'What happened made me realise life's too short'

Love Island star Liberty Poole on her terrifying knifepoint ordeal and why she's embracing the single life

- RHIANNA BENSON

It’s hard to believe that it’s been just over a year since Liberty Poole stole the hearts of the nation by bravely calling off her relationship with Love Island ’s Jake Cornish and quitting the villa just days before the grand final.

Catching up with new, the 23-year-old model and influencer insists she has “no regrets” about her early exit, adding, “I wasn’t going to fake anything for the sake of TV. It wasn’t right for me and Jake to stay in the villa.”

Liberty’s career has gone from strength to strength ever since – she’s competed on Dancing On Ice and signed a rumoured £1 million deal with clothing brand In The Style. Her next career goal? To release a tell-all book!

But life after Love Island hasn’t all been plain sailing. Calling us from her Dubai hotel room, where she’s enjoying a sunshine break with her mum Jo, she opens up about the horror of being held at knifepoint while in Los Angeles with her Love Island gal pal Kaz Kamwi, 27. The ordeal – in April – has had a lasting impact…

Hi Liberty! It’s been five months since your ordeal in LA. How are you feeling?

I do get a lot more anxious on nights out. It’s really sad. When it happened, it was completely unexpected, so if I’m out and I see someone acting suspiciously, the memories come flooding back. I go into flight mode and remove myself quickly. Saying that, it hasn’t affected the way I live my life. I never miss out on anything out of fear, but it’s made me more aware of my surroundings.

Has the incident changed your way of thinking?