Life after Love Island couldn’t be better for Ovie Soko. His relationship with India Reynolds is still going strong, he’s bagged a lucrative deal with ASOS and is now a fashion model thanks to YouTube gang PAQ.
Despite the whirlwind fame since finishing as a finalist on the ITV dating series in August, we can confirm that Ovie is still very much the charismatic yet chilled out dude the nation came to adore over the long summer months.
With all the success and opportunities he’s enjoyed over the past two months, it’s no wonder Ovie reflects on his new life with a huge smile on his face.
‘Life’s been good. There’s been a lot going on obviously, but it’s been a lot of really positive energy, which is cool,’ Ovie told Metro.co.uk exclusively at his shoot with PAQ, one of YouTube’s most-watched fashion channels.
‘Me and India are really good. You know, everything is good, I really can’t complain. This moment in my life, I’m glad to be in the position I’m in, fortunate to be here.’
Undoubtedly Ovie’s biggest opportunity yet is his ASOS brand deal, which sees him modelling his collection of athleisure.
The 28-year-old joins several of his fellow Love Islanders who have bagged lucrative deals with clothing brands – Molly-Mae Hague for PrettyLittleThing, Maura Higgins for Boohoo, Tommy Fury for BoohooMAN, and Love Island winner Amber Gill for MissPap and Littlewoods.
Defending the swiftness of their deals after leaving the villa, Ovie said: ‘Helpful criticism is always good but there will always be criticism regardless.
‘I don’t get caught up with the haters, it’s a genuine opinion someone has so it’s just something I feel is right for me. I stick with all my decisions, I wouldn’t make a decision that I wouldn’t have made beforehand.
‘If I was able to possibly work with ASOS for any reason, I think my morals and things I stand for are in line [with the brand].
‘I think that’s the most important thing, through all of this, the lights and the circus and everything is just make sure you’re staying true to yourself with all your decisions and I’ve done that.’
When we speak to Ovie, it’s bang in the midst of reports claiming his girlfriend India had cheated on him with her footballer ex Kieran Gibbs – allegations which were denied.
Despite the scrutiny, Ovie and India put on a united front and he insists their relationship is still going from strength to strength.
‘India’s great man, she’s an absolute sweetheart. We’re absolutely fine, we’re happy,’ he told us.
‘We’re moving and taking positive steps and trying as much as possible to just mind our business and get on with our relationship. But India’s she’s really good.’
Phew.
And like the true gentleman he is, Ovie defended his leading lady against the false rumours.
‘It’s been really tough for her just because I don’t think it’s ever nice to say mean things to anyone, regardless of if you think it’s in defense of someone,’ he said.
‘And a lot of time comments come from a place of care, but we are all people at the end of the day, we’re all humans.
‘It doesn’t matter who you see on TV or radio – Beyonce is a human just like me and you.’
He added: ‘I think sometimes it can be a bit easy to maybe forget that we are all actually humans. You just see some people more than others and that’s literally the only difference.
‘But India’s great.’
As well as his and India’s romance still going strong, you’ll also be pleased to know that Ovie is still the best of friends with his Love Island pal Amber.
The basketball player has been on-hand to support Amber following her split from Greg O’Shea, five weeks after they won this year’s series.
Frankly, Amber seems to have bounced back just fine after their shock split and Ovie isn’t worried about his friend.
‘Amber’s cool, she’s a strong lady. She’s absolutely awesome and I think she’ll be fine moving forward,’ he revealed.
Refusing to speak negatively of Greg, he continued: ‘I think in all situations, regardless, as a community, as a society, we should do a better job of uplifting without any victims.
‘Because it doesn’t need to be a victim in any situation in order to help someone get through a tough time. There doesn’t always have to be a bad guy.
‘I think as a society, as a culture in the world now, too much of the time we’re all guilty at some point of maybe pointing a finger here or there.
‘Every last one of us, there’s not one of us that is not guilty of doing that at some point.’
He added: ‘So I just think it’ll just make it a nicer place for all of us, to help our mates when they need a hand, support the people that we care about and focus on their happiness and not anything else.’
Personal dramas aside, Ovie’s got his eye firmly on the prize and focusing on work.
The TV star was the perfect muse for the PAQ boys, who each selected an outfit for Ovie to wear for the episode based on their own individual styles.
PAQ are Shaq, Danny, Elias and Dex whose individual styles range from 1960s to goth and everything in between. Their YouTube channel is one of the most popular fashion channels on the platform and they boast more than 726,000 subscribers. Past stars to feature in one of their episodes, include Maya Jama and rapper Aitch.
Speaking of their admiration for Ovie’s style, Shaq explained: ‘This guy is absolutely legendary. Countless people come on TV and become instant celebrities but to have a persona and be absolutely genuine and have people gravitate towards you because you’re cool, fly and funny, is rare.
‘He just seemed like a genuine guy and his style is iconic.’
Ovie added: ‘Each outfit [which PAQ chose] has its own personality and I’m very much a believer of staying very true to yourself. Even with how you carry yourself I’m very much about just being you.
‘They’ve seen certain things that I like, but they’re staying in their own lane and still being themselves.
‘I think it’s just the way to be. I’m more uncomfortable being myself than I would if I was trying to dress like someone else and trying to follow trends. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable in a lot of them. I just wear what I like.’
When he’s not getting into his modelling bag, Ovie plans on returning to basketball later this year with hopes of playing in the British Basketball League Championships (BBL).
And then there’s of course his passion for cooking.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what Chef Ovie would whip up in the kitchen for a special night, he teases: ‘Shrimp Alfredo or something like that. A bit of garlic bread on the side, maybe a cheeky white wine.’
Erm, we’ll be round for dinner next week, then.
Ovie Soko’s episode with the PAQ boys is available to watch on YouTube now.
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