Liberty Poole, a former Love Islander, has always been her own woman, embracing those gorgeous curves and keeping it real in the villa. She admits that she was asked to do one odd thing after moving in.
She might not have found lasting love during her two stints on Love Island, but Liberty Poole is proof that staying true to yourself is perhaps the real win when it comes to participating in the dating show. The 25-year-old Brummie first found fame in 2021 when she coupled up with Jake Cornish on day one in the villa and quickly became one half of the show’s golden couple – until she called time on the romance, days before the final.
Last year, Liberty gave love another shot on Love Island: All Stars but, once again, chose self-respect over game-playing guys. Since then, as she exclusively tells OK!, she’s turned her relationship woes into a platform for body positivity, inspiring her 1.3 million Instagram followers to embrace their imperfections.
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Hello Liberty! How do you feel now about your villa-related experiences?
I always come out stronger, you know, no matter what. However, I do agree that my journeys in the villa weren’t the simplest. Although there were some positive things to deal with, it was a time I’ll always cherish. I had to rewatch my boyfriend’s TV show because he didn’t like me, and then I got pied three times in the Snog, Marry, Pie challenge. Never was a girl picked or desired. I was the girl. It’s important to keep in mind that the presence of such a small group of people doesn’t reflect on you; rather, it’s just the nature of the show.
Any adjustments you would have liked to see this season given that the current series is in its midst?
Well, I feel like they’ve come a long way since earlier seasons with diversity, but I do think they could still do more with body diversity as well. There’s always a certain body type that goes into the villa, so I think more could be done in that sense. Because I’m a bit of a curvier girl myself, I do a lot of body positivity now online. Before I went on Love Island, I used to heavily edit my photos and shrink my waist. Whereas, when you’re in front of a camera, you can’t hide.
Did you think the All Stars villa’s players were merely attempting to find love?
Yes, I believe some people did in the end. I’m not sure what I’m talking about in the All Stars villa, but I’m trying to have a genuine conversation with one particular person. They told me, “Oh no, you’re mentioning the fourth wall, you’re not doing this conversation right.” They claimed that the conversation needed to be “redone.” It was a cast member, not even one of the producers, who made the claim. I realized that that was what people were thinking. I entered the company of me because I didn’t believe anything else would have worked.
Do you believe that dating at the villa is still possible, or is it more of a platform to achieve fame?
Yes, I would say it has changed more recently because I believe people are aware of your show’s potential and how you can gain a certain following. I wouldn’t paint everyone the same color and claim everyone is in it for the fame, though I would say it has probably grown since the first season. I still believe that some people enter the villa with the intention of falling in love.
After leaving Love Island for the first time, did you encounter any difficulties in resuming normality?
The welfare team is there for you throughout the entire process, and especially after the show when you return home. Coming out was the challenge for me. Never compromise your sense of humour for money or fame. The show does a little love-bombing, though. You’re obviously busy when you leave, and the situation is whirling in a but it settles down. I would advise against comparing yourself to anyone else because everyone’s career path is unique. I remember going on stage at times where I was told to wear designer bags more to improve my image. No thanks, that simply wasn’t who I am.
What guidance would you offer islanders who might come visit?
Just be yourself. I’ve been there and I’ve seen people be themselves and it works out for them a lot better than the people who try to pretend or play up to the camera in some way. Also, the public are not stupid. So just be yourself and you’ll get further down the line. Some people’s experiences are that you go in and find love and end up in a long-lasting relationship, like Alex and Olivia [Bowen], Indiyah [Polack] and Dami [Hope] – they’re all still in very happy relationships. You can be open to that aspect, but I wouldn’t go in with that expectation.
Source: Mirror
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