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Shakira Khan EXCLUSIVE: The Truth About @LoveIsland & Growing Up Mixed Race

We Need To Talk

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‪@LoveIsland‬ 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.

Follow me here:
Instagram: needtotalk
TikTok: weneedtotalkpod

Follow Shakira:
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, Tony 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!

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20 Comments

@WeNeedToTalk-Podcast Creator 1 year ago (edited) Pinned

We’ve got a favour to ask! 🧡If you love this chat with Shakira, hit subscribe and give it some HYPE! 🎉 It’s YouTube’s new way of showing love and helps more people find these conversations 🙌 What was your favourite moment? 👇

@GraceHicks-w7h 1 year ago

This was absolutely the best podcast for Shakira to be on. Not all drama and a little bit of childhood. An intelligent interesting deep dive into her culture, personality, childhood and beliefs. Not all podcasts do that. Really shows what she is like from the inside instead of just a drama based podcast… well done Paul. This one was brilliant 🎉

@Ellierua 1 year ago

It's hard to believe she's only 22. She's so well spoken, intelligent and likeable. I'm an oldie but I can see Shakira having a showbiz career and longevity. She has IT, whatever that is!

@OliviaMorris-wm8sl 1 year ago

am I the only one that automatically thought Shakira was the prettiest? Nothing against the other girls they are beautiful as well but me personally I just always loved her from the start. Her race or religion or anything never crossed my mind when watching her.

@Bufoniform 1 year ago

So proud of her for talking about the racism in the villa, it was extremely obvious and I’m glad she isn’t shying away ✨✨

@marthaplant834 1 year ago

Wow as a white female, The villa racism really was SO real. It was right under our noses. Shakira is making HUGE moves speaking out about this ❤

@jacquelineb5073 1 year ago

One of the best episodes yet. I’m old enough to be her Mum, but found Shakira to be so articulate, intelligent and grounded. A great role model for young women.

@oliviabrown390 1 year ago

This girl is 22 and speaks like she has had 40 years of life experience. Her mum should be so proud of the woman she’s raised. She speaks with so much truth which is so hard to pursue in any type of media but at 22 she does it effortlessly. This podcast was so good.

@MizHafHaf 1 year ago

I’m 10 years older than Shakira and it breaks my heart that South Asians are still having the exact same experiences in school with racism that I had. I really thought things had changed since I went to school. So glad she’s doing interviews like this, amazing girl so articulate and she deserves all the success she is getting

@isthatlois566 1 year ago

“When did a lion ever care about the opinion of sheep?” Drops mic. Thank you Paul for creating a space where Shakira could be authentically herself. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this interview 👏🏾

@Lorglitz 1 year ago

This is why I always said “representation matters” - she said it how it is. She’s wanted this for a long time & it shows. I think she’s a natural & not just media trained.

@Natasha-yf9qd 1 year ago

She articulated that school transition so well and the change you see in ppl when in high school and that further exposure to the wider world! It sucks so much to dull yourself or attempt to fit in the box !!! I hope young love island fans watch this !!

@kayayoutube534 1 year ago

She is so real, she does not shy away from any topic. Refreshing! ❤

@oghenemaseeloho8394 1 year ago

I can’t believe I wasted my time with US when I should have been watching and supporting this diva from day 1

@carrielee02 1 year ago

As an African American woman I was ALWAYS rooting for Shakira, Yasmin and Billykiss and any other woman of color on LI. Shakira was having her way on LI and it was beautiful to see! Not only is she drop dead gorgeous, she’s intelligent, funny and well spoken. YGG 🙏🏾❤️

@oreoluwaM 1 year ago

I saw the maturity. She's indeed witty and intelligent. Paul you are good and asked the right questions...that will make one interested to listen for almost 2 hours. Bravo

@sonia.blaggan 1 year ago

The way this spoke to me as a British Punjabi woman now and reminiscing my life as I grew up, wow, tears in my eyes. Love Shakira and this entire talk. So imperative to be discussing these topics on a platform like this, and having people acknowledge us and our beauty too <3

@makeupartist1163 1 year ago

I don’t usually comment on YouTube videos, but I need to say hats off to Shakira. What a remarkable young woman. I love that this podcast touched on subjects of substance and not superficial. She really should be proud.

@saralousilv 1 year ago

This was a very important interview and the timing couldn’t be better with what’s going on in the UK right now. She was graceful, she was herself and she was mature but also a 22 year old girlie 🦁❤

@AnitaDarnell-b4z 1 year ago

A very smart and mature young woman. Being of mixed race myself I could really empathise with her story. Very sad to hear that nothing much has changed with people’s attitude in the last 30 or so years. That really saddened me. Well done Shakira for bringing this to light 👏👏👏