Zara, 25, who was a favourite on the 2023 winter series, revealed that she would not be joining the other cast in South Africa for the upcoming spin-off series, despite months of speculation.
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Now fans are convinced that Zara was cut from from the original line-up because rival co-star Olivia Hawkins, 28, is also set to take part.
The pair did not see eye-to-eye during their time in the villa and now viewers have speculated that they would have clash again once again, meaning it would be a repeat of the same storyline that played out last year.
One wrote: “It might be because of Olivia being cast and they don’t want to repeat the dynamic. Sucks because Zara was my series nine’s eye candy until Sanam and Casey got there.”
A second commented: “I would definitely prefer Zara over Olivia being in it, such a shame!”
This viewer asked: “How is Olivia from her season might actually be on the all stars and not Zara who actually gave drama to the villa?”
A fourth fumed: “I find it extremely hard to believe they have secured enough good islanders that they don’t even want to keep Zara on stand-by at the very least? i don’t understand why they wouldn’t want to bring her back, she was one of very few ‘hits’ from s9.”
Another added: “So we may get Paige and Olivia, but not Zara? Lol what a joke.”
Earlier this week, Zara revealed that she had been dropped from the line-up.
She said: “I have recently been informed that I did not make the cut. But it’s all good. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. If my reappearance on the show isn’t meant to be.
“It just means that I’m destined to take a different path. When one door closes, another one will surely open.”
Meanwhile, aspiring actress Olivia is in the running to appear on All Stars after impressing bosses the first time round and causing havoc in the villa.
A show source said: “Liv has had a series of meetings with Love Island bosses and they’re really keen to get her in the All Stars villa.
“She was the most memorable and talked-about contestant on Winter Love Island earlier this year, so they know she won’t be afraid to ruffle feathers and cause drama.
“Final contracts haven’t been signed yet as the cast won’t officially be set in stone until early January, but Liv is looking like one of the red hot favourites to be in there.”
The new edition of the show starts in days, and it is set to bring together a line-up of past favourite Islanders, all hoping for a second shot at love in the villa.
The Sun exclusively revealed that the Love Island All Stars cast will include a whole host of fan favourites from past series of the show.
The likes of Georgia Steel, Mitch Taylor, Paige Thorne, Kaz Crossley, Ovie Soko and Kaz Crossley are expected to make a comeback on the Maya Jama fronted instalment.
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