Who is Zara McDermott? The X Factor: Celebrity former Love Island star
ZARA McDermott first came to fame when she entered the Love Island villa in 2018 and found love with Adam Collard for eight months until their messy split.
But now the reality babe is turning her hand to music as she takes part in Simon Cowell’s upcoming The X Factor: Celebrity alongside some of her former villamates…
Who is Zara McDermott?
Zara McDermott is a 23-year-old reality star and former government adviser from Essex.
Before joining Love Island Zara worked for the Department of Education under Damian Hinds, advising on policy, according to her LinkedIn page.
But in July 2018 she announced on Loose Woman that she had quit her job for the time being.
Before quitting Zara said: “I think my job is quite different. A lot of people are interested in what I do on a day-to-day basis.
“There are two sides to me – I can be quite serious but I’m also spontaneous, fun and energetic.”
The Sun exclusively revealed that she didn’t tell her government bosses she was going on Love Island, she told them she was “taking a career break” on a TV project.
What is Zara’s musical background?
Zara has made multiple references to her desire to get into the music industry.
Since rising to fame, the star has posted a few snippets of her voice to her social media but admits to suffering from stage fright.
In one candid post to her fans in May 2019, she said:”So on Tuesday I’m going to have some hypnotherapy and I’m driving down to Winchester where this guy who is supposed to be unbelievable is based.
“I’d love to be able to get up and sing in front of people. I feel like I’ve tried everything – getting up and just trying to do it.
“I’ve tried talking myself into thinking that everything is going to be fine.
“I think I’m quite emotionally intelligent so for me not to be able to get up and just do it… ”
The year before she had revealed that she had received death threats by cruel trolls after she uploaded a clip of her singing.
More on Love Island
In a series of Instagram posts, she wrote: “I usually try not to let things get to me but right now feel really upset. I put up a video of me singing last night. I’ve only done that a few times in my life because I have a fear of singing in public which stemmed from when I was bullied at school.
“I am trying so hard every day to overcome my fear of singing to people as I love singing and taught myself the piano from the age of 11. I sang in the villa and all my friends in there gave me so much confidence.”
She also previously admitted her musical aspirations to The Sun: “Everyone thinks I’m dating bloody Olly Murs.
“I sing and play the piano and he invited me to watch The Voice to see how it works as I want to get into all of that. He was lovely to me and that’s all I can say.”
When was Zara on Love Island?
Zara joined the series in June 2018, when it was a few weeks into the show.
She coupled up with Adam, who was then with Rosie Williams after ditching Kendall Rae-Knight.
However, Zara’s journey was cut short a few weeks after when she was voted off the island by viewers.
Why did she and and Adam Collard split?
In February 2018 The Sun revealed that Zara and Adam had called it quits after eight months together
The Love Island pair split following crisis talks over Adam’s wild partying with Jack Fincham, Sam Bird and Instagram model Brittany Archer.
A source close to the couple said: “Adam and Zara have spent the last week having furious arguments.
“There’s still so much love between them but they have decided for the moment that it’s best to go their separate ways.
“They were due to go on a romantic holiday to the Maldives together this week but will no longer be going.
“They did their best to work through their issues but at this stage there’s no going back. They have since unfollowed each other on Instagram.”
Who is Zara dating now?
On August 5, 2019, it was revealed that Zara and Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson were dating after they were spotted holding hands in London.
The pair were seen heading out for breakfast and shopping after Zara stayed over at Sam‘s Chelsea pad.
Sam’s rep later confirmed to The Sun Online that the pair were in a couple.