She was one of the breakout stars of this summer’s Love Island, reaching the final alongside unlikely beau Zachariah Noble.
And Love Island 2023's Molly Marsh now says that two months on, the pair are going stronger than ever.
The influencer, 22 – who is still living at home in Doncaster – and 26-year-old Zach have been delighting their fans and followers by showing their progressing relationship on social media.
And now, she tells Closer how things have continued to move in the right direction since leaving the reality show.
She says, “It’s been great. We’ve been doing so many cool things together and meeting each other’s families. We’re both very easy-going. In the villa, you’re with each other 24/7, so when you come out, it’s almost like the relationship is in reverse. It’s like, ‘Let’s go to the beginning and let’s get to know each other from the outside world’. We’re basically already moved in!”
After learning she didn’t have a connection with Mitch Taylor, Molly and Zach quickly formed a bond and coupled up. But when Love Island series two star Kady McDermott entered as a bombshell, she chose to couple up with PT Zach, resulting in Molly’s dumping. Producers then brought her back during Casa Amor, where she rekindled with Zach before they finished in fourth place.
And she now says, “We’re definitely taking it day by day. I feel like one day I’ll be moving to London, but at the moment I’m commuting.
“It’s an hour and a half train away, that’s not a big deal. Some people might see that as a big deal, some people might say it’s worlds apart. But at the end of the day, if you love someone and you’re with them, you’re going to do anything to make it work. That’s all that matters. Whatever comes and whatever you face, it doesn’t matter. We’re very open-minded as well.”
Before entering the villa, Molly was paving her way as a musical theatre performer and social media creator.
But while many enjoy wild nights out and parties after finding fame on the show, Molly chooses to live a healthier booze-free lifestyle.
She says, “At school, everyone was partying and drinking, and you bet I was never invited because I didn’t drink. But I had the right group of friends – real friends where you didn’t have to drink to have a good time. So growing up, I’ve never been too bothered. I’m happy doing my thing!
“At the time, I wasn’t too bothered. Looking back, it made sense – they saw me as almost a party pooper. But it’s like, ‘You do your thing and have a great night!’”
She now chooses a sober way of life, adding, “My grandad’s teetotal. My mum isn’t a big drinker. I’ve always seen she has so much fun! And I feel I can do that. I don’t need anything to make me feel more confident or to make me have fun. With my little sister, it’s been a thing of like, ‘If the way I’m having fun is by having a drink, then she’s going to look up to me and then that’s the way she’s going to grow up.’”
Molly and Closer recently headed to a salon to dye her hair pink in aid of Children With Cancer UK.
The star says, “I love doing fun things with my hair. So just taking the plunge and doing it for such a good cause, it all tied together.”
Children With Cancer UK invites hair stylists across the country to host a Style Against Cancer fundraising event to help fund research into kinder, less toxic cancer treatments. To find a participating salon or how to donate please visit Style Against Cancer.
