Birmingham Love Island star Liberty Poole has opened up about her body image journey, revealing that she felt insecure at her skinniest before entering the villa, and now feels in her prime at a size 10 due to her mindset. The 26-year-old reality TV star, who rose to fame on the ITV dating show in summer 2021 aged 21, shared her candid story in an Instagram video and post, addressing the 'constant conversation about women's weight'.
From Nando's to Love Island
Liberty, who used to work at Nando's in Birmingham and still lives in the city, returned for Love Island: All Stars in 2024 aged 24, but didn't find love either time. She admitted that before going into the villa, she was the skinniest she had ever been, but she wasn't happy. In her Instagram post, she wrote: "In a world of mounjaro, skinny trends and women’s weight being the topic of conversation constantly I wanted to share my honest journey with body image as a normal girl with normal hormonal fluctuations that has been multiple weights."
She added: "Those that have followed me for a while will know body image / positivity is close to my heart I hope to share my truth and if it helps just one person on here that’s good enough for me."
Insecurity and the 'prime' mindset
In a video shared on Instagram, Liberty addressed her followers: "'Just wait till I'm skinny and then I'll be in my prime'. It's something I've heard women say multiple times." She explained that before Love Island, at her skinniest, she was "pretty insecure" despite appearing bubbly on the show. She said: "It didn't come across like it cause I've always been quite bubbly but deep down I'd say I was pretty insecure. Like you see me on the show say 'I know I'm not a supermodel' and it's mental because at that point I've been training at the gym three months to going on Love Island. I was probably my best shape and slimmest."
She continued: "When I did put on loads of weight I felt lonely. I felt like a failure. So then I wasn't my happiest either." Liberty now feels in her prime at a size 10, but stressed that it's not about the weight: "And you know how I feel in my prime right now when I'm a size 10? You know which I feel like I'm in my prime right now? Because of my mindset." She added: "And your prime isn't when you're at your skinniest, it's nothing to actually do with your weight. Your prime is when you have the right mindset, do things that are going to better you on the inside. And once you do that that's going to naturally show up on the outside."
Gym as self-love and body positivity for all
Liberty also opened up about her approach to exercise: "I go to the gym now, I don't go to the gym for what I look like okay, me being in shape might be a benefit, but I go because ever time I go it feels like an act of self love. I go to the gym and pick up them weights. I'm proving to myself how strong I am and that to me is so mentally beneficial. That's obviously showed on the outside."
She addressed the potential toxicity in body positivity: "Something else about body positivity, which I think can be quite toxic, is we always praise curvy girls for being normal, that's the normal body type for us. But a girl that's got a higher metabolism and she struggles to put on weight, that's her normal body type for her, just comes down to not what you weigh on the scale but how confident are you within yourself and your own mindset."
Liberty concluded: "I just wanted to speak about it because it's something I'm passionate about and I'm constantly seeing young women that follow me online that just don't feel good enough. Like it's sad that they want to impose restrictions on themselves to make themselves feel better so I just wanted to have my two pence in, hopefully open people's eyes and mindset a little bit about the truth." She added: "And the truth is self worth is not ties to anything on your outward appearance, it's all about how you feel within yourself. Insecurity is created through comparison, confidence comes through embracing your individuality."
She said: "I can honestly for the first time sit in front of the camera and talk to you about this because it's a journey that I've been on myself. I genuinely feel like I'm the most beautiful I've ever been in my whole life and it's because of how I feel about myself on the inside and my mindset's changed. Love you all and stay beautiful and individual."
Fans' reactions
Liberty's followers were quick to praise her for sharing her story. One wrote: "Love you Liberty!!! As is but its not about the physical its because you are a gem. The way you are is just enlightening. a girls girl." Another commented: "Thank you for sharing! I hope this changes people's perceptions and gives people a bit more body positivity. We are all BEAUTIFUL." A third added: "Thank you for saying that about high metabolism girls, I spent years being underweight and being told I was looking too skinny and asked if I was unwell etc. right around the time when the "real girls have curves" movement was popular. People would literally grab my arm and be like "woah there's nothing of you" when meanwhile I was trying desperately to gain weight. not nice behaviour. I really hope my daughter will be happy with whatever size or shape she is and love herself, this message is so important for young girls."
