Love Island Australia’s John James Parton’s muscle-bound bod is a far cry from his Big Brother days

He first graced reality TV screens back in 2010, when he appeared on Big Brother in the UK and embarked on an ill-fated romance with eventual victor Josie Gibson.

And John James Parton, 34, is showing that much has changed since his stint on British screens, as he now boasts a much more muscular physique, on full display during his run on Love Island Australia.

While his time on the dating show hit screens in his native Australia in 2018, UK fans are getting the chance to see just how much the DJ has changed over the years, thanks to the series being aired in place of Britain’s version.

And the transformation doesn’t just stop at packing on lean pounds in the gym – the TV personality has also ditched his bleached locks in favour of a natural darker look.

The reality star-turned-DJ also boasts a sizeable and heavily detailed tattoo, which covers most of his left bicep. 

Since his spin-off reality show Something About Josie, with then-girlfriend Josie – and their subsequent breakup – he has kept a relative low profile.

However, in 2016 he resurfaced for an awkward reunion with his ex on Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.

Ahead of making his debut on Love Island back in 2018, John James revealed why he hadn’t yet found love.

In an interview with Confidential, he admitted he finds it hard to form a ‘genuine connection’ with women in his ‘deejaying scene’.

‘I am in the deejaying scene, so coming across slappers and club s**ts is everyday stuff for me but meeting someone you have a genuine connection with is something you do struggle with in my industry,’ he told the publication. 

The TV personality also revealed that he is constantly a third wheel and ‘cops a lot of sh*t for being single’.

‘All my friends are married, engaged and have kids. I go around to their place for dinner and I am always like the third wheel and obviously I cop a lot of sh*t for being single and being a DJ,’ he said.

Meanwhile, in another interview with NW magazine, John James was forthcoming when asked what he was looking for in a girl.

‘A best friend you want to bang! But I’m pretty open,’ he said. ‘I fall for girls quite deep, quite quick. But I also get out just as quickly.’ 

The star famously dated Big Brother co-star Josie Gibson on the series back in 2010, with the two splitting in 2011. 

Having gone on to date several women since, John blatantly told the publication his taste is sees no limits.

‘I’ve been with bigger girls, girls that look like they’re on heroin, girls that look like they’ve been to Hungry Jacks nine times a year – it doesn’t really matter.’

Having switched out his blonde locks for brown tresses and bulking up, viewers will be hard pressed to recognise the former Big Brother star.