Love Island 2019 winner Amber Gill has spoken about coming out, queer wellbeing and why moving to London helped her feel confident exploring her sexuality – as she joined stars, medics and campaigners at a grassroots LGBTQIA+ health gala in the capital.
Amber, 28, attended Queer Health 2026 at Battersea Arts Centre, London, on Thursday (July 2). Speaking at the event, Amber said she wanted to be there because health conversations can still feel taboo - especially in queer spaces.
She told the Daily Star: “I’m here because… health in general is super important, health and wellness, but then when it comes to queer spaces, even more so.”
Amber Gill on Health Taboos
“I think that people are really scared to talk about things,” she said. “You need to be comfortable discussing uncomfortable things.” She continued: “It’s important conversations and also for me to listen as well. I’m very open to hearing other people’s perspectives and life experiences. I think that broadens my horizons as well.”
Amber rose to fame after winning Love Island 2019 alongside Greg O’Shea, and has since built a career beyond reality TV, including writing the bestselling romance novel Until I Met You. She later became openly gay after accidentally coming out in July 2022 via a viral X post, before publicly confirming her sexuality and becoming a visible voice for LGBTQIA+ fans.
Coming Out and Finding Comfort
Asked how being out has changed her day-to-day life, Amber said “I feel like I’m quite lucky because since I’ve gained a public profile, I’ve kind of always been a bit queer. For the girls and for the gays and for everything. So I don’t think my community, my people, changed at all really. I’ve always been very much an ally, even before I was a member of the community.”
And although Love Island is often seen as a very straight, heteronormative world, Amber said she didn’t experience major backlash when the public learned more about her sexuality. She said: “I got myself really in a really comfortable space with it. I was privately dating and privately figuring out myself. So by the time that everybody knew about it, I was kind of ready for it to be known publicly.”
Amber said the reaction was “overwhelmingly positive”. She admitted: “There’s obviously going to be the odd comment here and there, but it was quite an open arms and welcoming experience for me.”
Rejecting Negative Narratives
She also pushed back against the idea that a person’s sexuality must be explained by a negative romantic past - including the online narrative that she “became gay” because of her Love Island experience. “I see that and I find it really interesting,” Amber shared. “It’s not that I’m one thing or another… it’s more about being fluid.”
She further revealed: “I think moving to London [from Newcastle] is the factor that really helped me in opening up.” For Amber, being surrounded by diversity made her think more deeply about who she is and what she wants.
Baby Steps of Progress in Love Island
Amber also shared her thoughts on how Love Island itself is changing, after discussing the current series and the way bisexuality is now being spoken about more openly on the show. This year’s Casa Amor newcomer Martha Rothwell has revealed she is bisexual and has spoken publicly about previously being in a relationship with a woman.
“I think we are making baby steps of progress,” Amber reflected. “As heavy as everything might feel in other avenues, there is a little bit of forward motion in other places, so it’s good.”
The Queer Health 2026 event featured a packed line-up of speakers and performers including Yasmin Finney, Dr Michael Brady, Dr Paul Martin OBE, Baroness Elizabeth Barker, Bobbi Pickard, Dani St James, Jack Remmington and Rob Houchen.
Amber on the Paranormal and Her Leo Traits
In a more playful moment, Amber revealed she’s open-minded about the paranormal too, saying she’s “a believer of all things” - from ghosts to aliens. “How vast this space is - there has to be something there, right?” she said, adding: “I pretty much believe in anything… magic, manifestation, ghosts, aliens.”
When asked the most “Leo” thing about her, Amber didn’t hesitate: “Loyal,” she said. “I’m very, very loyal to the death.”
