Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago that Sophie Monk first strutted into that Spanish villa, but the Love Island Australia season 1 cast still manages to crop up in our feeds more than almost any other reality group. We’re talking about the 2018 OGs. The ones who basically invented the "secret girlfriend" scandal before it became a tired trope.
Remember the chaos? You probably do.
Grant Crapp and Tayla Damir standing there, clutching $50,000, looking like the picture of young love. Then, within two weeks, the whole thing imploded. It wasn't just a breakup; it was a full-blown national news event because it turned out Grant supposedly had a girlfriend the entire time he was telling Tayla he loved her.
Messy. Totally messy.
The Winners Who Weren't: Grant and Tayla
If you’re looking for a fairy tale, look elsewhere. Grant Crapp and Tayla Damir are the poster children for "it's just a TV show." Their victory was short-lived—roughly 14 days short-lived.
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Tayla eventually found out about Lucy Cartwright, the girl Grant had allegedly been seeing back home in Canberra. Grant tried to deny it, then he begged for Tayla back on Instagram, and then... well, he just went back to Lucy. As of 2026, he’s actually still with her. They’ve got kids, a house, and a whole life. It’s wild to think the person he "scammed" the show with ended up being his actual life partner, even if he had to step over a few hearts to get there.
Tayla didn't do too badly for herself either. She did a stint on Love Island again (sort of, by dating Dom from the same season later on), but eventually moved on to AFL star Nathan Broad. They’re married now. They have a daughter. Life moved on fast.
The Love Island Australia Season 1 Cast: Where Are They Now?
Most of the islanders jumped straight into the influencer life. Some stayed. Some vanished.
- Josh Moss and Amelia Marni: For years, they were the only ones who made it. They were the "parents" of the season 1 alumni. They lasted four years. When they announced their split in May 2022, it actually hurt the fans. Amelia later admitted she was the one who ended it, citing a shift in values. These days, Josh is a podcasting regular and Amelia is a massive fashion and lifestyle creator.
- Eden Dally and Erin Barnett: The runners-up. They were intense. Maybe too intense. They broke up just months after the finale amid some pretty heavy accusations and "he-said, she-said" drama. Eden went on to have a baby with Married At First Sight star Cyrell Paule, while Erin became a vocal advocate for endometriosis awareness after her own health battles.
- Cassidy McGill: The girl who got her heart broken by Grant early on. She’s probably one of the most successful influencers from the bunch. No reality TV baggage, just a huge YouTube following and a very aesthetic Instagram.
- Justin Lacko: The international model who just couldn't find a match. He did I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and eventually welcomed a son named Leo. He’s still modeling, looking like he hasn't aged a day since 2018.
Why This Season Hits Different
There was a rawness to the first season that the newer ones lack. The cast wasn't as "clout-heavy" yet. They didn't all have management before they walked in.
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When Dom Thomas and Josh Moss started their podcast, Intelligence Pending, it felt like friends just chatting. When Millie Fuller was working at the doggy daycare, she felt like someone you actually knew.
The drama felt personal because it was personal. Grant’s betrayal wasn't a "produced" moment; the look of pure confusion on Tayla’s face when the rumors started circling back in Australia was 100% real.
The Long-Term Reality Check
Most people search for the Love Island Australia season 1 cast because they want to know if anyone actually stayed together. The short answer is no. Not in their original pairings.
But if you look at the "friendships," it’s a different story.
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Dom and Josh are still tight. Cassidy and Francoise Draschler stayed close for a long time. The show didn't produce marriages, but it produced a very specific type of "war veteran" bond that only people who’ve lived in a villa with 40 cameras can understand.
What you should do next
If you're feeling nostalgic, don't just scroll their Instagrams. Go back and watch the "Truth Bike" episodes. It’s a masterclass in how to ruin a relationship in under ten minutes.
If you're curious about the specific career paths of the lesser-known islanders like Jaxon Human or Natasha Cherie, their LinkedIn profiles are actually more interesting than their defunct fan pages—many have returned to "normal" jobs in real estate or fitness.
Check the current status of the Season 1 winners on social media to see how they've pivoted their brands into 2026's digital economy.