Olivia: ‘I’ve had the post-wedding blues’
The newlywed talks about her new life as Mrs Bowen
Olivia Buckland – sorry, Bowen – has been a busy lady lately. Since marrying her Love Island beau Alex Bowen in a lavish, reality star-studded wedding in September, and then following it with an epic honeymoon in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, her feet have barely touched the ground. So, it’s no wonder she’s crashed back to reality with a bang. But, as she tells us, wedding blues are a small price to pay for marital bliss… How was the honeymoon? It was amazing, but the weather was so bad! But, we were very lucky with the weather on our wedding day, so you can’t have everything. It must have helped that you’re the face of Cocoa Brown tanning! Oh God, yeah. I’m OK with being pale and when I go on holiday, I don’t like sitting in the sun that much – I find it easier to put on fake tan before I go away. It makes you feel better. So, I love collaborating with them, even though for the campaign, I had to pose in my bikini in an ice bath. Ouch! Was it sad coming home? Yeah, I had wedding blues and honeymoon blues rolled into one. I think it’s just the fact that you’re so wrapped up in the wedding, and then it’s over. You feel a little bit like there’s a hole. Even on the day, you know you’re loving it, but you also know you’re going to miss the moment. I might have to have a vow renewal. Do you feel like Mrs Bowen yet? That makes me feel really old – it sounds like a teacher’s name. I’m in the process of legally changing it – it’s a nightmare and it takes forever. Has your relationship with Alex changed much? No, I think we’re just the same. That’s maybe why I had the wedding blues, because nothing changed. But we’ve always felt so close. And you’ve added to your family with a new puppy. Are babies next? Well, I’m a full-time dog mum now. It’s quite crazy in our house, Winnie the puppy has so much energy. We’re so busy in our careers, and we’re happy with each other for now.
‘Mrs Bowen makes me sound old – like a teacher’
Who’s the more domestic out of you and Alex? He can’t cook. I taught him how to boil pasta the other day and now he thinks he’s a chef. But he’s tidy and he does do his own washing. I’ve got him under control with that. Olivia Buckland is the face of Cocoa Brown By Marissa Carter, available at Tesco, Primark, Superdrug and Superdrug.com