Devon Love Island star Faye Winter has reflected on the lasting impact her time on the ITV2 reality show has had, admitting the experience left her struggling with her mental health, but ultimately helped her recognise her own flaws.

The 30-year-old reached the 2021 final alongside ex-boyfriend Teddy Soares, with the couple finishing in third place. Their journey was marked by one of the programme's most controversial moments after the pair had an explosive a row following Casa Amor that generated 36,324 complaints.

To this day, the row has the highest rate of Ofcom complaints in the show's history, reports the Mirror.

Speaking about how her life has changed since then and the perspective it has given her, Faye told The Sun: "I would love to do more TV now. But also I needed, for my own sanity, to take that little bit of a step back.

"I think that it was really damaging too, because although that was the person I put out - I could never say that it's anyone's fault with the person that I was on Love Island - it wasn't really a true reflection of actually who I was. To be honest, Love Island was a massive wake-up call for me."

Faye added that her life changed for the better after she watched the episodes back, which forced her to acknowledge her behaviour once and for all.

"I don't think I would have seen my faults. I wouldn't have been able to hold myself accountable for the way that I'd acted. The way that I could go from nought to 60 real quick, and the fact that I would look at that now, and to be able to see myself in that position," she said.

Away from the cameras, Faye confessed that the adjustment after the show was a difficult path for her to take. "I was doing work that didn't align with me. I really lost myself. I didn't like myself. I didn't really know who I was. I was in a lot of therapy after the show," she told the publication.

She also said that the influencer lifestyle that many former Love Island contestants embrace never suited her, describing herself as a homebody who doesn't enjoy partying. Because of this, she struggled with attending high-profile events, and questioned why she was participating in a scene that ultimately didn't bring any sort of happiness or fulfilment to her life.

It comes after Faye told The Mirror that embracing being single has meant she no longer requires validation from others.

The charity ambassador has never hesitated from sharing insights into her life, and while she's no longer looking for a relationship, she couldn't be happier.

However, she's not entirely on her own as Exeter-born Faye has her beloved dog Bonnie by her side, as well as her two "feral" ponies, Keith and Kevin, who she rescued from Dartmoor.

"I'm always very vocal about my love of animals and it's given me a sense of purpose," she explained.

Faye went on to explain that her animals have helped her "realise and appreciate" things that are "bigger than herself."

She said: "It's made me love myself, but also love something that doesn't need to use words and doesn't need to tell me or do anything.

"It does enough just by getting me out every day and giving me a cuddle when I need one and things that we take for granted. Sometimes things that we look for in other people for validation.

"I've always found in my dogs and to have guide dogs in my life and see them go on and change people's lives and in city centres, we really do take dogs for granted. "f you have a dog, you not only have a friend for life, you have a companion, and they give you so much more than we can appreciate."

Faye explained that while she's now thriving as a single woman she wouldn't be in the same position if it wasn't for her dog, Bonnie. "She saved me and I say that every single time I speak about my dog," she stated.