‘I worked my ass off with squats and sit-ups’

She turned heads when she strolled into the villa on last year’s Love Island, flaunting her size 10-12 body in a figurehugging swimsuit. But Jess Shears, 24, tells us she couldn’t help but feel insecure alongside her slender size 6-8 castmates. She says, “I was nervous when I got in there, especially as I was the token ‘curvy girl’ and everyone else had such amazing bodies. The times I did feel insecure with my body were when we all shared each other’s clothes – I couldn’t fit into a lot of them, so that knocked my confidence a bit.”

She adds, “We’d all do group workouts in the villa – I’d feel guilty if other girls were working out and I wasn’t! We’d do squats, sit-ups and high-intensity interval training to keep in shape. Most girls actually lost weight in there, probably because you’re in your bikini all the time and it’s so hot, it kind of reduces your appetite. They provide really healthy meals as well.”

Jess, who is engaged to co-star Dom Lever, confesses she put her body through a gruelling fitness and diet regime ahead of the show to ensure she looked her best – and insists this year’s cast will have done the same. She reveals, “When I was told I was going on the show, I thought ‘s**t, I’ve got to look as good as I can.’ I cut out treats, like chocolate and wine, and went to the gym nearly every day. Unless the new girls are genetically blessed, they would have worked their asses off to look like that! But I’d love to see a girl with a bum and thighs go in there to show that other body shapes are beautiful, too.” Say Yes To The Dress UK featuring Jessica Shears airs 29 June, 9pm, on TLC