Molly-Mae Hague says she was ‘extremely underweight’ on Love Island

Her comments add to a growing concern about how Love Island contestants prepare for the show.

Molly-Mae Hague Love Island

by Georgia Aspinall |
Updated on

Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague has opened up about her relationship with food and exercise before and while being on the show, saying she was ‘extremely underweight’ and is much healthier six months post-leaving the show.

"I was a stone and a half lighter a year ago but that’s because I was at the gym twice a day, and was obsessed with my diet," Hague told OK! Magazine.

"All I was eating was couscous and rice. It was probably unhealthy, and I was extremely underweight for my height."

"I was a size four," she continued. "I might not be as confident in my body as I was before, but I am healthier."

Opening up about the impact of trolling and comments on her weight gain, she said she often feels insecure.

Molly-Mae Hague
Molly-Mae Hague said she was a size four in the villa ©Getty

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"I was reading through comments on a bikini photo of me and they were so mean," she said. "Someone commented that they have a better body and they have six kids. I got so upset."

However, the positive comments she does receive validates her, she says. "There has been a lot of love on the pictures though, which makes me feel like it’s alright to be this size. I’m strong so I can take the nasty comments."

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"I’m glad it’s happening to me over other people," she continued. "If I get upset, then Tommy says, "If I think you look amazing then why do you care about them?"'

CHECK OUT: Which Love Island couples are still together?

Gallery

All the Love Island couples - slider

Love Island couples1 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Hannah Elizabeth and Jonathan Clark (2015): SPLIT

Remember when they, like, got engaged on the show? That one didn't quite last...

Love Island couples2 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Luis Morrison and Cally Jane Beech (2015): SPLIT

They had the first ever Love Island baby but in September 2018 they confirmed they'd split.

Love Island couples3 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Jordan Ring and Zoe Brown (2015): SPLIT

Absolutely DID NOT work IRL. Neeext.

Love Island couples4 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Jessica Hayes and Max Morley (2015): SPLIT

Still fancy Max in a huge way, not gonna lie.

Love Island couples5 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Katie Salmon and Adam Maxwell (2016): SPLIT

Adam claimed he was '100 percent single' shortly after leaving the villa and, um, that was that. #Kadam; gone but never forgotten.

Love Island couples6 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Rykard Jenkins and Rachel Fenton (2016): SPLIT

At least they lasted 18 months. Not bad going...

Love Island couples7 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Scott Thomas and Kady McDermott (2016): SPLIT

Scott and Kady managed a year before splitting in 2017.

Love Island couples8 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Nathan Massey and Cara de da Hoyde (2016): STILL TOGETHER

They've got their little Love Island baby and everything.

Love Island couples9 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Malin Andersson and Terry Walsh (2016): SPLIT

He did date fellow Love Island-er Emma-Jane Woodhams eight months in actual real life before calling it a day. AH WELL.

Love Island couples10 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville (2017): SPLIT

Gabby dumped Marcel after he was spotted cheating as they holidayed TOGETHER. Blimey.

Love Island couples11 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Jamie Jewitt and Camilla Thurlow (2017): STILL TOGETHER

An absolute success story of Love Island 2017, Jamie and Camilla and Jamie are still the CUTEST of couples.

Love Island couples12 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Sam Gowland and Georgia Harrison (2017): SPLIT

Sam seems to be doing alright for himself on Geordie Shore, so we don't think he's too gutted.

Love Island couples13 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes (2017): SPLIT

The couple were plagued with cheating rumours throughout their relationship (who can forget that whole Chris Hughes and Katie Price debacle?). Since their ITVBe show Crackin' On ended, Olivia's confirmed she's back with ex-boyfriend Bradley Dack.

Love Island couples14 of 25

Alex Bowen and Olivia Buckland (2016): STILL TOGETHER

Alex and Olivia are married and literally as strong as ever. We like to live vicariously through them, to be honest.

Love Island couples15 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Tyla Carr and Jonny Mitchell (2017): SPLIT

Oh it was never gonna last, was it?

Love Island couples16 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies (2017): SPLIT

TheLove Island2017 winners split in December 2017; five months after the finale.

Love Island couples17 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Montana Brown and Alex Beattie (2017): SPLIT

These two split just weeks after returning to the UK. Sad times.

Love Island couples18 of 25
CREDIT: ITV

Dom Lever and Jess Shears (2017): STILL TOGETHER

Jess and Dom are SO together, in fact, they got 'married' on Good Morning Britain on Valentine's Day 2017. They then got, y'know, properly married.

Love Island couples19 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Sam Bird and Georgia Steel: SPLIT

You know how this one went. Sam accused Georgia of cheating on him with her ex, which she denied. It's safe to say they didn't split on the best of terms.

Love Island couples20 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Zara McDermott and Adam Collard: SPLIT

Zara and Adam called it quits at the beginning of 2019. WAH.

Love Island couples21 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Megan Barton-Hanson and Wes Nelson: SPLIT

Megan and Wesdidmove in together, but announced their split in January 2019 following rumours Wes was getting close toDancing on Icepartner Vanessa Bauer. Uh oh.

Love Island couples22 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Josh Denzel and Kaz Crossley: SPLIT

Josh and Kaz announced their split in February 2019, with Kaz saying: "Sometimes things don't go the way you planned, but you have to be grateful for the journey. Thank you for everything especially showing me how to love myself again."

Love Island couples23 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Samira Mighty and Frankie Foster: SPLIT

Frankie reportedly cheated on Samira and that was that. Done. Over. thank u, next.

Love Island couples24 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Laura Anderson and Paul Knops: SPLIT

There's no bad blood betweenLaura and Paul, but they split months after making it to the final of the show.

Love Island couples25 of 25
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer: SPLIT

Dani released a statement via Instagram Stories (how very 2018) announcing thewinning 2018 couple had SPLIT, before they got back together just days later. Hmm.However fast forward to April 2019 and Jack announced they'd split.

Her comments add to a growing concern about how Love Island contestants prepare for the show, with many other women speaking about crash dieting or under-eating before heading into the villa.

Last year, 2018 contestant Savanna Darnell said she didn’t eat carbs for two weeks before she was due to go on the show and resorted to binge-eating when her time as a contestant was delayed.

"Thinking back to this time I’m thinking “omg what did I put myself through?” she said in a YouTube video about her experience.

With Winter Love Island coming up next month, it’s a reminder that appearing on a show all about ‘sexy singles’ is not all it’s cracked up to be.

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