0/5

Em & Mercedes win Love Island 2024

A Sydney model and her US 'Bomb' share $50,000 prize in Nine reality show.

Sydney model Em Miguel Leigh and US model Mercedes Knox (no relation!) have won Love Island Australia 2024.

The duo drew the most audience votes in the reality grand final which screened Live on 9GO! and 9Now yesterday.

They won the $50,000 prize ahead of finalists Mia & Niko and Eric Kaylah.

Both had expressed their devotion to one another after a series of temptations, challenges and hot contenders. The finale attracted the most votes across its six seasons, filming multiple endings in its festooned Spanish Villa. But finalists didn’t know who won until it screened last night, with a follow-up call from producers.

“We’re just so grateful to even be here. And then the last couple of weeks, in the Villa, with the most amazing people,” said Em (pictured left). “Watching Mercedes and I has been so sweet, he was definitely my comfort in the Villa and it’s been nice watching that back and seeing how unserious and goofy we were together.”

Mercedes (pictured right), from Dallas, Texas, who entered as a ‘Bomb,’ previously won the American version of FBoy Island not once, but twice.

“The Love Island Australia experience has been amazing, one of the best experiences of my life. My journey with Em has been beautiful to watch and I have come out with a girlfriend and many friends for life,” he said.

This year and last the show has also varied the format prize winnings, normally a love or money decision for a series winner, with couples offered $20k to walk a week earlier, or stay for love. None took the deal.

Host, Sophie Monk, said: “This year’s season has been incredibly addictive. The response has been phenomenal – that’s a big word I don’t throw around – the cast were so entertaining, and production did a corker of a job. Congratulations to Em and Mercedes. If you haven’t watched it, you should. It’ll get you hooked.”

Produced by ITV Studios Australia, season six has been a BVOD smash with its highest numbers to date and an average BVOD audience of 391,000, topping 16-39 demos. The show also draws international fans via YouTube with up to 1.9m views for individual clips.

Leave a Reply

Celebrating 50 Years since Countdown 1974 - 1987