The former Miss Great Britain reveals she has shunned multiple TV offers over fears she would always be known as the girl who had sex on Love Island
FORMER Miss Great Britain Zara Holland has quit fame following her Love Island romp amid fears she would always be remembered for being "the girl who had sex on TV."
The ex-islander, 22, reveals she has turned down multiple TV jobs as she feels too “petrified” to pursue a career in the spotlight after the way she has been treated since starring on the show.
Zara was sensationally stripped of her Miss GB crown in 2016 after having sex with Alex Bowen in the villa’s Hideaway.
Two years have passed but Zara feels she is the only contestant in Love Island history to have paid the ultimate price for a brief moment of intimacy.
In a stark warning to this year’s islanders, she said: “I would say to any contestants this series, don't do anything that you would regret later in life.
“Sometimes things in the moment never leave you and it can be hard to get over.
“To put it down to one thing and it is still a fact now; I can't get away from what happened.
“I feel like there were other girls on my series, not naming names, that did way worse than me but just because they didn't have a title no one really cared.
“I was offered other TV shows, I can't say what but I was so petrified that the whole time I would be taking part that it would be mentioned the whole time. Why do I want to put myself in that position?
“I have the most amazing family, amazing boyfriend and amazing job. I am really happy.”
Zara feels she was unfairly targeted for her actions and resents the fact she is still only remembered for one thing when people think of her name.
Her experience on Love Island caused her to shun any other TV projects that were offered to her – as she didn’t want to “jeopardise” her happiness by appearing back on screen.
She continued: “People see me as the girl who lost her title on Love Island. People targeted me.
“No one else from my series gets mentioned. It's not like I was the only person who slept with a guy on there.
“I feel like even now if I go to an event people say 'oh look there's Zara who slept with Alex in The Hideaway.' I am so sick to death of it.
“I have a bikini range, I was on Release the Hounds, but before I even went on the show I was running two fashion boutiques.
“I am a 22-year-old who runs two successful fashion businesses and people just don't see that side. People see me as the girl who lost her title on Love Island. I was offered a show recently but the reality thing isn’t for me anymore.”
Luckily her appearance on the ITV2 show didn't put off potential suitors from wanting to pursue her.
