‘Becoming a mum has given me a purpose’
Former Love Islander Cara De La Hoyde on the show that made her famous and how parenthood has helped her depression
She’s a Love Island star with more than a million social media followers, winning the hearts of the nation and bagging the £50,000 cash prize in 2016 with her now husband, Essex lad Nathan Massey, 30.
But when Cara De La Hoyde, 32, – who now has son Freddie, four, and daughter Delilah, two, with Nathan – sits down for a chat with us, she’s the first to admit her life is far from perfect. Always open about her struggles with anxiety and depression, Cara revealed earlier this year that she’s started taking antidepressants again, telling her followers,“There is no shame in asking for help.”
Here, Cara tells us why she gives fans such a raw account of parenting, why she no longer watches Love Island and how having children has helped improve her mental health…
Hi Cara! Freddie’s just started school. How was his first day?
It was fine, I didn’t cry! He had a great time. Fred is such a confident child – if he met you he’d be your best friend in two minutes.
You show the realities of parenting on your social media. Is that important to you?
When we came out of Love Island I tried to be so perfect, but as soon as I had kids I realised it’s hard.
I was trying to put on this persona and it became so stressful for me. I suffer with anxiety and depression anyway, so I decided to stop putting pressure on myself and start showing what it’s like to be married with children.
‘You need to take joy in the little things that happen’
Is it hard watching the kids grow up so quickly?
I’m not an overly sentimental person, but one day before Fred started school
I just got really sad and emotional about it. My babies are growing up!
What
do you love most about being a mum?
It sounds cheesy, but it has given me a proper purpose. I’ve always said I wanted to be a mum. I suffer badly with my mental health and I take my happy pill every day, but I find that my depression hasn’t been as present since I’ve had children. It’s like there has always been a hole and since I’ve had Fred, that’s been filled. I still suffer, but now I have children I have to get up and get through it.
Do you still watch Love Island? No. We used to, but I just think, “I’m 32 now, I can’t be watching 18-year-olds in bikinis trying to put it on people.” I do check in, but it’s on every night – I can’t commit to that!
Tell us about your partnership with Bing’s Little
Wins...
I’m very open on social media about the good and bad of parenting – nothing is off limits. If something happens I’m going to show it, because it’s funny and we’re all in it together. It’s nice to be able to say to other parents and grandparents and carers that it is hard and that you need to take joy in the little things that happen.
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