HIS failure to find love in the villa last summer proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Just seven months after being dumped from the ITV show on day 10, Munveer Jabbal announced he was in a relationship with his stunning girlfriend Maddie.
Munveer Jabbal has found love with girlfriend Maddie[/caption]
The couple went official in December and are still smitten[/caption]
Now, the 31-year-old Surrey lad has spoken about their relationship for the first time in an exclusive interview with The Sun.
“I did go on a few dates post Love Island,” said Munveer. “I quickly realised that these aren’t the type of girls that I want to be with long term. I eventually met my current girlfriend.
“I found a lot of good qualities. We shared the same values and morals and that kind of stuff. Comes from good stock, good family. It just felt right.
“Even though I wasn’t expecting to jump into something, that connection felt genuine when I compare it to the other initial dates that I went on.”
Like many modern day love stories, Munveer and Maddie got to know each other through Instagram.
She sent him a request and Munveer wasted no time sliding into her DMs.
Sparks quickly flew but both parties approached the hard launch with caution.
It wasn’t until December that the private pair went Instagram official, and the joint posts since have been few and far between.
Slowing things down went against Munveer’s natural instincts.
He admits: “To be honest with you, I fall in love so quickly.
“I’ve always been like that. When I’m set on someone, I’m like 100 miles per hour. I think that’s my kryptonite, my downfall.”
Unlike many villa romances, Munveer and Maddie aren’t rushing to move in together even though they already spend plenty of time with one another.
“We definitely talk about those things,” says Munveer.
“It’s probably a bit too soon. There’s been where she comes and doesn’t leave for two or three weeks. The flat is literally upside down, which is always fun.
“But I think long-term, you look at your potential partner and you want those things. To be able to live together, buy a house together, all the rest of it. I wouldn’t go into something lightly without knowing these things.”
Before the pair settle down, there’s triple dates to be had with Munveer’s villa pals Sam Tyalor and Hugo Godfroy, both of whom are in relationships.
Munveer lasted 10 days in the villa last summer[/caption]
He was found himself in a friend couple with Patsy Field[/caption]
“I was talking on WhatsApp and we’re going to plan a little triple date in London at some point, which would be nice,” says Munveer.
“And then Sam’s getting ahead of himself saying, ‘yeah, let’s book a holiday and do this, do that’.
“Let’s get the girls connected over a dinner and then we can start thinking about that kind of stuff. They’re both taken and, from what I know, really happy.”
He then joked: “I think Hugo’s a little bit under the thumb. He’s gone a bit quiet. He was really active on the WhatsApp group. As soon as he gets his missus, he’s just gone non-existent. Which is fair enough, he’s in the honeymoon period. But both the boys are doing really well and they look like they’re loved up.”
In a series that was dominated by Joey Essex‘s surprise arrival, Munveer’s screen time was limited.
He doesn’t hold a grudge against the former Towie star though, acknowledging it was out of his control.
He simply accepts that there wasn’t a girl there for him during his short time in Majorca.
“They show you what you want to see and they create this narrative,” he says. “But it’s really hard to just wake up and fancy someone. Believe it or not, I don’t care what you say, everyone has a type.
“You can’t force that. Yes, you’re on reality TV. Yes, you’re on Love Island but sometimes it just doesn’t feel that genuine, and I was never going to break character or just do things for the sake of it.
“That’s why I was super upfront with Patsy [Field]. I felt like me and Patsy connected really well on a friend level. It could have gone somewhere deeper in terms of connection, personality and that type of stuff.
“But I just knew a part of me, there was something missing. I think that wasn’t really shown because who wants to see that?”
Not long after the show, Munveer returned to his work in recruitment, specifically the tech sector, which he now has a decade of experience in.
But having had a taste of the Love Island life, he’s craving more time in the public eye.
“I’ve had a taste for it now and I feel like where I had it just taken away from me ever so quickly,” he says. “I feel like I’ve got so much more to offer. I loved it. So if there’s more opportunities out there, like your Made In Chelsea, The Traitors or wherever it is, I’m definitely up for it.”
The couple aren’t rushing into moving in together[/caption]
