If you're a diehard Love Island fan, you're likely Team Olivia and Alex Bowen from Love Island UK. The duo met as contestants on the show in 2016, fell in love, and tied the knot two years later. Olivia and Alex have a two-year-old son together, Abel Jacob "AJ," and are expecting baby number two. We had the pleasure of chatting with the Love Island UK couple and learned what really happens off-camera, their top tips on how to win the show, and when they knew they found "the one."
Olivia and Alex Bowen's Love Island Playbook: What to Do (and What Not to Do!)
Let's be honest: It's tough work trying to find your soulmate under normal everyday circumstances. Throw an exotic island into the mix with bikinis, Prosecco, drama, and anywhere from 25 to 36+ other singles who are competing for the same thing, and you've pretty much got a hot mess to deal with! Lucky for you, the first question we asked Olivia and Alex was the best advice they could give contestants to turn the hot mess into success.
"My big do is to remember why you're there—go in with an open mind (and heart!)," Olivia tells us. "Be genuine, because viewers and fellow Islanders can spot game-playing a mile away. It's easy to get caught up in the drama, but always stay true to yourself."
Alex reminds everyone how important it is to embrace the experience, saying, "Don't forget to enjoy every moment. Yes, it's intense, but it goes by quickly, so soak it all in."
As far as don'ts are concerned, Alex warns, "Don't force a connection just because you think you should pair up. If it's not there, it's not there!"
Would Olivia and Alex Bowen Have Played Love Island Differently?
Because hindsight is 20/20, the pair admits they may have done just a few things differently.
For instance, Alex tells us, "We've thought about [what we'd do differently], and the truth is we wouldn't change much because every single twist and turn led us to where we are now. Maybe I'd have asked Olivia out on an 'official' date sooner, but everything worked out in the end!"
Olivia's thoughts? "Maybe I'd stress less about what the public were thinking or how I came across," she says. "But then again, our journey was our journey, mistakes and all. It made us stronger, and that's what truly matters."
When Olivia and Alex Knew They Found "The One"
Olivia knew the moment Alex took her aside to chat one evening in the villa that he was "the one." She shares, "He was so genuine, not just about fancying me (which helps, obviously!), but about wanting something real beyond the show. I had a 'this could be it' spark."
Alex experienced his spark during a fireside convo with Olivia. "We were both being silly and serious at the same time," Alex says. "She just got me, and I remember thinking, 'I can see myself leaving here with her—and staying with her.'" And they did!
The Couple Reveals What Fans Don't See, but Want To Know
We want to know the juicy behind-the-scenes scoop, and here it is.
First of all, there's a good balance of chill with a dash of drama.
"People don't realize how many hours of downtime there actually are," Olivia shares. "You see the highlights, but we spent a lot of time just chatting or sunbathing while waiting for the next challenge or recouping. It can be pretty [chill] at times!"
Also, it was interesting to learn that the food situation is on-point. And of course, we all know that a good meal can facilitate quality bonding. "We had these huge buffet-style meals each day that you never see on TV," Alex says. "Some of our best bonding moments happened over big plates of pasta and gossip in the kitchen area."
What Are Olivia and Alex Bowen up to Now?
Every couple has their favorite interests to share with each other. Olivia and Alex find traveling together to be especially romantic and fun. That's where their latest initiative, "Romance by Rail," comes into play.
"We've always found train journeys in Europe to be incredibly dreamy, not only because it is such a convenient way to explore Europe, especially with Trainline making it really easy to find the right journey, at the right price and the ability to book in your own language, but also because of the laid-back nature of traveling this way," they tell us. "It's just us, our seats, and the window offering some of the most stunning views in the world. Trains in Europe sometimes have a snack car too! It almost feels like a date on the go, a chance to relax and connect while exploring new places."
Trainline is offering the opportunity for one lucky couple to win an all-expenses-paid, 24-hour vacay to London and Paris. Think breakfast in bed in a luxurious five-star London hotel complete with first-class rail tickets to Paris. The couple will also enjoy an intimate dinner at the Michelin-starred Lucas Carton. Enter the sweepstakes on the Trainline website here through March 11, 2025, 11:59 p.m. PT.
"We're total suckers for the rail journeys … from London to Paris," the Bowens tell us. "It's so unique to zip through the countryside, then suddenly realize you're actually going under the sea in a train—like, how surreal! You pop out the other side, and before you know it, you're surrounded by the rolling French countryside, all leading you straight into the heart of the ultimate city of love … It's the perfect mix of adventure and romance, all wrapped up in one very memorable rail journey."
