Love Island All Stars contestant Demi Jones has revealed she lost her confidence after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
The 25-year-old reality star received the devastating news in 2000 after her mum noticed a lump on her neck as she watched her in the villa. After getting it checked out, she underwent surgery to remove the lump.
Three years on, after being back in the hospital every month, Demi revealed last June that she had finally been given the all-clear and would no longer need to receive treatment or monthly checkups.
And after “smashing the gym”, she is now ready to find love again as one of the celebs taking part in a special Allstars spin-off of Love Island which starts on Monday, January 15.
Asked why she was returning to the Love Island villa, Demi shared: “Because I am ready again to find love. I lost of lot of confidence with my health issues over the last couple of years but I’ve been smashing the gym this year, finding my confidence again – and I’ve got it back. So let’s find a man!”
This time around Demi says she will go in “with a little more determination” as last time she thinks she was “a little naive and a little too nice”. Now a bit older and wiser, she is still going to be her “nice and bubbly self”, but says: “If I want something I will go after it, because I deserve it as much as the next person.”
Demi said her friends and family will be “absolutely shocked” she is going back on the show but she claims she has now “matured a lot” and can go in “with a real fire in my belly”. Discussing which men will be in the villa this time around, she added: “It will be interesting to see if old flames get reignited. Naturally with Love Island, paths are very much crossed and believe me, I have some paths!”
Asked which of the male Love Islanders from series 1 to 10 she would want to couple up with, Demi confessed: “Number one is Ovie, gorgeous and so chilled. I also really fancy Montel McKenzie, he’s very cool. I would definitely vibe with him.”
Maya Jama is back once again to host the latest instalment of ITV2 series as past bombshells and iconic islanders enjoy a second – or possibly third – stint on the reality TV show. Other confirmed cast members confirmed include Georgia Harrison, Liberty Poole, Georgia Steel, Jake Cornish, , Toby Aromolaran, Kaz Kamwi, Chris Taylor, Anton Danyluk, Hannah Elizabeth, Luis Morrison and ‘Messy’ Mitchel Taylor.