Reality television favourites Shakira Khan and Harry Cooksley, who captured hearts on Love Island 2025, have reached a significant personal milestone by moving into their first home together. The couple, who met on the popular ITV dating show just six months ago, shared their exciting news via a joyful social media announcement.
From Villa Romance to Real-World Home
Shakira and Harry's relationship journey has been closely followed by fans since their time in the Love Island villa. Their connection faced early challenges, including Harry's involvement in a love triangle with ex-partner Helena Ford during the series. Despite this rocky start, the pair rekindled their romance in the final weeks of the show and have since built a strong bond outside the villa.
Their decision to cohabit represents a major step forward, coming approximately seven months after leaving the reality programme. The move demonstrates their commitment to building a life together beyond the television spotlight.
Social Media Celebration
The couple made their announcement through a joint Instagram post that radiated happiness and new beginnings. The series of images showed them enthusiastically jumping around their new living space, celebrating with a cake, unpacking boxes from a removal van, and displaying new home cards.
They captioned the post simply but meaningfully: "new chapter???☁️?" The cloud and house emojis perfectly captured their optimistic outlook on this fresh start.
Support from Fellow Islanders
The announcement prompted an outpouring of support from their Love Island peers. Series 12 winner Toni Laites, a close friend of the couple, commented pointedly: "to think they doubted", referencing early scepticism about their relationship's longevity.
Fellow contestant Megan Forte Clarke also joined the celebration, writing: "yay congrats neighbours ????", suggesting geographical proximity between their homes. Harry added a particularly sweet personal touch to the comments section, noting: "Commenting this sitting on the floor next to you in our flat ??", emphasising the reality of their shared domestic moment.
Changed Living Plans
Interestingly, this cohabitation arrangement represents a shift from earlier living plans discussed by the couple and their friends. Previously, there had been suggestions that Shakira might move in with her close friend Toni Laites rather than with Harry.
Harry's friend Cach Mercer, who is Toni's boyfriend, humorously referenced this abandoned plan during an interview with Capital radio, stating: "She [Toni] said something about living with Shakira, I was like, 'yeah we'll bin that off'". Harry quickly confirmed he had similarly vetoed the arrangement, showing his determination to build a home with Shakira.
Overcoming Practical Challenges
The path to finding a London home hasn't been straightforward for either couple. Both Toni, who is American, and Shakira, who previously maintained a house in Burnley, faced difficulties securing properties in the capital. Toni revealed in October that her visa approval finally enabled her to find a London residence with Cach, clearing the way for both couples to establish their respective homes.
Reflections on Past Relationships
While happily settled with Shakira, Harry recently expressed sympathy for his ex-partner Helena Ford, who has reportedly struggled to find meaningful connections in the Love Island All Stars villa. During a TikTok review of recent All Stars episodes, Harry commented: "I would love to see someone who would be straight in, all in, on Helena. Like I'd honestly love to see that, because I did feel sorry for her again."
He added thoughtfully: "I think there needs to be someone who is just all in for her, wants to get to know her, like that's who they are going in the villa for." This shows Harry's capacity for reflection and goodwill toward past relationships even as he builds his future with Shakira.
The couple's home move represents more than just a change of address—it signifies their transition from reality television contestants to a genuine couple building a life together away from the cameras. Their journey continues to captivate audiences who followed their initial romance on screen and now witness its real-world development.
