Metro

MALIN ANDERSSON
Love Island UK, positive body campaigner, influencer

Malin Andersson on not being defined by loss and leaving Love Island behind

From: Metro Online
By: Rishma Dosani

Malin Andersson has had a tough few years (Picture: Twitter)

Malin Andersson has had a rollerocaster time since leaving Love Island, way back in 2015.

Her life has been flipped around more times than anyone can imagine, tragically losing both her parents to cancer, with mum Consy dying in 2017.

And, she was forced to deal with grief once more when her baby daughter, Consy – named after her late mum – sadly died at the beginning of the year, just a month after she was born seven-weeks premature.

But, while many others would understandably fall apart, the 26-year-old has used her pain to empower her.

Speaking about the tough few years she has faced since stepping foot in the public eye, she told Metro.co.uk exclusively: ‘Everyone deals with different things in their life. Everyone goes through stuff, but it’s how you process it and deal with it that matters the most.

‘You can either let it consume you, or you could just let it evolve you as a person and use it as a kind of strength.

missmalinsara: Completely in love with you.. and my Mum just wanted you to be with her. Your time wasn’t ready yet. Mummy loves you. I stayed with you each day.. you opened your eyes one last time for me and I saw those beautiful big brown eyes. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anymore. Go be with grandma Consy. ❤️😞 My angel. Rest in peace CONSY GLORIA EMMA ANDERSSON-KEMP 🙏🏽 23/12/18-22/01/19.

‘When you suffer stuff or loss. If you let it kind of define who you are, it will eat you up. So it’s best to let it make you a better person.’

Malin has taken this challenge head on, and has become a vocal advocate for body positivity in the public eye, showing off her ‘real self’ – complete with stretch marks and cellulite – on social media, when others share airbrushed glimpses of their lives.

And she is adamant that, if she’s helped just one person, that’s all it takes.

‘If one person needs to see it, I’ve helped one person,’ she continued. ‘The world that we live in today is full of airbrushed images, size expectations.

‘It’s refreshing for people to see and I can honestly tell you I get a thousand messages every few days off people saying I’m inspirational, they’re sharing their stories with me.

Malin is dedicated to sharing her ‘real self’ on social media (Picture: Instagram)

‘It is so heartwarming for me to read that. And that spurs me on to do more. We know what the game is with social media. It’s a dark world, it can be a really dark world, and if there is a bit of light somewhere, it can help somebody so it makes me feel better inside, it fulfils me.’

And it’s clearly worked, as she became the newest face to join the Good American squad – aka Khloe Kardashian’s brand of body-friendly clothes catering to all women, regardless of shape or size.

‘I just want to be associated with brands really close to my heart and which represent the same kind of view that I am going for,’ she said on the campaign. ‘I’m being a bit fussy, but it’ll be worth it.

‘I’m getting into modelling now and promoting positive body image, it goes along with their brand. And that’s the image I want to upkeep.

The Love Island star was recently announced as part of Khloe Kardashian’s Good American squad (Picture: GC Images)

‘I’m here to make a difference and forget the Love Island stuff and be Malin Andersson, for me, not Love Island. It holds a bit of inspiration to my name. Because using suffering to help other people is what I’m about.’

Although she is desperate to help people, she has also learnt to put herself first for once, and take time out when she needs it.

Part of this is taking a break from ‘exhausting’ social media and being ‘selfish’ when things overwhelm her, instead of attempting to put a brave face on for fans.

‘Some days I’ll be selfish and I’ll do what I need to do for my own mental health, as well as helping others,’ she revealed. ‘It boils down to me and how I look after myself. I’m number one.

missmalinsara: So I have left @blisssanctuaryforwomen feeling like a transformed woman.. We all have things that we need to work on as individuals and coming to Bliss I have really worked on myself mentally and physically. From the heart I can say I am so so grateful for this experience.. Every single detail was thought of, the girls were amazing from the fresh cooking, the massages, the rooms immaculate every day, the scenic views. and just the general family feel of this place I could not recommend it enough. It’s been life changing and I will certainly be back ❤️ Forever a #blissambassador .. 🌴🌸

‘As long as I look after myself, I can help other people at the same time. But the minute I start getting too overwhelmed or I’m going through something personal, [if] I’m grieving or I start thinking about my mum or my little girl or my dad, then I’ll take some time out and I’ll deal with it, instead of trying to hide it, pushing the pain back and trying to put on a brave face.

‘It doesn’t work like that, because you’ll end up crashing eventually. It’s best to deal with how you’re feeling right now and then.’

Malin recently enjoyed some down time at the Bliss Sanctuary For Women in Bali, to fully unwind.

And she explained the retreat was just what the doctor ordered.

‘Me and my best friend needed that, it was literally goals,’ she added. ‘It was instant relaxation from the get go. Fresh food on demand, fresh coconuts on demand, massages on demand. I had like 10 massages a day, hair treatments, different kind of baths, excursions to the waterfall.

‘It’s just so relaxing and it’s so peaceful there. You really have time to think about life and what not.

‘For me, I need that sometimes. I mean, I can act strong and stuff on social media. But you know, there’s always things that I’m going through or battling with and I process really well when I’ve got a clear mind.’

July 2019

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