Love Island’s Alex Bowen Finishes Second in PCA First Timers Bodybuilding Competition

Love Island alumnus Alex Bowen finished in second place this weekend at the PCA Physical Culture First Timers bodybuilding competition, delivering a high-contrast display of stage lean and muscular definition in bright pink shorts as he performed a series of poses on stage. The 34-year-old former reality star’s showing drew attention for both the physique and the progression he has made since leaving the ITV2 hit show.

Bowen’s wife, Olivia Bowen, who also rose to fame on the 2016 series and is now a partner in life and in parenting, led the support from the crowd and publicly congratulated him on Instagram. She commented, “So so so so proud of you made every minute worth it.” The pair are parents to Abel, three, and Siena, six weeks, and were runners-up on Love Island’s 2016 season before marrying and building their family.

In a weekend caption accompanying his own post from the stage, Bowen wrote, “A tough few days but that’s the nature of the game. Getting stage lean is not meant to be easy, we are pushing extremes daily.” He later celebrated his finish by acknowledging the achievement in a page that highlights his ongoing fitness journey, including his post-competition mindset about balancing discipline with enjoyment.

Bowen’s openness about body image has been a recurring theme. In an exclusive interview with New! earlier this year, he candidly discussed his battles with self-confidence and the pressures of maintaining a certain physique. He said he has, at times, worn a vest under his T-shirt because he feels too slim, reflecting a broader conversation about the pressures that can accompany athletes and performers who are constantly in the public eye. “No one is ever happy,” he said, emphasizing that his gym routine is as much about mental health as physical appearance.

The conversation around bodybuilding and former Love Island contestants is part of a broader pattern. Harley Judge, who appeared on Love Island in 2017, has undergone a dramatic transformation and now looks markedly different as he pursues bodybuilding full-time, including offering coaching services online. Lavena Back, who appeared as a Casa Amor contestant in 2019, has also pursued bodybuilding and shared Instagram updates about competing in a bikini contest, illustrating how the show’s alumni continue to reinvent themselves in fitness circles. Back has emphasized that the journey has been both physically demanding and personally rewarding, posting about the support of her coach and her own growth through the process.

Bowen’s weekend finish adds to a growing narrative of Love Island alumni leveraging their visibility to build ongoing careers in fitness beyond television. The performances and post-show transformations underscore how participants have cultivated dedicated followings around health, training methods, and motivational storytelling, with many using social media to document progress and connect with fans who follow their journeys long after the final episode.

The PCA First Timers event is designed to spotlight newcomers to bodybuilding, providing a platform where emerging athletes can display conditioning and posing skills. Bowen’s participation and podium finish come as many fans continue to track how his fitness path evolves, including how he negotiates stage demands, family life, and his own mental health considerations in the public eye.