Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips reacts to trolls accusing her of taking drug Ozempic and says suffering from ‘body dysmorphia’ means she’s unable to appreciate her recent weight loss

Shaughna Phillips has denied taking Ozempic after cruel trolls accused her of using the drug to lose weight.

The former Love Island star, 30, told MailOnline how she was determined to get into shape after doctors warned she was ‘obese’ and for the sake of her 13-month daughter, Lucia, she needed to make some life changes.

After months of improving her unhealthy eating habits and taking regular walks, a huge step for Shaughna, who increasingly wanted to leave her home, she proudly posted a photo on Instagram, showing off her slimmed-down figure to her followers.

But the mother-of-one says the photo sparked Ozempic rumors, with other internet trolls claiming she “didn’t look any different” after all her hard work.

In an exclusive interview, the reality personality admits that recognizing her own weight loss achievements can be impossible because she suffers from ‘body dysmorphia’ and being singled out online for her appearance only makes it worse.

She told MailOnline: ‘I posted a side by side photo, I wouldn’t even call it a before and after, people were saying ‘how did you do this?’ but the thing is, I’ve been documenting it this whole time.

‘It was the first time I put two images side by side, so people thought it happened overnight and that it was a huge secret, when in reality it isn’t.

‘I felt so uncomfortable in my own body… it wasn’t even after giving birth… I ate terribly because it brought me happiness. I didn’t do anything else. I started getting out more and making better choices.

‘The hardest part mentally as someone with a large social media following is that you can take a picture and think you did a really good job and share it…but some people have accused me of using Ozempic, some saying the photos are edited or I’m still big, there are so many different opinions… if you have body dysmorphia yourself, oh my God, it’s such a minefield… sometimes I even regret sharing.

‘It’s still hard to recognize those changes, if I didn’t take pictures I really wouldn’t see it. Even when friends and family say, “You look great,” I think, “Really?” It’s such a catch 22 because my clothes fit me differently and I feel healthier, but when I look at myself in the mirror it’s so hard to notice.’

Shaughna starred in the winter series of Love Island in 2020, where she fell in love with Callum Jones until he returned from the Casa Amor loyalty test with Molly Smith.

Last April she gave birth to her first child, daughter Lucia, whose father Billy Webb is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for drug offences.

As a result, she is raising Lucia as a single mother, saying she didn’t want to put more “pressure” on herself to lose weight amid the difficulties of motherhood.

She said: ‘Lucia was born in April last year but I didn’t weigh myself until July just because I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself.

‘I had just given birth and I’m doing it alone, I didn’t really have time to sort myself out. I went on holiday and started focusing on myself and my mental health around September/October.

“I’m probably where I was before I had the baby, but even then I was overweight when I got pregnant. I just want to be as healthy as possible for her. I never want to be in a position where I’m too unhealthy to enjoy her and go to the park, and it was starting to become that way.

“I literally couldn’t leave the house. But then I thought: I don’t want to live like that. It’s her childhood as much as it is my life. I had to find out.’

Three years have passed since she scolded former fling Callum, telling him ‘Congratulations to them’ when he chose to couple up with his now ex-girlfriend Molly, rather than remain faithful.

The former Islander says her Love Island days feel like a distant memory, but jokes she would be willing to sign up for a future All Stars series if she could find six weeks of childcare for her daughter.

She said, “It doesn’t even feel like me… it feels like a fever dream. Even the thought of my daughter watching my show one day makes me want to die inside. I just don’t know how I’m going to explain it to her… I don’t think she would even recognize me.

“I would go back to the show if I can get childcare!…I don’t know, I never say never in life, but I highly doubt it. The thought of my daughter watching me do a dirty dance challenge, I couldn’t think of anything worse… torture me first. I can’t help but think about her going to school one day, it’s bad enough that it happened before she was born…’

Shaughna lost her father Eddie in 2016 but says she told Lucia all about her grandfather, who was a big Arsenal fan.

As a way to commemorate his memory, Shaughna purchased her own personalized plaque dedicated to Eddie at the Emirates Stadium, which will remain there for ten years.

She plans to visit the plaque next Bank Holiday Monday on Celebration Day, a time to remember the special people we have lost.

Celebration Day started three years ago and is an annual commemoration for the loved ones in our lives who have passed away, with Shaughna planning to continue the tradition for years to come.

She said: ‘This is the third year of Celebration Day… it really is a legacy and a day to celebrate people who have been here with us longer and the memories… and to try not to make it a somber event . People ask me, “Do you like talking about your father?” I’m like, ‘Of course it’s not a sad thing… it’s just sad when I stop talking about him.

‘My dad and I were big Arsenal fans so when I got off Love Island I bought my dad a plaque at Arsenal Stadium and it will be there for at least ten years and I know he will absolutely love it would find.

“It’s a place I go to remember him and now I get to take my daughter there, which is even more special. We’ll go there on Monday to check it out. I’m sure he hangs out there as much as possible.’

• Celebration Day is an annual celebration of past lives, taking place each year on the last bank holiday of May. For more information: celebrationday.com