The couple were crowned the winners of the twelfth series of Love Island on Monday evening.
And now, Toni Laites and Cacherel ‘Cach’ Mercer, both 24, have revealed what they plan to spend their £50,000 cash prize on – and it’s far from what you would expect.
When asked how she plans to spend the money, Toni, a Las Vegas cabana waitress, candidly admitted: ‘I need to pay off my student loans. I want to invest it. I don’t want to go on some crazy shopping spree.’
While Cach, a dancer from London, agreed with her, adding: ‘Cost of living crisis, I’ll save it!’
Toni made history as the first American contestant to enter the UK Love Island villa, and she and Cach seem set on making their relationship work despite the transatlantic distance.
The couple had a rocky beginning after meeting during Casa Amor, as it wasn’t long until the pair found themselves in a major love triangle with Harrison.
Toni Laites and Cacherel ‘Cach’ Mercer were crowned the winners of the twelfth series of Love Island on Monday evening
And now, the couple, both 24, have revealed what they plan to spend their £50,000 cash prize on – and it’s far from what you would expect
Yet once Harrison decided to leave the villa with Lauren, Toni set her sights on Cach, and the pair went from strength to strength.
Reflecting on her journey, Toni said: ‘I feel like I’m representing a whole nation! I didn’t expect to make it past week one.
‘Hopefully now we will just find time to enjoy one another’s company and not let everything else take over.’
Cach added: ‘It feels amazing to win. I was 100 per cent authentically myself, and luckily, the public liked it, so I’m buzzing.
‘I appreciate every moment on the show, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.’
Toni will also be remembered as part of the series’ fan-favourite ‘Big Three’ – a name coined by viewers to describe her close friendship with runners-up Shakira Khan and Yasmin Pettet, who placed second and third, respectively.
She said: ‘Friends I will have for life. That was a big takeaway. The girls were my rock for the eight weeks.’
But it looks like Toni and Cach may be spending even more time together in front of the camera, as ITV are reportedly planning to offer the couple a spin-off show chronicling their long-distance relationship, according to The Sun.
When asked how she plans to spend the money, Toni, a Las Vegas cabana waitress, candidly admitted: ‘I need to pay off my student loans. I want to invest it. I don’t want to go on some crazy shopping spree’
While Cach, a dancer from London, agreed with her, adding: ‘Cost of living crisis, I’ll save it!’
A source told the publication: ‘Even without the win, Cach and Toni’s story should make great TV just due to their exciting lives.
‘It will also be a chance to include Shakira and Yasmin when they visit Toni and catch up on the outside.’
Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment.
The couple’s interview follows ITV’s release of the voting breakdown for the final, confirming it was the closest result in the show’s history.
In total, Toni and Cach received 33.5% of the vote, with Shakira Khan and Harry Cooksley taking 26.2% – showing the result was a close call.
Yasmin Pettet and Jamie Rhodes came third with 22% and Angel Swift and Ty Isherwood placed fourth with 18.3%.
Toni and Cach won despite the bookies’ odds revealing it was Harry and Shakira in the running to win, just hours ahead of the live final.
And fans seemed delighted with the decision as they took to Twitter to wish the couple congratulations.
But it looks like Toni and Cach may be spending even more time together in front of the camera, as ITV are reportedly planning to offer the couple a spin-off show chronicling their long-distance relationship, according to The Sun
The couple’s interview follows ITV’s release of the voting breakdown for the final, confirming it was the closest result in the show’s history
They penned: ‘Justice served well done Toni & Cach .. what a gentleman man he is’;
‘Congratulations Toni and cach. First American and she won. Iconic moves’;
‘a bombshell + a casa boy winning love island – iconic!’; ‘Love island didn’t disappoint with Cach & Toni winning’;
‘Toni was her true authentic self’; ‘Amazing winners – hats off to the producers for an elite season of #loveisland’.
