Shakira Khan EXCLUSIVE: The Truth About Love Island & Growing Up Mixed Race
Love Island star Shakira Khan breaks her silence in her first ever podcast interview.
In this exclusive conversation, Shakira opens up about growing up mixed-race in Burnley, the beauty standards that shattered her confidence, and the behind-the-scenes reality of life inside the Love Island villa.
For the first time, she spills the tea on her fellow islanders, lifts the lid on the villa “divide,” and reveals where things really stand with Harry today.Shakira reveals:
◽ How bullying and identity struggles forged her confidence
◽ The surprising truth about Love Island casting and how she got on the show
◽ Why she broke down in tears to her chaperone before entering the villa
◽ Her unfiltered take on Harry and the accusations of gaslighting inside the villa
◽ Why she won’t judge another Love Islander again
◽ The truth about the villa “divide”
◽ Why she now feels proud of her mixed-race identity
◽ Where her relationship with Harry really stands - and if she sees a future with him
Shakira Khan, We Need To Talk.
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https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
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Instagram: https://g2ul0.app.link/XSsa2GZORWb
TikTok: https://g2ul0.app.link/icWRTO7ORWb
(00:00) Intro
(02:16) Why is Shakira Ready to Tell Her Story Now?
(02:53) Growing Up In Burnley
(09:06) Shakira's Mixed Heritage
(13:56) How Did Religion Impact Shakira's Upbringing?
(19:04) Shakira's Young Social Circles
(23:04) The P Word and Racism
(25:54) When Did the Tide Change?
(27:13) Romance and Racism
(28:53) How Did Shakira Gain Self Worth?
(31:50) Did Shakira Ever Have a Healthy Relationship?
(34:20) Why Love Island?
(40:04) How Did Shakira Get on Love Island?
(52:41) Treatwell Ad
(53:56) Tinder Ad
(54:59) Shakira's Relationships on Love Island
(01:00:57) Shakira Talks About Ben
(01:04:27) Shakira Talks About Connor
(01:07:28) Shakira Talks About Harry
(01:13:08) Shakira Talks About Megan
(01:14:54) The Divide in the Villa
(01:22:49) Harry and Shakira's Mum
(01:27:09) Perceptions of Shakira, Toni and Yasmin
(01:31:11) What Did Shakira See in Harry?
(01:37:30) What's Next for Shakira?
(01:38:33) Most Memorable Conversation
(01:40:29) Paul's Takeaways
Sponsored by:
Treatwell: http://Treatwell.co.uk with code PAUL20 - T&Cs apply
Tinder: https://tinder.com/en-GB
Get Your Tickets to the Love Better Tour: https://bit.ly/lovebetter-YT
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We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson
The most powerful conversations are the ones we usually avoid. Hosted by Paul C. Brunson, We Need To Talk is a show that empowers people to have the conversations they avoid by creating a safe, supportive, and insightful space that encourages vulnerability, self-discovery, and real-world connection.
From breakups to breakthroughs, conflict to connection, we go beyond the headlines to uncover the human experiences and relationships that define us.
Instagram: @needtotalk
TikTok: @weneedtotalkpod
- No. of episodes: 67
- Latest episode: 2025-09-25
- Society & Culture Leisure Relationships
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