Advertisement
Dublin: 9 °C Friday 29 March, 2024
love island

Former Love Island contestant Zara Holland has said that contestants will be 'haunted' by the show for the rest of their lives

She also spoke of her mental health struggles since she left the villa in 2016.

LOVE ISLAND HAS under scrutiny over the past few days following the tragic death of former contestant Sophie Gradon who appeared on the show in 2016.

 

Sophie was open about her struggles with anxiety and depression and had advised wannabe contestants not to apply for the show. Her death led to other former contestants calling for more aftercare once you’re eliminated from the show.

Now another contestant from that same series has warned that contestants on the reality show will be ‘haunted’ by their actions on it for the rest of their lives.

Speaking to the Sun former contestant Zara Holland revealed that she’s been taking anti depressants for the past two years and said being on the show badly affected her mental health.

She also criticized the show for not contacting her or checking in on her until the death of Sophie Gradon last week.

I changed as a person. I didn’t want to go out or socialise. I came out of Love Island and they didn’t contact me. Love Island called me for the first time in two years on Thursday to ask if I was OK. Funny they call me now when something ­terrible has happened.

Zara was a former Miss Great Britain winner but was stripped of the title after she performed a sex act with her partner Alex Bowen in the villa. After leaving the villa Zara found it difficult to stop reliving what had happened in the villa which led to a worsening of her anxiety.

I was upset all the time and couldn’t stop crying. I was having bad anxiety too. I had this shame and guilt I couldn’t get over.

She warned wannabe contestants that they need to think about the implications of taking part in the show.

People applying need to know how serious things can be. They see a claim to fame, they don’t see that in ten years’ time, when you’re married with bab­ies, you’ll still be haunted for the rest of your life.

The increasing focus on mental health comes in the wake of Sophie Gradon’s death as well a statement from Women’s Aid which said that current contestant Adam Collard was displaying ‘warning signs’ of emotional abusive in his behaviour towards his former partner Rosie.

Rosie who was eliminated in the last recoupling told the Daily Star Sunday that she had 24/7 access to a psychologist since leaving the show and that show bosses were taking ‘great care’ of her.

Everyone at Love Island has said if I need anything for the rest of my life, they’re just a phone call away. I have their numbers and I will never be afraid to ring them.”

DailyEdge is on Instagram!

Your Voice
Readers Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel