THE MOTHER OF Love Island STAR AMBER GILL SPEAKS TO OK!
AMBER GILL’S MUM VANESSA WAUGH TELLS ok!’s KIRSTY HATCHER ABOUT THE ‘LOVE ISLAND’ STAR’S LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE VILLA
From the moment she stepped into the villa, beauty therapist Amber Gill has made an impression on Love Island viewers. With her sassy attitude and lovable Geordie accent, it’s no wonder the 21 year old is now the bookies’ favourite to win with firefighter Michael Griffiths.
But her mum Vanessa Waugh tells OK! there’s a side to Amber we’ve yet to see in the villa. ‘She loves Reiki healing and crystals. She’s very spiritual and she took her crystals in with her. I’m surprised we haven’t seen her around the pool with them as she likes to put them in the sun to boost their positive energy.’
Vanessa, 47, also reveals that Amber, who works in a salon run by her aunt, hasn’t always been as confident as she appears on screen. ‘Amber used to be insecure and shy. She didn’t really put herself forward to do anything at school and always kept herself in the background,’ she says, adding: ‘She blossomed when she turned 18. She got a lot of confidence when she started working in a nightclub in Newcastle with her cousin taking cash on the door. It was after then that she started to believe in herself.’
Hailed by fans of the show for her gorgeous appearance, Vanessa is quick to
deny claims Amber had a bum lift before entering the villa, explaining: ‘That isn’t true. She hasn’t had any surgery.’
Like viewers, Vanessa has also seen a change in her daughter during her time on the show, which she believes is down to Liverpudlian Michael, 27.
‘He’s really bringing out a softer side of her. It’s made her more confident. Michael’s older than her other boyfriends and I think that’s what she needs. He’s trustworthy. She’s starting to let go with him and put her guard down. I think he’s absolutely lovely. I can’t wait to meet him. He’s definitely welcome in Newcastle in our house.’
Vanessa, who works in recruitment and resourcing, tells us that Amber was left struggling to trust men after being cheated on by a former boyfriend.
‘She does have her guard up. She’s just protecting herself from being hurt. She’s not a cheater. There was one boy who was saying all the right things but doing the opposite behind her back so she’s just cautious.’
Watching her daughter on the telly has been at times a difficult experience for Vanessa and Amber’s dad Leon, who have had to deal with online trolls posting racist messages on Amber’s social media accounts.
‘I was shocked at first. It is hurtful, but then I found out it was mainly young people and I think they were just looking for attention,’ Vanessa says, adding: ‘I think Amber will be able to ignore the hate because she’s going to have so much love and this is just a small minority. She’s a very strong person and was very aware that could happen.’ She continues: ‘ITV have been so supportive. They checked in to see if I was okay.’