Molly Smith, the Love Island: All Stars alumna, has had quite a whirlwind year. She found love with Tom Clare on the show, celebrated her 30th birthday, purchased her first home with Tom, and is now living her dream as the face of one of the UK's most renowned lingerie brands.
The Manchester-born model, who made her debut on the ITV dating series in 2020 before returning to the villa this year, is the star of Ann Summers' Christmas campaign, a gig she's been dreaming of for years. Molly is also currently renovating the countryside house she bought with Macclesfield FC footballer Tom, 25. In an exclusive chat with OK!, she spills the beans about the "nursery" in their new home...
Hi, Molly! How are you finding your thirties so far?
The best! Everyone told me that the thirties were the best and I actually agree so far. I thought I loved my twenties, but then I hit 30 and I realised that I feel so much better in myself and I’ve found myself a bit more. I think it’s the start of the good years.
You’ve also been rolling your sleeves up with your new house. How’s it all going?
I’m loving it. I’ve been getting the drills out and knocking walls down. We want to be in the thick of it because we want to feel a sense of achievement and think, “We did this.”
A house is a huge commitment. Have you and Tom talked about next steps like marriage and babies?
Yes, we definitely talk about it because we’re obviously serious. We know it’s going to happen one day but we’re not in a mad rush for it. We’re just loving what each day brings and taking our time with things. We’ve got our heads down to get renovation done and dusted and enjoying the process. So yes those are things we definitely want, but it won’t be any time soon.
Have you decided which room might be a nursery though?
Ha, I don’t know about that! I think the room that the nursery would be is actually my walk-in wardrobe. I’m not in a rush for children.
In other news, your Ann Summers shoot looks amazing. Was it fun?
It was! And I know it sounds a little bit cheesy, but it’s such a dream come true for me, it’s been on my vision board. After I’ve modelled for all these years, to be able to say that I’ve done Ann Summers, it’s just amazing. I’ve just absolutely loved it. I felt really empowered and I know that it’s such an inclusive brand, there’s something for everyone and I’m so proud to be part of it.
What did Tom think of the final campaign shots?
I was actually away at the time when the photos came in, but I sent him the pictures and the video and he was like, “My God, it looks amazing. I’m so proud of you.” He was loving it as well.
Did you get to keep the lingerie sets?
I actually begged to keep them! They were so generous anyway but I wanted to take them home straight away. I’ll keep them forever.
You clearly work hard to look the way you do. How’s it all going with your new Move With Molly fitness app?
It’s going really well, thank you. I absolutely love fitness and it’s been such a huge part of my life since I was in primary school. I was on the sports teams in high school and it’s something I’ve always loved. It’s good for my mental health as well as my physical health.
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ITV/REX/Shutterstock)How do you make sure you’re sending the right messages?
Well, when I first started in the field I was getting a lot of DMs and questions so I thought instead of me just winging it based on what I do and like, I should do a personal training course so that I’m more knowledgeable about what I’m sharing. I know there’s a lot of people in the same boat as me. They might find gyms scary so all the plans are for them to take in with them, or do home workouts.
It’s important for people to know you work to look and feel the way you do, right?
Yes, 100%. I never feel worse after a workout. It’s a huge factor in my mental and physical health and I think it’s good for other people to know that. But I’m also the sort of person who doesn’t like to sit still. I don’t ever let myself feel bad, so even if I just take my dog Nelly for a walk, I know I’ll feel good. I love my hard workouts too, giving myself a challenge. And I like doing it with Tom and seeing him struggle!
Ooh, would you fancy something like Celebrity SAS or Strictly?
I would absolutely love it. I don’t know if I’d be any good at them though. I’ve heard the training days at Strictly are brutal so I don’t know how I’d cope but I love challenging myself and my body.
How have you coped with the sort of overnight fame being on Love Island gives you?
When you’re in the villa you’re in a bubble, so when you come out and you don’t know what’s been going on it’s very overwhelming. But I’m so grateful for it all. I don’t see myself as someone famous. So it’s still strange when people recognise me. If someone asks for a picture I’m like, “What? Me?!”
Is it important to you to have a good support network?
My God, yes. It’s one of my best friend’s birthdays today and I can’t wait to see her. We were friends all the way through high school, then college. And I’ve got a friend who I’ve been friends with since I was six and we lived on the same street. I’m also super close to all my family, so family has always been really important to me.
Who’s in your Love Island friend gang?
Obviously, I stay in touch with Arabella [Chi] a lot, and I’ve just come back from a girlie holiday in Miami with Kaz [Kamwi], Sophie [Piper] and the twins [Jess and Eve Gale]. It was so much fun.
Molly Smith fronts Ann Summers Christmas Campaign, out in store and online now at annsummers.com
English (US) ·