Charleen Murphy is literally a breath of fresh air. When we walk into her hotel suite, she gives us the biggest hug. To us, she is the winner of Love Island.
She jokes about her connection with Kavan and his brother, Aidan and how similar they look.
“My friend’s dad was like, ‘Why do they keep taking on and off their tattoos?’ So he thought of one person who was like sticking them on every day,” she laughs. “I don’t know what they look like. I don’t think they’re that similar.”
When we sit down with her, she chats about how happy she was to go into Love Island when she did. She’s proud of herself she is. She also teases a big move as well as a new beauty collaboration.
Read our full chat below…
You obviously didn’t have the easiest time on Love Island. But are you glad you did it?
I’m so glad I did. I wouldn’t change a thing. The way I went in, everyone was like, “Oh, she should have done Casa. Like she was done dirty. But like going into Casa, you are fully aware that like you could be in Casa and go home after three days. I wasn’t naive to that. I think it was just how it was meant to be. People think, “Oh, you didn’t win. You didn’t do it right.” But I think I just showed who I was and was myself. I can’t be I can’t be critical of that. Like, that’s just what I did. And I’m happy that I did.
You coupled up with Kavan…It didn’t end well for you…
I think it was just a bad situation. I think he didn’t know how he was going to feel coming back in. It’s hard to picture what it’s like. Everyone’s under the same pressure in there. I know the feeling that I had; it’s so intense. So he obviously felt the same. I think he wanted to explore the connection with me and then decided not to. He’s not the villain for that. He’s entitled to do what he wants. No hard feelings for sure.
You definitely made Ireland proud. Are you proud of yourself?
Yeah, I really am. I think coming out, my mum was like, “You were so shy as a child. You’d go to a birthday party and drop off the present and leave. So to be offered to go on international TV and do it, takes balls.” She is so proud of me I think every opportunity comes at you for a reason. So I feel proud that I did it. I have no regrets going to Casa, no regrets going in at all or how I moved. Everything I did and said, I 100 per cent stick by in life. Like I never have the fear of anything I say. I’ve said it. It’s how I felt. If it’s bad, I could apologise. If it’s good, great. But I always stick by what I said. I think it was a good place for me to go into. I think if I were the type of person that would regret what they say, then it would be tough watching it back. But I really own what I say. I know who I am now at 27. I think had I gone on maybe at a younger age, it’d be different because I think you don’t really know your own opinions on things. I feel really happy that I went in when I did.
You have an incredible support system. Including some famous faces like Molly-Mae! Who has reached out that surprised you the most?
A lot of like past Islanders done from this season. They kind of all get it. We all have that mutual understanding of what it’s like and an instant connection with each other because we both live the same experience. But they’ve been really, really lovely. I saw Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing talking about the show. Now they are Team Jaz and Kav. But they were saying they’re like, “Oh, Charleen’s lovely, but we want them together and stuff.” So it’s mad hearing people that I like would listen to say your name and things like that. It’s crazy. And but yeah, it’s been lovely.
What surprised you most about the Love Island villa?
I was never bored. Oh my God. I thought I’d be bored. I thought you’d sit around. When you’re watching, you’re like how are they talking all day, all night? It is talking all day and night. There’s no dancing. There’s no music! It’s just talking, but it’s lovely. It’s nice to have time away from your phone, get to know people, be so engrossed in a conversation. I think that’s so rare these days because your phone’s always there. And even if you’re not on it, you’re thinking about it or even on a date, like your phone is always there. So to really get to know someone face to face was really lovely. I’m surprised at how well I managed without a phone. I thought I’d like struggle, but I loved it.
Being without your phone would be our nightmare…
Obviously, when you’re upset, that’s all you want to doom scroll. That’s taking your mind off being upset and going somewhere else. But in the villa, you have to sit with your feelings. We don’t do any anymore. There’s always something to distract ourselves with. So to be able to sit with them and process them was a really special thing in a way as well. And that’s probably why I was crying quite a bit, because I had to think about things.
You missed so much! The World Cup, Taylor Swift’s marriage, the All Ireland…
When I came out my friend was like, “Oh my God, by the way, Taylor Swift got married in MSG.” I missed a huge chapter. Fitzy asked me where Galway was in the league. But I’m not with GAA at all. I had no idea about that. You really don’t know what’s going on in the world. But that in itself is so peaceful.
Were you surprised by how quickly you found a connection?
I haven’t liked someone in, I’d say, a year since my breakup. I’ve just not been into anyone. I get the ick or completely stop talking straight away. So I was surprised by how quickly I did like someone. Maybe it was because it was intense that I actually did end up liking someone because I don’t want to give people a chance on the outside.
Give us a look inside your beauty bag. What are your three must-have beauty products for Love Island?
I’m actually launching a new collection with KASH Beauty. It‘s coming out really soon. It would have to be them. There’s more than three. But there’s one that we were all using. We were passing it along the line. Everyone’s used it and it stays on really well. For hair products, the ColorWow Dream Coat. There’s one day I didn’t use, and my hair was so frizzy and I was like, should have been used again. This is my friend has like mad curly hair and we were like washing her hands.
Where is your Charlene necklace from?
It’s called Argent and Asher. She hand makes them. People keep recognising me off the necklace!
How did you find the sleep situation?
It was like a big sleepover with your friends. And then the main villa, I was only in the main bedroom for one night and then I was up in the terrace bedroom. So it was on a single bed. That was less nice because you’re waking up to one person in the morning. But in the room to wake up with everyone, it’s so nice because that never happens in real life. When do you ever have a sleepover with loads of couples? Like it doesn’t happen.
What have you felt has been like the biggest opportunity that you’ve had?
Probably like really cool podcasts. I’m going on a cool podcast next week as well that was a dream guest that I wanted to have on our podcast, Hold My Drink, when we had it. So that’s really cool. I’m still finding my feet a little bit. It’s only been like a week. But I think the platform I have now is even bigger than what I had. So the sky’s the limit. Hopefully we’ll see what happens.
What is next for you?
I want to move to London. I’ve said it for years. But I was in a relationship, and the last year has been so busy that I haven’t had a chance. I’ve never lived out of Dublin. I just want to experience that and see what it’s like. London’s somewhere I’ve always loved. I think since I ever went there first, I felt like it was home. So I think London’s like makes sense.
