Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan made Love Island history when they steered off stiff competition and became the first Black couple to win the show for the 2024 series. It was an achievement that made headlines across the country but, personally for the duo, they’re proud of what their record-making journey has done for representation – and for other young Black people.

“How it’s been in history, people from where we’re from, they never actually become winners,” Josh tells OK!

“I keep saying it’s so surreal because I am just so thrilled to be part of history,” Mimii adds.

Now back home from Majorca and the iconic villa, Josh, 29, a semi-pro footballer, and mental health nurse Mimii, 24, have joined us for our glitzy OK! cover shoot as we celebrate their glorious win and this monumental milestone in the show’s diversity story.

“We didn’t realise how much of the point that we’re making,” Mimii explains. “I keep seeing Tweets about me and Josh [saying] this ‘is a win for all of us’ and that’s so real. I feel like everyone has just been uplifted and everyone feels like this could be a start of more change, especially in the TV scene, for recognition of Black history and the importance of Black culture being represented.”

Their victory had such an impact that they’ve had an outpouring of support from the Black community – including from former Islanders including Catherine Agbaje, Indiyah Polack and Dami Hope – who have congratulated them on their triumph.

“It’s nice to have the reassurance from the people that are already in the industry and just to have that heads up
and encouragement that we did so well and they’re supporting us and that we made history. It’s nice, it’s refreshing and it’s like I’m being welcomed in by everyone,” says Mimii.

The couple topped the public vote with a high margin – receiving a whopping 41% – and the show’s host Maya Jama even said she was “rooting” for the duo. We ask Mimii and Josh why they think they captured the nation’s hearts and eventually bagged the prize money?

“I think for me and Mimii our thing was just so authentic,” Josh says. “We were never thinking about winning – winning was never in the plan. My main focus was trying to make my situation with Mimii good.”

She adds, “We spoke about things that weren’t just surface level talks, we talked deeply and it would just flow every single time and it was an easy conversation for us to get into. We had similar interests, we like the same music and we’re passionate about the same things. We were just very compatible and people could see that. What we went through are things that you could potentially go through on the outside, during the
talking stage or when you’re dating someone. People could relate.”

It’s true that, although they’ve only known each other for a matter of weeks, Josh and Mimii appear smitten. Their love story began when he joined the series as a bombshell a few weeks before the finale. Josh had liked what he’d seen of Mimii – who had a previous connection with Ayo Odukoya – as a viewer watching from home and made his intentions clear from the start. But for Mimii, it was more of a slow-burner.

“He got to know me from watching me before he came in and for me I was getting to know him fresh,” she says. “So it was like, on the outside if someone was doing that within two days of meeting me, I’d be like, ‘Oh, not sure’, especially since I was also still dealing with a situation before that, that I was trying to get over as well. It was just a lot for me to take in.

“But that’s just how Josh is. That’s him. It’s his love language and it took a lot for me to understand that because the bar was set quite low and I wasn’t used to it. So to receive it was refreshing. You’re not actually asking for too much. Josh made it so simple and easy. He gave it to me without me having to ask. He worked for me.” And they clearly had a lot in common.

“We spoke about religion,” Josh says. “I’ve always been a religious person, but I wasn’t as religious as I was in there. I don’t think I’ve ever been as religious as I’ve been since I was in the villa, but I don’t know what it was. Speaking to her about it and what not made me get into it a bit more, be a bit more close and we prayed a bit more.”

While their Love Island journey may be over, Mimii and Josh are looking to the future as a couple with the foundations they built on the show. They’re now happily exclusive and “working towards” boyfriend and girlfriend status, but admit they haven’t had the “moving in” conversation – Mimii lives in Portsmouth and Josh is in Dartford. However, they are certainly in their “lover boy and girl” era, as Josh tells us he has a romantic surprise in store for Mimii…

“We might be going on holiday soon – but I can’t say where because Mimii doesn’t know,” which leaves Mimii shocked as she squeals, “Aww!”

“But we haven’t really had the conversation about moving in,” she adds. “We’re just taking each day that comes. The whole experience is going to be different now that we’re outside of the villa. So, we’re just going to navigate that and actually be in the real world and see what happens. But it’s just so exciting to do new things together. I will be in and out of London and Josh will be coming to Portsmouth whether he likes it or not.”

The pair haven’t said the “L” word yet but it feels like it is brewing, as Josh coyly smiles when we bring it up. However, they have already jumped a few steps ahead and had discussions about marriage and babies.

“I have a list of baby names,” says Mimii. “I told Josh, but I haven’t shown him yet and we spoke about where we see ourselves a year from now. Josh didn’t actually give me how many [babies he wants] but I said three max for now, but that could change!”

As for who they might stay in touch with in the villa, it seems there’ll be no joint outings on the cards with Ayo, who Mimii was previously coupled up with, and Jessica (who Ayo dumped Mimii for in the Casa Amor recoupling, Mimii later inviting him on the terrace, to close the chapter on the pair).

Host Maya, Mimii admitted, who so often wears her heart on her sleeve when it comes to the contestants’ roller-coaster journeys, told her she was “really upset” for her during the Casa Amor recoupling – but admitted she had to “keep a straight face”, adding that she was “rooting for Jomii”.

And Josh, who told us he felt like he was OK to remain “close” with Ayo in the villa once he had “clarity” on his situation with Mimii, admitted of their relationship on the outside, “We’re not gonna be going out double dating – it’s weird, you know, the person I’m with you used to be with!”

But he added, “I feel like we were both mature enough to be around each other in the villa. He’s happy in his situation with Jess, we’re happy in our situation and we wish them all the best.”

Josh also admitted that there are specific people they have no plans to stay in touch with, adding, “I’m sure everyone knows the elephant in the room, but honestly, I’ve got love for everyone. I haven’t got any agenda. I mean, we won the show. The last thing I’m thinking about is someone that has a situation with me. If they have a problem, then that’s on them.”

Ups and downs aside, these two are clearly very happy – and we can’t help but smile and be in awe of the pair as they pave the way for future Islanders on the reality show that’s going from strength to strength (the latest series was streamed 156 million times on ITVX.)

And in a fast-paced cut-throat industry, Mimii and Josh are adamant about using their platform for good. They still hope to take time for themselves though and to meet more of each other’s families while also pursuing some potential fashion and make-up deals.

“I’m more into the fashion side,” Josh says. “I’m trying to pursue that and see what happens. I also didn’t realise how much of our personality was put out there until I came out and I realised that we had a lot of moments where people got to see our personality because there were a few challenges where they said we were the most boring couple. So I was always under the assumption that we might not be getting screen time, but people saw a lot of us. So maybe something where I get to showcase my personality with Mimii? Maybe a show together?”

Mimii, who was known for her on-trend looks on the show, adds, “I’m definitely into fashion and make-up
so we will see what happens but I am open to that.”

It’s been a crazy few days for the young couple and it’s time to wrap up our shoot. But what do they want people to take away from their journeys?

“People who are similar to me, I would love for them to feel like they can go and do whatever it is they want to do and that’s by me just being bold in my actions and my next moves,” Josh says.

“I’m a big believer in trying to help who’s around you. I’ve never liked the stigma of people going places or making it and not really bringing anyone with them. I feel like it is so important that if you have a blessing, you should bless others and help people.”