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Love Island host Laura Whitmore has revealed she wishes she was ‘comfortable enough to get naked in public’.
The Irish TV presenter, 36, said she would never have gone on Love Island when she was younger because she doesn’t have the ‘confidence to be in a bikini 24 hours a day.’
Laura hosts the popular show and presents its spin off Aftersun while her husband Iain Stirling does the voice overs.
Honest: Love Island host Laura Whitmore has revealed she wishes she was ‘comfortable enough to get naked in public’
Speaking on The Russell Kane podcast she said: ‘Someone asked me if I’d have ever gone on Love Island when I was younger and I remember saying: ‘I wish I had that confidence. I don’t have the confidence to be in a bikini 24 hours a day.’
‘I was too self conscious about my body, my skin – everything. I wish I was comfortable enough to be naked in public.’
Laura, who comes from Dublin in Ireland, says her views come from her upbringing and traditional education but that being a mother changed things.
Candid: The Irish TV presenter, 36, said she would never have gone on Love Island when she was younger because she doesn’t have the ‘confidence to be in a bikini 24 hours a day’
She continued: ‘I’ve always been body conscious, I went to a convent and got taught sex education by a nun so no wonder I’m quite prudish, so that’s my background.
‘But when you’re pregnant, if you go into hospital and have a baby – you will show anyone your v****a when you’re in there. You just lose all sense of caring.
‘Nudists beaches, not for me. Get me into a hospital when there’s something wrong with me, I’m like ‘take a look at this rash. Is this normal? Look down there. Is that so not probably ok?’
Busy: Laura hosts the popular show and presents its spin off Aftersun while her husband Iain Stirling does the voice overs
‘I don’t give a s**t in that situation.’
Laura also revealed she likes to spend quite a lot of time in the bathroom which she admits has raised suspicion in the past.
She said: ‘I think people always thought I had a drug problem – I’ve never touched a drug in my life – but when I go to the toilet, I am doing correspondence.
‘If someone else is coming in there, I’m like ‘you’re distracting me, I’m writing this email.’
Insecurities: Speaking on The Russell Kane podcast she said: ‘Someone asked me if I’d have ever gone on Love Island when I was younger and I remember saying: ‘I wish I had that confidence’
It comes after last week Laura revealed that she will ‘fly back and forth’ between the UK and Spain with her three-month-old daughter while filming Love Island in Mallorca.
The presenter shares her little girl with her husband Iain – however he will be recording his side-splitting commentaries from a London voiceover booth, meaning Laura’s mother will be accompanying her and her daughter on their journeys abroad.
Laura explained: ‘Every time I fly over, she’ll go with me because I’m breastfeeding.’
The blonde beauty added that her mother – who resides in Laura’s native Ireland – is ‘excited’ to be accompanying her to-and-fro over the next few weeks, saying: ‘She’s excited, it’s her first grandchild.’
Speaking to Grazia, Laura also touched upon the show’s hiatus, telling the magazine that the last season ‘feels like forever ago’.
‘But there was no point trying to do the show last summer with all the restrictions and having to do it in Wales,’ she added. ‘That worked for the jungle [on I’m A Celebrity…] but Love Island needs to be hot.’
Laura – who will film the show’s spin-off Aftersun from London and fly back to Spain for surprise visits and recouplings – also suggested that this year’s Love Island is likely to be particularly steamy, with contestants having lacked intimacy for more than a year as a result of lockdown.
As for the contestants themselves, Laura admitted she prefers not knowing too much about them, wanting to avoid preconceptions and meet them along with the rest of the nation watching at home.
Journey: Laura, who comes from Dublin in Ireland, says her views come from her upbringing and traditional education but that being a mother changed things (above with her baby girl)
She also revealed that this year there were more applications than ever, with hopefuls even sliding into her direct messages on social media asking Laura to help them bag a place on the show, despite her having nothing to do with casting – which is no surprise, seeing as the show is a hit even among A-listers including Margot Robbie and Kate Beckinsale – who once approached Iain at an award ceremony after recognising his voice.
Laura also spoke candidly about the show’s diversity drive, with many viewers pointing out in past seasons that the show is lacking when it comes to race, age and body types.
The Irish star said that when it comes to casting, the Love Island team is actively trying to be more diverse, however much of the decision making is based on contestants’ personalities and whether or not they will be compatible with one another.
Elsewhere in the interview, Laura admitted that Love Islanders’ newfound fame can be ‘overwhelming’, adding that she feels very protective over castmates thrust into the spotlight.
After former Love Islander Mike Thalassitis’ death in 2019, producers announced key changes to Islanders’ duty of care and said all would be able to access therapy sessions, social media and financial training, and a minimum of 14 months of ‘proactive’ contact.
Laura said that she, too, has dealt with her fair share of online trolling, however added that she is less concerned with what people think of her now that she’s older.
The series – which has been running for six years – has been marred by several tragedies with contestants Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike, 26, as well as host Caroline Flack, 40, taking their own lives.
