Faye Winter, who appeared on the seventh series of Love Island back in 2021, has opened up about her ‘lonely’ lifestyle and feeling ‘lost’ after the show ended
Former Love Island finalist Faye Winter has reflected on the lasting impact of her time on the ITV2 reality show, admitting the experience left her struggling with her mental health but ultimately helped her recognise her own flaws.
Faye, 30. reached the 2021 final alongside ex-boyfriend Teddy Soares, finishing in third place. Their journey was marked by one of the programme’s most controversial moments in the form of an explosive a row following Casa Amor that generated 36,324 complaints.
Still to this day, the row has the highest rate of Ofcom complaints in the show’s history.
Speaking about how her life has changed since then and the perspective it has given her, Faye admitted: “I would love to do more TV now. But also I needed, for my own sanity, to take that little bit of a step back.
“I think that it was really damaging too, because although that was the person I put out – I could never say that it’s anyone’s fault with the person that I was on Love Island – it wasn’t really a true reflection of actually who I was. To be honest, Love Island was a massive wake-up call for me.”
Faye admitted that watching the episodes back forced her to acknowledge her behaviour once and for all, and by doing that, her life completely changed for the better. “I don’t think I would have seen my faults. I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself accountable for the way that I’d acted. The way that I could go from nought to 60 real quick, and the fact that I would look at that now, and to be able to see myself in that position.”
Away from the cameras, Faye confessed that the adjustment after the show was a difficult path for her to take. “I was doing work that didn’t align with me. I really lost myself. I didn’t like myself. I didn’t really know who I was. I was in a lot of therapy after the show,” she told The Sun.
Faye went on to admit that the influencer lifestyle many former Love Island contestants embrace never suited her. As a homebody who doesn’t enjoy partying, she struggled with attending high-profile events and questioned why she was participating in a scene that ultimately didn’t bring any sort of happiness to her life.
It comes after Faye told The Mirror that she no longer requires validation from other people as she embraces single life. The charity ambassador and TV star has never hesitated from sharing insights into her life and while she’s no longer looking for a relationship, she couldn’t be happier.
The former Love Island star has been single since splitting from her ex-boyfriend two years ago and while many may have turned to dating apps, this couldn’t be further from her reality. Instead, Faye now knows her self-worth and while she’s had “sexy” men slide into her direct messages, she’s happy to embrace life on her own.
However, she’s not entirely on her own as Exeter-born Faye has her beloved dog Bonnie by her side, as well as her two “feral” ponies, Keith and Kevin, who she rescued from Dartmoor. “I’m always very vocal about my love of animals and it’s given me a sense of purpose.”
Faye went on to explain that her animals have helped her “realise and appreciate” things that are “bigger than herself.” She said: “It’s made me love myself, but also love something that doesn’t need to use words and doesn’t need to tell me or do anything.
“It does enough just by getting me out every day and giving me a cuddle when I need one and things that we take for granted. Sometimes things that we look for in other people for validation.
“I’ve always found in my dogs and to have guide dogs in my life and see them go on and change people’s lives and in city centres, we really do take dogs for granted. “f you have a dog, you not only have a friend for life, you have a companion, and they give you so much more than we can appreciate.”
Faye explained that while she’s now thriving as a single woman she wouldn’t be in the same position if it wasn’t for her dog, Bonnie. “She saved me and I say that every single time I speak about my dog,” she stated. Her two rescue ponies are also another source of happiness for the star.
“I’m really proud of myself because I had no idea what I was doing,” she said of rescuing the two foals from an auction after they were “snatched” from the moors.
Faye shot to fame on the seventh series of Love Island back in 2021 and ultimately finished in third place with ex-boyfriend, Teddy Soares.
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