“I was offered £500k in the first year”

The series 3 contestant has worked to create a long-lasting career

When Montana Brown left the

Love Island villa in 2017, it quickly became apparent that she’d need some help handling her new-found fame. “My mum set up meetings with four talent agencies,” she says. “One boasted about how they could earn me £500k in the first year, but I was more interested in how I could build a lasting career.” The former student now has a successful sustainable swimwear line, Swim Society, stocked on ASOS.

It’s this practical thought process that has helped the 25-year-old to stay grounded. “The first year after Love Island, I behaved like a bit of a brat – people give you everything for free, and do everything for you.

But you can’t forget that you’re quite disposable in this industry. Future contestants need to know what they’re getting into, and also understand that fame and money don’t last forever.

“In the beginning I was constantly looking in my peripherals to see what other contestants were doing. Who’s working with which brands? Who’s getting paid what? You psycho-analyse yourself, because you feel pressure to look a certain way in order to get the work.

“As time’s gone on, I’ve learned you can’t copy people. I had to find what I was passionate about beyond social media, and now use it as a place to keep up with my friends.”