Love Island's Matthew McNabb reckons it took him two years to adjust to 'normal life' after being on the show.
The Northern Irishman, 28, made his debut as a bombshell in Casa Amor in 2021 before being booted out of the villa.
Matthew initially hit it off with Kaz Kamwi on the show, but says he felt like a "fraud", because he wasn't one of the 'original boys'.
"I shouldn't have been there in a way," he said. "It was like trying to take over being someone else's boyfriend."
Matthew was voted off the show just a few weeks after he made his debut.
Explaining how he had to adjust to 'normal life' after the programme, he continued: "It’s really weird because when you go into the villa you’re yourself, then you still come out the same person, but it’s completely different circumstances.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article29202232.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Love-Island-TV-show-Series-7-Episode-29-Majorca-Spain-30-Jul-2021.jpg)
"What I found most difficult was knowing my position in life, even two years on I still have the difficulties of imposter syndrome," he told Spin Genie.
Matthew recalled the time he was in the VIP section of a music gig in Belfast, saying he felt as famous as Justin Bieber. He then revealed his sister got 'elbowed in the face by girls desperate to get close to him'.
The reality TV star, who has has now found love with his Dancing with the Stars partner Laura Nolan, opened up about his mental health struggles shortly before joining the "huge show".
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article29202203.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Love-Island-TV-show-Series-7-Episode-25-Majorca-Spain-26-Jul-2021.jpg)
Matthew admitted he'd had a "crazy few months" before he entered the villa and was devastated after he lost one of his best friends just two weeks before making his debut in Casa Amor.
In a candid Instagram post, he explained: "My life has been crazy the past few months. From one of my best friends passing away two weeks before Love Island, to entering the villa and experiencing all that came with it.
"I’m not going to lie, the first week in the villa I struggled a lot. I was thinking of my friend and wanted my loved ones around me. Meanwhile, I was wanting to be my usual happy, positive self to really show who I was.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article29202230.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Love-Island-TV-show-Series-7-Islanders-UK-Jun-2021.jpg)
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article29202229.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Matthew-MacNabb.jpg)
"I haven’t told anyone this, but I met with the psychologist when I was in the villa and cried for a solid hour.
"She helped me so much and made me realise that this life is an adventure and with any adventure, there are ups and there are downs."