Shakira Khan is a British reality TV personality from Burnley, Lancashire, best known for appearing on Love Island series 12 in 2025, where she finished as runner-up with Harry Cooksley.
Born on 16 December 2002, she was 22 when she entered the villa. Before television, she worked in marketing and as a children’s entertainer, dressing up as Disney princesses at kids’ parties.
Her time on the ITV2 dating series drew attention for more than her second-place finish. Her background, her career before fame, and the representation she brought to the show all became part of the wider conversation around the series.
How old is Shakira Khan and what is her height?
Shakira Khan was born on 16 December 2002, which made her 22 during Love Island series 12. The date appears consistently across her Wikipedia entry and her RadioTimes contestant profile.
The main biographical details in brief:
- Shakira Khan rose to fame on ITV2’s Love Island series 12, finishing as runner-up with Harry Cooksley.
- She was 22 years old during her time in the villa.
- She is from Burnley, Lancashire.
- Before reality TV, she worked in marketing.
- She also worked as a children’s entertainer, dressing up as Disney princesses.
- Her height has not been clearly confirmed by reliable sources.
- She attended Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, where she served as head girl.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 22 years old (born 16 December 2002) |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Ethnicity | English and Pakistani descent |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Parents | Names not publicly known |
| Relationship | Harry Cooksley |
| Love Island Placement | Runner-up, series 12 (2025) |
| Hometown | Burnley, Lancashire |
| Occupation | Marketing professional and children’s entertainer |
| Education | Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College |
Her age is well documented. Her height, by contrast, has not been confirmed in any reliable source reviewed, and no official measurement has been published.
What is Shakira Khan’s ethnicity and religion?
Shakira Khan is described as being of English and Pakistani descent. The detail appears in her Wikipedia entry and is not contradicted by other sources in the available coverage.
Ethnicity
Her heritage is documented as English and Pakistani. That places her among a relatively small number of South Asian contestants to reach the final of Love Island, a point that drew comment during and after the series.
Religion
No reliable source in the available results clearly confirms her religion. She attended Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College in Burnley, but that fact does not confirm a personal religious affiliation, and none has been publicly documented.
Her English and Pakistani descent is stated in Wikipedia. Her religion is not documented in any reliable source reviewed, so any claim about it remains unconfirmed.
Who are Shakira Khan’s parents?
Who is Shakira Khan’s father?
No dependable source in the available results provides verifiable details about her father. His identity has not been confirmed in any public record or interview cited in the coverage reviewed.
What is known about her parents?
Her parents are not named in any of the reliable sources examined. Her family background is not documented beyond her own biographical details, including her hometown and her schooling.
What was Shakira Khan’s experience on Love Island?
Her journey in the villa
Khan entered the villa on Day 1 and initially coupled up with Ben Holbrough. She later paired with Harry Cooksley, and the two became one of the central couples of the season. The series 12 page on Wikipedia documents the line-up and key movements of the series.
Her route through the show drew regular attention, and she reached the final alongside Harry Cooksley. Other contestants from the franchise are covered in our roundup of Love Island 2023 Contestants.
The final result
She and Harry Cooksley finished the series as runners-up. The placement is confirmed by multiple sources, including the series’ own Wikipedia page and her contestant profile on RadioTimes.
Day 1 entry, an initial coupling with Ben Holbrough, a later partnership with Harry Cooksley, and a runner-up finish in the final are the confirmed milestones of her Love Island journey.
After the villa
After the show, coverage shifted to her social media presence and continued media work. Her following grew quickly after the series. Grazia Daily notes that her Instagram shows travel content and a glamorous lifestyle. She also appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, according to AOL.
Who is Harry Cooksley to Shakira Khan?
Harry Cooksley is the partner most consistently associated with Shakira Khan in available coverage. The two coupled up during Love Island series 12 and finished the show together as runners-up.
After the final, he is repeatedly described in coverage as her boyfriend or partner. Closer is among the outlets that connect the two romantically.
While Harry Cooksley is widely described as Shakira Khan’s boyfriend after the show, no official confirmation from either party appears in the reliable sources reviewed.
When did Shakira Khan’s rise to fame happen?
- – Born in Burnley, England.
- Before television – Worked in marketing and as a children’s entertainer.
- Day 1 of Love Island series 12 (2025) – Entered the villa and initially coupled up with Ben Holbrough.
- During the series – Paired with Harry Cooksley.
- Final of series 12 (2025) – Finished as runner-up with Harry Cooksley.
- After the show – Continued social media activity and made TV appearances, including Celebrity MasterChef.
The dates and events are drawn from Wikipedia, RadioTimes, Closer, AOL, and Grazia Daily, as referenced in the sections above.
What is confirmed about Shakira Khan and what remains unclear?
Some parts of her biography are firmly established. Others are not covered by any reliable source.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: 16 December 2002 | Height |
| Nationality: English | Religion |
| Profession: television personality | Parents’ names |
| Love Island participation and runner-up result | Father’s identity |
| Ethnicity as described in Wikipedia: English and Pakistani descent | Official confirmation of relationship status with Harry Cooksley |
| Hometown: Burnley, Lancashire | – |
Why does Shakira Khan’s Love Island appearance matter?
Shakira Khan’s appearance on Love Island was viewed as significant for the representation of South Asian women on mainstream UK reality television. Her journey challenged typical casting patterns and highlighted the growing diversity of contestants on the show.
The public response was largely positive, and she has leveraged her platform for further media opportunities, including continued social media activity and television appearances.
What do reliable sources say about Shakira Khan?
Coverage of Shakira Khan appears in mainstream outlets and in the profile maintained by her talent agency. Polyesterzine profiled her during her rise, and HL Talent, which represents her, describes her as a public favourite.
“Shakira captured the nation’s hearts on this year’s Love Island, making it all the way to the final and securing an incredible second place.”
HL Talent
Who is Shakira Khan in brief?
Shakira Khan is a British television personality from Burnley who became known through Love Island series 12, where she finished as runner-up with Harry Cooksley. She was 22 at the time, born on 16 December 2002, and is of English and Pakistani descent. Before television, she worked in marketing and as a children’s entertainer. Her height, religion, and parents’ identities remain unconfirmed. More profiles of UK reality figures are available in our category on English Television Personalities.
Frequently asked questions about Shakira Khan
What did Shakira Khan do before Love Island?
She worked in marketing and also as a children’s entertainer, dressing up as Disney princesses at kids’ parties. She attended Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College in Burnley, where she served as head girl.
Where is Shakira Khan from?
She is from Burnley, Lancashire, in the north of England.
What school did Shakira Khan attend?
She attended Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College in Burnley, where she served as head girl.
Did Shakira Khan win Love Island?
No. She and Harry Cooksley reached the final of Love Island series 12 and finished as runners-up.
Does Shakira Khan have public social media accounts?
Coverage references her Instagram, which shows travel content and a glamorous lifestyle. A TikTok profile also appears in search results, though verified handles were not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
What is Shakira Khan’s occupation?
She is a television personality. Before reality TV, she worked in marketing and as a children’s entertainer.
Who did Shakira Khan couple up with first on Love Island?
She initially coupled up with Ben Holbrough on Day 1, before later pairing with Harry Cooksley.
Rebecca Haines is Managing Editor at TheUKDaily.uk, running the daily news list, the publishing schedule and newsroom workflow.