimed reality dating show. Yewande had her heart broken by Michael, leaving it up to Anna and Amber to help pick up the pieces and encourage her to keep going with her head held high.
While Amber and Anna's kinship accelerated for 30 days after Yewande departed the villa, the trio supported each other in the first three weeks by building an implicit trust. Yewande whispering in Amber's ears for advice regarding the Danny and Arabella drama proves how much she can rely on her advice. Even three years later, Amber, Anna, and Yewande remain extremely close as seen in the video above.
Paige And Shauna - Season 6
Every Love Island fan will agree that Season 6's Paige Turley and Shauna Phillips had one of the most genuine emotional connections in the villa. One of the biggest bonding moments between them came when Callum brazenly dumped Shaughna after the Love Island Casa Amor drama, after which Paige stood up for Shaughna and vocally supported her the rest of the season.
Whether hanging out for hours on end in the villa, making tea, trading sarcastic barbs, bigging each other up, or telling each other secrets, Paige and Shaughna became so close in the villa that Shaughna's 1st-place winning partner, Finn Tapp, readily accepted Paige as part of their unofficial threesome.
Sophie And Leanne - Season 6
Although their time in the villa lasted three weeks or so, there's no denying how friendly Sophie Piper and Leanne Amaning became in such a short time. The way they two constantly snuck around the villa to spy on the islanders at night as if they were on a romantic recon mission provided endless amusement. Unfortunately, most of their best moments together were edited out of the broadcast and saved for the Unseen Bits online.
Regardless, the chemistry between Sophie and Leene was off the charts, with the two volleying hilarious lines with each other while retaining a playful rapport. Seriously, who can forget the time Leanne told Sophie, "Your bumhole's in my face" after the two were rolling around together?
Kaz And Liberty - Season 7
Kaz Kamwi and Liberty Pool stood out in Season 7 as being not just the best female friendship but also the best Love Island bond period. The effortless connection was forged on their first day in the villa and persisted all the way to the controversial ending that left fans wanting more. Despite their five-year age gap, Kaz and Liberty appear to be legitimate sisters from different misters.
Solidifying their status as besties well after the show ended, Kaz and Liberty's kinship was so eye-opening that several think pieces have since been written about how the real winners on Love Island are indeed the females who make lasting bonds that often eclipse their romantic pairings (per Cosmopolitan). Kaz and Liberty prove the old adage that money can't buy love.