Love Island star Amy Hart has revealed she had therapy "12 times" during her time in the villa following her emotional departure from the show.
The 26-year-old flight attendant left the ITV2 series last week following her split from fellow islander Curtis Pritchard.
Amy broke down in tears several times on camera and later revealed she had been in a “very horrible place” during her final week on the show.
Shedding further light on her decision to “prioritise her mental health over the reality show”, she said she’d undergone therapy to cope.
“I had therapy 12 times in the villa – but I’ve come out stronger. I deserve a man who loves me for who I am,” she told OK! magazine in an interview to be published on Tuesday.
The former pageant contestant previously said she knew her time in the villa was up when her relationship with Curtis ended after she told him she loved him.
She told The Sun it would have been “self-sabotage” to watch Curtis “cracking on” with new love interest Maura Higgins, adding: “I have to put myself and my sanity first.”
Since her tearful departure, Amy has been getting close to Curtis’s brother AJ, 24, with whom she appeared on Love Island: Aftersun.
When asked by an audience member who he would have coupled up with on the show, dancer AJ responded: “Amy looks gorgeous this evening and I love her hair.”
A smiling Amy replied cheekily: “We could recreate team Pritchard.”
The 26-year-old got in touch with the Strictly Come Dancing performer after leaving the villa.
AJ said: “She spoke to me. She sent me a message actually afterwards and said she feels like she knows the family and she could only praise Curtis about being honest.”
Amy revealed last week she now feels “a million times better”, having been “unable to eat” following her tumultuous break-up from Curtis.
She praised Love Island’s duty of care process and said she would continue to use the show’s counsellors in the coming months.
ITV outlined its revised support plan for contestants ahead of series five, revealing they would all be offered “enhanced psychological support” before and after filming as well as eight therapy sessions on returning home.
