Campaigner Georgia Harrison said her time on Love Island: All-Stars will be a welcome break after spending the last few years “fighting for myself and other women” against revenge porn and violence.
The TV star, 29, has been campaigning for sexual assault victims to be prioritised more within the justice system after her ex-boyfriend Stephen Bear was jailed last year for posting intimate footage of her online without her consent.
Harrison, who appeared on series three of the ITV dating show, is among the line-up for the new spin-off show, which will see past contestants return to the villa for a second chance of love.
Reflecting on her last few years, she said: “I know that I made a really big difference to society and that means so much to me. Obviously I changed the law, I got to go into Downing Street, I’ve really took some large steps within the political sector over the last couple of years.
“And in a way, I’ve absolutely loved that new area of my life, but it can be really draining always having to talk about a negative subject.
“And this is the last year of my 20s. Sometimes I feel like I lost aspects of my personality slightly, where everything I was doing was just always so serious and always about making a difference based on something bad that happened to me.
“So I feel it’s going to be so refreshing to just have no phone and be in an environment where for once I just get to be a 20-year-old, having fun, meeting people, having some banter.
“I really feel like I’ve missed out on that in the last couple of years because I’ve been fighting for myself and other women, which I will continue to do, but I’m just going to have a little six-week break. I’m having a sabbatical.”
In June, the law cracked down on people who share intimate images without the consent of those depicted following calls from campaigners, including Harrison.
Last time round, the former The Only Way Is Essex star joined the series as the last bombshell when she was 21.
She said she feels “far more confident” and “compassionate” going in this time, adding: “When you go through quite a strengthening life journey it definitely evolves you as a soul.
“I think you’re going to see a massively different side to me but I think most of all you’re going to see the fun, funny, light-hearted side that unfortunately the British public haven’t really got to see over the last few years due to circumstances.”
The TV personality also hopes she can translate her campaigning role into the villa by supporting her fellow female contestants if they are being “mugged off or feeling a bit down or lacking confidence within themselves”.
She said her experience has made her “slightly less trusting” of dating and men but feels this could help guide her to someone who will treat her better.
“I really want to be more aware of the partners that I’m giving time to and really just look out for red flags”, she added.
“So it’s probably made me slightly less trusting but it’s also made me far more attracted to qualities that I weren’t attracted to in the past.
“If I can see a man being patient, kind, thoughtful, caring, honest – those things really turn me on now. Whereas before I would never have took something like that into account.”
Also joining the line-up is TV personality Chris Taylor, who was in a relationship with Maura Higgins after they starred in the show in 2019 during series five.
The 33-year-old from Leicester has since appeared in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie blockbuster as a Ken presenting Nobel prizes after meeting Margot Robbie, who plays the Mattel doll, at an after-party.
Taylor said he hopes Robbie is “excited” for the series and tunes in – with the actress revealed previously she is a fan of the show.
Despite briefly rubbing shoulders with Hollywood stars, the TV star said he only feels “4% more wham” going into the villa this time.
He added: “I’m not really a dater in normal day-to-day life so I haven’t really had any practice in that sense and the chat that I had with Margot, it could probably be televised if I did something similar in the villa but I don’t think it will help me in any way.”
Love Island: All-Stars will launch on ITV2 and ITVX on January 15, with Maya Jama returning to host.
