Former Love Island star Molly Smith has said she thinks Irish people do well on Love Island - because not enough are let on the show.
The Mancunian beauty believes Irish contestants stand out on Love Island – but thinks it’s "unfair" TV bosses don’t allow enough of them on.
The model told us: “Probably because they don’t let as many on, which is unfair. They stand out, don’t they, when they’re on there.
"When Maura (Higgins) was on, she was just someone we were constantly drawn to. She was different.
“She had a lot about her as well. I know that my grandad (who is Irish) was a little bit feisty and all, so I feel like I have inherited that a little bit and I know that Maura was also a little bit feisty.
“And it is just something different. I know a lot of Mancunians like myself, we sit back a little bit sometimes and we can be a little bit boring really.
“It’s something different that draws you to them when they’re on there, but I don’t think it’s fair that they only maybe let the odd one on.
“I think it’s because they have an impact and they’re different but like they have something about them that doesn’t blend in with everyone else.”
Molly left the villa victorious in love with beau Callum Smith. The pair are still going strong two years after sauntering out of the palatial Cape Town abode, having met in Casa Amor during the winter edition of the hit ITV show.
But she admitted there was pressure to match with someone on the show.
“I think because it’s about love, so you go on feeling the pressure of oh my god what if I don’t match so… but I actually said before I went on, I said to my friend, I’m going on because I don’t want to meet anyone from Manchester. I’m sick of seeing all the same people…. And I’ve met someone who lives 11 minutes away from me.”
It comes after Co Down Love Island star Matthew MacNabb admitted finding love on the show was difficult in a “weird environment”.
But Molly said she didn’t think it was a weird environment but said: “If I don’t get a connection with someone, I’m pointless being here. I’m filling a void for someone else who could potentially find someone.
“You knew that’s why you’re going on it. If you’re not going on it for love, then I don’t understand why.
“I think now people are seeing how well they’re doing after the show, some are going on in the hope of having a career boost or business opportunities. But if you go with that mindset, it doesn’t always pan out that way for you.”
Opening up about how she handles fame, Molly says she tries not to read articles about her.
“I don’t look. I think sometimes if I look too much, I get a bit obsessed and then you start thinking ‘oh I shouldn’t have done that’ or I shouldn’t have worn that.”
She said going on the show is a “once in a lifetime opportunity”, saying it is such a whirlwind.
Molly flew into Dublin this week to promote the launch of Higher Education Skincare, which was hosted by 2FM’s Laura Fox.
But she said she would love to return to Ireland and trace her family tree as she revealed her grandfather, Michael O’Hare, was Irish.
“He died when I was eight, but he was the longest living grandparent I had. He was called Mick O’Hare, so he had a proper Irish name. He was lovely.
“I’ve come over for modelling maybe twice and I always say to my mum, I’m going to go to Ireland. I want to see where my grandad was from.”
She said she would love to take part in the genealogy show, Who Do You Think You Are, to discover her Irish heritage.
“I would love to know more about my grandad and his family. You don’t know where to start when they’re not here anymore.
“The interesting part was that my grandad had another daughter that my mum found about when she was like 40 but then my grandad had passed by this point.
“So it’s hard really. My mum’s mum died when she was 11 so there is no one really to help find out.”
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