Olivia Bowen, who finished second on Love Island in 2016 alongside her now-husband Alex, has revealed that she struggled with disordered eating during her time in the Mallorca villa. The 32-year-old TV personality appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Thursday (July 2) to discuss her new autobiography, Lost Until Love: Learning to Find Myself Again.
Hidden Struggle in the Villa
During the interview, presenter Ranvir Singh noted that Olivia's book discusses how eating in front of others was a major challenge for her in the Love Island kitchen. Olivia confirmed that her disordered eating manifested as a fear of being seen eating, and she could not put food on her own plate. She explained that the show's requirement to eat lunch and dinner in front of cameras forced her to confront this fear, acting as a form of exposure therapy.
Roots of the Struggle
When asked by Adil Ray why she couldn't be seen eating, Olivia said it was about control and processing emotion. She described it as something she continuously works on, linked to anxiety and depression. She emphasized that such behaviors are not necessarily about the food itself but can manifest from other experiences.
Ranvir then discussed the challenge of not passing anxieties on to children, as Olivia is now a mother. Olivia's book also covers her journey through motherhood and the loss of her twin daughter during pregnancy.
Love Island airs Sunday to Friday on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm, while Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am.
Beat is a charity that raises awareness and understanding of eating disorders and supports those affected.
