Mal Nicol
Birth nameMalissa Nicol
Birth date9 October 1997 (age 29)
Birth placeEdinburgh, Scotland
OccupationTelevision personality
TelevisionLove Island

Malissa Nicol (born 9 September 1997) is a Scottish television personality. She rose to prominence when she was cast on the tenth series of the ITV2 dating series Love Island.

Life and career

Malissa Nicol was born on 9 September 1997 in Edinburgh.[1] She is of Scottish and Thai descent.[2] Nicol was in a brief relationship with 2022 Love Island contestant and fellow Edinburgh resident Jay Younger.[3][4][5] After relocating to London, Nicol began working as a picture researcher, with her credits including the BBC property series Homes Under the Hammer.[6][7] She also worked for Bauer Media Group, working for magazines Heat and Closer, up until her casting on Love Island. She did not tell her colleagues that she had been cast, and when she left the workplace, they guessed that she would appear on Love Island.[8]

In 2023, it was announced that Nicol had been cast on the tenth series of the ITV2 dating series Love Island.[9][10] She entered as a "bombshell" on day 16 of the series.[11][12] During her time on the series, Nicol participated in the annual "heart rate challenge", in which she danced to "Greedy" by Ariana Grande.[13][14] Her dance went viral on social media due to her awkwardness, with Grazia calling it "relatable yet cringey".[15] Nicol was voted out of the series on day 23, with viewers of the show missing her following her exit.[15][16] Nicol has been in a relationship with investment banker Harvey Thrower since 2024. She was approached for Married at First Sight numerous times but declined due to their relationship.[17]

Filmography

YearTitleNotesRef.
2022Homes Under the HammerResearcher2 episodes
2023Love IslandHerselfContestant
2023Love Island: The Morning AfterHerselfGuest

References

  1. ^ Soen, Hayley. "Say hello to Mal, the vibey Love Island bombshell who already has an Islander ex". The Tab. Archived 30 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Mal from Love Island's ethnicity hails from two countries thousands of miles apart". Reality Titbit. Archived 3 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Love Island's Jay Younger 'Promised His Ex-Girlfriend A Serious Future'". Grazia. Archived 22 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ Jones, Amy. "Inside Love Island bombshell Mal Nicol's romance with ex Islander Jay Younger". OK!. Archived 2 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  5. ^ Sewell, Chelsie. "Love Island 2023: Edinburgh bombshell Mal Nicol to enter villa after 'dating' former contestant Jay Younger". Edinburgh News. Archived 6 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  6. ^ Cockerham, Sophie. "Who is Mal Nicol? Meet Love Island 2023 contestant and bombshell". Radio Times. Archived 25 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  7. ^ Adams, Zoe. "Love Island bombshell Mal Nicol: Age, job and famous ex-boyfriend". Heart. Archived 28 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  8. ^ Vierke, Emily. "Love Island 2023 bombshell 'revealed' and she worked at HEAT magazine". Heat. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  9. ^ Nesbit, Megan. "Who is Mal Nicol on Love Island 2023? New bombshell's age, career and Instagram". Wales Online. Archived 28 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  10. ^ Mensah, Katelyn. "Chaotic nights out and ski trips: Inside Mal's boujee life before Love Island 2023". The Tab. Archived 3 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Love Island 2023 bombshell revealed and she's GORG". Closer. Archived 21 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Love Island's Sammy made savage unaired dig at Jess before reunion, dumped star claims". Daily Mirror. Archived 7 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024. Mal Nicol, 25, entered the Spanish villa on day 16 as a bombshell
  13. ^ Vierke, Emily. "Dumped Love Island stars expose heart rate challenge scenes that were BANNED". Heat. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  14. ^ Flaherty, Jess. "Love Island's Mal Nicol posts hilarious reaction video to raunchy challenges". OK!. Archived 20 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  15. ^ Roberts, Charlotte. "Love Island's Mal Nicol Gave The Most Relatable Reaction To Her Heart Rate Challenge". Archived 1 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  16. ^ Macdonald, Siobhan. "Love Island airs brutal dumping as Scots star Mal Nicol and Mehdi Edno ditched". Daily Record. Archived 30 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Love Island star 'approached for MAFS UK' – but here’s why they’ve said no". Heat. Retrieved 22 September 2025.