Former Love Island contestant Megan Barton Hanson has issued a stark safety warning to her followers after experiencing a deeply unsettling incident on Friday. The 31-year-old reality television personality took to her Instagram Stories to share details of a frightening encounter that left her feeling both distressed and unsafe.
Disturbing Encounter in Essex
Megan revealed she was followed by two men inside a black Mercedes Estate vehicle while in the Benfleet, Hadleigh, and Rayleigh areas of Essex. She described how the car repeatedly stopped next to her, looped around the area, and returned multiple times while the occupants attempted to wave her over.
"I felt unsafe and distressed thoughts of either me or my dog being taken," Megan wrote alongside an image of a similar-looking vehicle. "Part reg possibly ending J10 (Not 100%). Car looked similar to the one shown (from memory)."
Public Safety Warning
The television personality specifically addressed women and dog walkers in her public alert, urging heightened vigilance in those Essex communities. "Safety alert Benfleet/Hadleigh/Rayleigh – women and dog walkers stay alert," she cautioned before concluding with important advice: "Please trust your instincts and look out for each other."
Revelations About Cosmetic Procedures
In a separate but revealing discussion, Megan opened up about her motivations for undergoing cosmetic surgery during an appearance on dating expert Paul Carrick Brunson's We Need To Talk podcast. The conversation provided insight into her journey from financial struggle to social media fame.
School Bullying and Financial Motivation
Megan confessed that childhood bullying about her nose and prominent ears initially prompted her interest in cosmetic procedures. However, she revealed that financial considerations ultimately drove her decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery.
"I'll be brutally honest - money," Megan admitted when asked about her motivations. "I had no issues, I was quite body confident with my natural boobs but there was this girl and she was on social media making a lot of money basically doing Page 3."
At the time, Megan was working as a Legal PA in London while commuting from Essex, struggling financially. "I was working in London and it was minimum wage, barely affording my train ticket to commute from Essex to London," she explained. "I was like, this can't be what life is, surely."
Strategic Investment in Appearance
Megan described a calculated approach to changing her appearance, combining multiple procedures to maximize her earning potential. "I hate being put to sleep so I'll get my t**s done, the nose done, all in one and I can make so much money, either on social media, or back then, Page 3 was still a thing," she revealed.
Her strategy proved successful. After her breast surgery, Megan began posting more revealing photographs on Instagram, rapidly growing her following to what is now 1.4 million followers. "I've got a lot to thank for Instagram, just posting more sexy pictures. The likes started growing," she shared.
From Law Firm to Strip Club
Despite her growing social media presence, Megan found her earnings from Instagram insufficient to support herself. This financial pressure led her to seek employment at a strip club without informing her parents.
"I was earning really bad money at the law firm, it wasn't worth the hours I was putting in. I had no money to spend at the weekend," she explained. "I'd walk past the strip club and the girls outside looked so happy, they were laughing. They were glamorous as f**k."
Megan simply walked into the establishment and asked for a job, marking another step in her unconventional path to financial stability and eventual fame through the 2018 series of Love Island.
