EXCLUSIVE: Millie Grace Court won the nations hearts after winning Love Island in 2021 and she enjoyed it so much that she came back for round two, just narrowly escaping a second win
Millie Court is one of Love Island’s most successful contestants. She shot to fame after winning the ITV2 dating show with Liam Reardon in 2021 – though the couple shocked fans when they called it quits the following year.
Now, the influencer, 29, who returned for Love Island: All Stars earlier this year, is back in the world of drama-filled villas as she prepares to host this season’s finale party. And one thing hasn’t changed – everyone still wants to know the latest on her love life.
Millie dated Zac Woodworth after they met on Love Island: All Stars, but they called it a day in May, just a couple of months later.
Recently, she was linked to Made In Chelsea’s Harvey Armstrong after the pair were spotted together at a bar in London. But when we ask her about him, she insists there’s nothing romantic going on.
“Mum messaged me asking, ‘What’s this about you and Harvey?’” she laughs. “I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ She sent me the article and I was sitting there confused. I literally bumped into him and Sam [Thompson] at The Padel Yard and suddenly we’re in a relationship. It’s bizarre – I’d never even met him before.”
Having spent the past five years adjusting to a crazy new life in the spotlight, Millie admits she’s more relaxed about gossip surrounding her personal life.
“When you first come out of the villa it’s all so new,” she says. “Suddenly, everyone’s got an opinion on you. It can be overwhelming. I’m five years down the line now, so it doesn’t faze me. I know the truth.”
Admitting she is happily single and thriving, Millie is in no rush to settle down. “I’m enjoying being single,” she smiles. “It’s my hot girl summer – I’m just having fun.”
Finding love hasn’t been straightforward for Millie. After winning Love Island with Welsh bricklayer Liam in 2021, the couple split the following year, before rekindling in 2023 and splitting again last year.
She went on to have a romance with American contestant Zac. But although the pair gave things a go on the outside, their relationship ultimately fizzled out.
Now the star admits she is starting to question whether her usual type is actually completely wrong for her.
“I have a very specific type. I always go for tall, dark and handsome. Maybe my type needs to change,” she says. “Maybe I need to stop looking for someone who’s over 6ft 4in, because it’s not working for me. Maybe I need to lower the benchmark a little bit.”
Millie may joke about future boyfriends’ height requirements, but the truth, she says, is that dating in the public eye is trickier than she’d imagined.
“I can’t really go on dating apps because you don’t know who’s behind them and, honestly, they scare me a bit,” she explains. “A lot of guys come up to me asking for photos, so then you think, ‘Do I really want my next boyfriend to be someone who’s asking me for a selfie?’ It’s difficult.”
Nonetheless, she insists she isn’t putting pressure on herself to find The One any time soon. Instead, she’s throwing herself into work, including her latest collaboration with modern soda brand Poppi, which she first discovered while travelling in America.
“I drink fizzy drinks every day, so it was an instant yes,” she giggles. “Then finding out it was partnering with Love Island made it even better. When I say I’m a Love Island fan, I really am. My mum Esme and I have watched it together for years.”
Returning to Majorca to shoot for the campaign gave Millie the chance to visit Casa Amor for the first time – something that never happened during her original series as she remained in the main villa while Liam headed into the infamous villa.
She shares, “The villa’s smaller than the main one, but it was fun. The fridge was stocked with every flavour of Poppi so I was in my element.”
Watching this year’s show has brought back plenty of memories, and Millie is loving the girls.
“What I love most this year is the girls,” she says. “They’re sticking together. Even when bombshells come in, they’re not blaming the new girls. They’re holding the boys accountable, and that’s refreshing.”
Of course, Millie knows exactly how emotionally draining the show can be. “It’s such an intense environment. You’re together every single day and the cameras never stop.
“People love watching the drama, but when you’re living it, it feels heavy. Having the girls there to lean on is important.”
Unlike some of the Islanders who found themselves at the centre of explosive rows, Millie stayed away from the chaos that erupted between her close friends Samie Elishi and Lucinda Strafford.
“I was the mediator,” she laughs. “If there was an argument by the fire pit, I’d be upstairs on the terrace.”
And Millie says both of her stints on the show taught her valuable lessons.
“No two relationships are the same,” she reflects. “Every single one teaches you something. My standards haven’t changed, but I’ve learnt about the type of personality I want in my next relationship.”
For now, love can wait while Millie pushes herself outside of her comfort zone. As well as hosting the finale party, she’s keen to get stuck into more presenting. “I’m in my ‘yes’ era. If opportunities come my way, I want to give them a go. I want to push myself.”
If the rumours that presenter Maya Jama is set to leave her role on Love Island are true, would Millie want the job?
“Sure!” she says. “Give it to me. Maya has smashed it though. Every time she walks into that villa she looks incredible – she’s the face of Love Island. It would definitely feel strange without her.”
Would Millie consider a third attempt to find love in the villa?
“I was completely myself both times,” she says. “I wouldn’t change anything, but I definitely wouldn’t do it again!”
Millie was talking in collaboration with poppi, the drink of summer. Available from Pret A Manger & Tesco Nationwide.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
