We have our first star! (Picture: ITV)

Love Island have officially confirmed the first singleton for the winter series.

This time next week, host Maya Jama – who took over from Laura Whitmore – will introduce our next batch of stars to their new South Africa villa.

Ahead of the winter debut, the network revealed that biomedical student Tanya as the first contestant for the 2023 series.

Sharing the news on Twitter, the official account wrote: ‘Biomedical science student Tanya is bringing brains, beauty and big vibes to the villa.’

Speaking about her upcoming appearance, the 22-year-old influencer shared: ‘I’m looking for a boyfriend and I think being in a Villa with lots of different people will help me work out who it is I may want.’

However, if any of the lads want to remain in Tanya’s good books, they must invest in a pair of socks.

Explaining what gives her the ick, she added: ‘Guys that don’t wear socks in the house. Why are your feet flapping all around the house? Guys have huge feet too, yuck. Also, guys in the bathtub with no bubbles, such an ick, no.’

An interesting criteria!

The student – who is from Liverpool – also revealed that she has vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes white patches to form on the skin as the cells that usually produce pigment.

‘I have Vitiligo, which is a skin pigmentation, you may not even notice it,’ she said.

Tanya is bringing the vibes this season (Picture: ITV)

The new series kicks off next Monday (Picture: ITV)

‘It’s on my lip and I have a stripe on my hair. Not many people know that but I think it’s quite cute. I don’t care about covering it up all the time, I think it’s a vibe.’

News of Love Island’s official start date comes after it was announced that the latest batch of contestants will have to disable their social media accounts during the programme to protect both them and their families.

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For the first time, the broadcaster will ask islanders to make their accounts ‘dormant’ while they are in the villa so nothing can be published on their behalf and they avoid ‘the adverse effects of social media’.

Contestants will also receive ‘guidance and training’ around ‘mutually respectful behaviour in relationships’ after the most recent series prompted thousands of complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.

Love Island returns on Monday January 16 at 9pm on ITV2.

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We have our first star!