CURTIS Pritchard says he was "fat shamed" into joining Weight Watchers after piling on two stone during in the Love Island villa.
Yesterday we exclusively revealed that the ballroom dancer has been named the new face of the famous fat-reducing brand.
But today Curtis, 23, admitted how a lifetime of on/off dieting has had a negative impact on both his mental and physical health, so he wanted to find something that would work for him.
Speaking to he said: "WW (Weight Watchers) is something I’ve always wanted to do. I've always had my weight on show as a dancer and now coming into the villa, and being even more in the public eye, I got a bit of fat shaming."
He went on: "We’re in 2019, that shouldn’t be happening these days. It upset me and played on my mind.
"I’ve always fluctuated with my weight, and I want to create a healthy living lifestyle, something I can maintain. I’ve done crash diets all my life - in one month I could lose a stone and a half and put it all back on again.
"I don’t want that. It’s so bad mentally and physically."
Curtis also talked about how men can find it hard to talk about weight issues: "I believe everyone’s equal, but men feel like they need the masculinity, we feel a bit smaller talking about our weight.
"As men we don’t have that strength, it doesn’t need to be like that.'
He also revealed his Love Island girlfriend Maura Higgins backs him all the way: "She’s super supportive of everything I do and vice versa, she’s lovely on that part.
"She thinks I look manly. As long as I’m happy, she’s happy."
During Curtis' time on the show, one of his fellow Islanders was accused of poking fun at his weight.
Fans were sure winner Greg O'Shea made a joke about his size.
Speaking about Curtis’ dance moves in the Beach Hut, he declared: "Man can he move for a big fella."
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Those watching at home caught his comment and took to Twitter to discuss his apparent diss.
One person wrote: “Greg called Curtis fat “he can dance well for a big fella” #LoveIsland.”
A second commented: “#LoveIsland Greg just called Curtis fat, he is defo my winner.”
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