LOVE Island “villain” Olivia Hawkins has compared her two stints on the show to The Hunger Games – and admits they led to her “losing herself”.
The 30-year-old says fellas never ask her out after she was first painted as a troublemaker in the villa in 2023 — then again during her return for this year’s All Stars version.
In fact, the beauty, who has been an actress and a ring girl, claims she has never had a proper “boyfriend”.
In an exclusive chat with the Sun on Sunday, Olivia said the telly dating contest reminds her of the brutal fight for survival in dystopian movie series The Hunger Games because “you never know when you’re going to be dumped”.
She explains: “It can feel competitive with everyone the same age, feeling like you’re at risk of being dumped.
"I find dating hard because the majority of people I meet have watched Love Island, or know of my character on the show. It’s hard not to be prejudged.
“I was the villain of the villa. They just saw me as a fiery character. Now I get told I’m quite intimidating. Men don’t approach me because they think I won’t be responsive.
“But that’s a misconception. I’m the most approachable person ever. Men think I’ll be hard work, and of course I like the finer things in life, but I provide that for myself.”
Recalling how the programme affected her, Olivia adds: “After Love Island, I got to a point where maybe I just lost myself a bit.
"You’ve been painted as this one person, and then it’s almost like a persona that you think, ‘Oh, that’s obviously not me, but do I have to keep that up?’.”
The Brighton-born beauty, who starred in James Bond film No Time To Die with Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas, is now taking part in another TV show, Celebs Go Dating, in search of romance.
During her first Love Island appearance, she coupled up with Will Young, Haris Namani and Kai Fagan, but was accused of being hypocritical and instigating toxic antics that made at least one of the lads cry.
"She slated the boys who kissed new women behind their original partner’s back, despite female friends also doing that.
And when she took part in All Stars, she was branded a troublemaker again for seemingly trying to split Luca Bish and Grace Jackson.
Despite dating a string of hunks — including EastEnders star Max Bowden, who plays Ben Mitchell, and fellow islander Jack Fowler — she feels her reputation has put men off committing to her and hopes that will soon change with Celebs Go Dating.
She says: “All I want is a partner to be there for me and be my soulmate, and to have a shoulder to lean on. I’d just love someone to take me for being me and get to know the person away from the screen.
“I felt like I really had to try and prove everyone wrong or show a different side to me.
“But really, I needed to just put myself first, and as long as I’m happy with myself, that’s all that matters.
“My romantic life has been a real journey, a rollercoaster. I’ve never been in a relationship. Throughout my twenties, I really settled for the bare minimum and I didn’t, I guess, realise my worth.
“I’m now finally at that place where I just don’t want to settle for any less. I don’t need to put up with a d**khead.
“I know what I bring to the table, so if someone else can’t match that, then my time is so precious, as is theirs . . . I don’t want to waste my time on anyone.”
All I want is a partner to be there for me and be my soulmate, and just to have a shoulder to lean on
Olivia Hawkins
Olivia will put her romantic fate in the hands of matchmakers Paul C Brunson and Anna Williamson on Celebs Go Dating, which kicks off on E4 on August 11.
She will be joined on the show by singletons Kerry Katona, Christine McGuinness, S Club 7’s Jon Lee and The Chase star Mark “The Beast” Labbett.
They will be paired with non-celebrity strangers the TV experts believe could be perfect for them — and fans will see the couples then go on a string of dates.
After the brutality of Love Island, Olivia says she is enjoying the process. She explains: “On Celebs, you’re never dumped unless you do something really bad!
‘Sod the haters’
“That is the nicest part about it. I have full control and I’m not competing with anyone.
“But also, it’s in my hands to make sure I’m making the right decision for myself. And I really do feel like I put myself first on this series.”
Olivia insists she knows what she wants in a man, revealing. “At this stage in my life, looks only go so far.
“I’ve met some absolutely gorgeous men and it just hasn’t been there because the personality wasn’t there to match. Sometimes, guys can be so attractive and that’s all they rely on, and that makes them unattractive.
“I definitely wouldn’t say looks are the be all and end all. I don’t want to get to 90 and think, ‘Oh, the only reason I went for him was because he was 6ft 5ins and so good-looking’.
“I want to be like, ‘Haven’t we had the best life? We’ve laughed so much’.
“I need banter. I can’t have someone super-sensitive, because I am quite sarcastic. So someone that can give it back to me — that’s playful — and I really wanted someone communicative and considerate.”
Revealing her dating priorities, Olivia says: “I need someone that’s family orientated. I can’t compromise on that.”
The Celebs Go Dating stars got a baptism of fire on the new series with a singles night straight away, where they had to pick a match to take on a sun-kissed trip to Ibiza.
On Celebs, you’re never dumped unless you do something really bad!
And despite spending weeks on national TV wearing just a bikini, Olivia says she was more nervous walking into that party — or a “mixer”, as it is called on the show — than she was entering the villa.
“I’ve never been so nervous,” she admits. “I know it’s ridiculous, but because this was more focused on me and my journey, it’s different.”
Olivia hopes that by showing her vulnerability, fans will finally see a different side to her. And if they don’t, she is past caring.
She says with a laugh: “Sod the haters. They’re always going to be there. I don’t worry about other people’s opinions. I just live life and be happy.”