LOVE ISLAND 2021: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Sharon Gaffka
Name: Sharon Gaffka
Age: 25
Location: Oxford
Occupation: Civil Servant – Operations Lead for Department of Transport
Who is their type on paper? ‘I tend to date someone who is taller than me, even though my last long-term partner, he was actually someone who was shorter than me.
‘I’m quite an intellectual person so I want someone who can kind of match that.’
Aaron Francis
Name: Aaron Francis
Age: 24
Location: London
Occupation: Luxury Events Host
Who is their type on paper? ‘I need someone that is passionate about what they are doing – from scientist to anything – you can tell when someone is speaking about something and they are actually smiling while they are talking. I love that.
‘I don’t like when people are doing a job just to make money and then they kind of just live for the weekend. Especially because I work on the weekends.’
Liberty Poole
Name: Liberty Poole
Age: 21
Location: Birmingham
Occupation: Nando’s Waitress and Marketing Student
Who is their type on paper? ‘So I like tall, alpha male, confident, a cheeky chappy sort of guy.
‘But obviously that’s always usually combined with player types, which is where I go wrong. So I am trying to change my ways and go for more of a nicer guy that is going to treat me right.’
Hugo Hammond
Name: Hugo Hammond
Age: 24
Location: Hampshire
Occupation: PE Teacher
Who is their type on paper? ‘I’ve been single for a while now. With the current climate, it’s been really hard to get back into dating.
‘I saw it as an opportunity to have an amazing fun summer and put myself back out there.’
Liam Reardon
Name: Liam Reardon
Age: 21
Location: Wales
Occupation: Bricklayer
Are you competitive? ‘I am competitive to a certain extent. I’m not over the top. It’s always nice being a winner. If I’m in competition for a female, I want to try my best, but I won’t go too far out of my way. If she liked you that much she wouldn’t have to make a choice.’
Jake Cornish
Name: Jake Cornish
Age: 24
Location: Weston-super-Mare
Occupation: Water Engineer
Who is their type on paper? ‘Looks wise, always gone for blondes. But for me, the main thing is having respect and having good fun, and someone who will be loyal to you…
‘I’ve had messages from girls that have got boyfriends and husbands. This is why I don’t trust anyone. Someone who is loyal really. But when I’m single, I like having a good time!’
Kaz Kamwi
Name: Kaz Kamwi
Age: 26
Location: Essex
Occupation: Fashion Blogger
Who is their type on paper? ‘I like meeting new people, I’m ready to be in a relationship. Why not be in a place where people are looking for the same things as me?’
Chloe Burrows
Name: Chloe Burrows
Age: 25
Location: Bicester
Occupation: Financial Services Marketing Executive
Who is their type on paper? ‘I like a good build. I go to the gym. I want someone who is funny. Really funny and caring and will do nice little things for you.
‘And then obviously someone who you can depend on to not ditch you. Because I am quite a big character and quite loud, they would have to be as loud, if not more.
‘I could never be with someone who is quiet. Someone that gives you a bit back’
Faye Winter
Name: Faye Winter
Age: 26
Location: Devon
Occupation: Letting Manager
What is her type on paper? ‘Someone that will put me in my place. Someone that makes me laugh. But also someone that takes my banter. I’m like a five-year-old in a playground, if I like you, I will make a mockery of you and laugh and joke. That is my really terrible flirting skills. I need someone who can take that.’
Rachel Finni
Name: Rachel Finni
Age: 29
Location: London
Occupation: Luxury travel specialist
Why did you sign up for Love Island? I’ve scraped the bottom of the dirtiest barrels, that’s how I describe my dating life. So I thought “why not? Let’s apply. If it happens, it happens”.’
Lucinda Strafford
Name: Lucinda Strafford
Age: 21
Location: Brighton
Occupation: Online fashion boutique owner
Which boy do you have your eye on? I really fancy Brad. And then possibly Liam. But obviously I’m open to getting to know any of the other boys.
Brad McClelland
Name: Brad McClelland
Age: 26
Location: Northumberland
Occupation: Labourer
Who is their type on paper? Sommer Ray from Instagram. Zara McDermott, she’s a good-looking lass. Or Megan Fox.
Toby Aromolaran
Name: Toby Aromolaran
Age: 22
Location: Essex
Occupation: Semi-pro footballer
How would he describe himself? ‘Optimistic. I always see the bright side in the worst situations. I’m a fun guy when I go on a night out. Responsible guy as well.’
Chuggs Wallis
Name: Chuggs Wallis
Age: 23
Location: Surrey
Occupation: Hat entrepreneur
Why did you sign up for Love Island? ‘I just feel like it’s now or never. I’m only 23 but I’m scared of aging. Especially as half of my last year of uni was taken away and we had so many fun plans. With Covid and the pandemic, I feel like I’ve missed a year of my youth, so I’m really gagging to get it all back – make the most of it.’
Millie Court
Name: Millie Court
Age: 24
Location: Essex
Occupation: Fashion buyer’s administrator
Why did you sign up for Love Island? I’ve been single for over a year now. I’m ready to find ‘The One’. I’m a very spontaneous and adventurous person. I’m always up for doing something new and challenging myself. I’ve never done anything like this before. I just want to throw myself into it and have fun with it’
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