'I can't believe how far I've come in a year

Former Love Islander Shaughna Phillips tells new how she dropped 5st

- KENZI DEVINE

Shaughna Phillips is entering the new year feeling and looking - better than ever, after totally overhauling her lifestyle and losing more than five stone. The former Love Island star, 30, was given a stark reality check last January, when she was told by doctors she was "clinically obese", which kick-started her dramatic transformation.

"I'm feeling the best I've felt in a long time, potentially ever, admits a visibly glowing Shaughna as she sits down with new for an exclusive interview.

"I can't believe how far I've come in a year.

I was on a walk a year ago and there was a moment where it dawned on me how much weight I actually had to lose. I felt so overwhelmed. It was like, 'Where on earth do you even start?' But you do- and eventually it comes off. I'm just so glad I did start because that was the hardest part."

Rising to fame on Love Island in 2020, Londoner Shaughna admits that being on the reality show which sees young singles bunk up in a stunning villa - comes with intense pressure when it comes to physical appearance. And after welcoming her daughter Lucia in April 2023, she found her confidence at an all-time low as she struggled with her post-baby figure.

"I can't blame pregnancy, because I did do quite a bit of damage after I had Lucia, I was just eating and eating and doing nothing else," she confesses.

"But It was hard because, in my mind, people would look at me and their first thought would be, 'Oh, Shaughna from Love Island' and their second thought would be, 'Oh my God, she's got huge.' I don't know whether that is what they thought, but in my mind it was, and that was enough to keep me indoors," says Shaughna.

"A lot of it does stem from post-partum anxiety. I had it really bad and I still struggle.