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Olivia Bowen: I Lost Myself After Giving Birth & What Love Island Never Showed

We Need To Talk

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Love Island star Olivia Bowen opens up about the show, Alex Bowen, motherhood, body image, mental health and the private experiences that shaped the woman she is today.

In this deeply honest conversation, Olivia reflects on growing up after her parents’ divorce, the emotional patterns she carried into her teenage years, and the relationship that changed how she saw herself before entering the Love Island villa. She revisits the overnight fame that followed, the scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Alex, and the moments that helped her understand she was loved in a way she had struggled to believe.

Olivia also speaks about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and the realities of becoming a mother while still learning how to care for herself.

Raw, emotional and unfiltered, this is Olivia Bowen ready to tell the truth behind the life everyone thought they knew.

Olivia Bowen, We Need To Talk

This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, mental health, and baby loss. If you’re struggling with these themes or your own mental health, remember you’re not alone. You can find help and resources at the links below:

MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
Beat Eating Disorders: https://linkly.link/2dx8y
Harmless: https://linkly.link/2lcoq
Tommys: https://linkly.link/2feiZ

00:00 Intro
01:34 Olivia's Childhood in Essex and Essex Stereotypes
03:03 How Olivia's Parents' Divorce Affected Her
08:09 Olivia's Relationship With Her Father During Childhood
13:37 Olivia Reads an Emotional Letter From Her Father
19:52 Olivia Opens Up About Her Teenage Mental Health Struggles
30:09 Huel Ad
31:23 Olivia's Modelling Aspirations After Leaving School
33:14 Olivia Opens Up About Her Toxic Relationship Before Love Island
36:32 How and Why Olivia Joined Love Island
39:03 Olivia's Mental Health Struggles in the Love Island Villa
42:18 How Love Island Season 2 Compares to the Show Today
44:49 Did Olivia Fall in Love With Alex in the Love Island Villa?
47:09 Paul Shows Olivia a Photo of Her and Alex on Love Island
51:00 How Olivia Handled the Huge Success of Love Island Season 2
56:23 How Olivia and Alex Stayed Together After Love Island
58:59 Olivia Receives a Surprise Message From Love Island's Tina
01:02:04 Olivia's Biggest Highlights After Love Island
01:05:01 The Story of Alex's Proposal to Olivia
01:08:33 Olivia Reads an Emotional Letter From Alex
01:11:26 Saily Ad
01:12:45 Olivia Opens Up About Pregnancy and Postnatal Depression
01:24:53 Olivia's Experience of Vanishing Twin Syndrome
01:31:33 Paul Shows Olivia a Photo of Her Family
01:39:30 Most Memorable Conversation
01:41:40 Paul's Takeaways

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Instagram: oliviadbowen
TikTok: thebowens

Olivia’s Book, Lost Until Love:

TGJ: https://www.tgjonesonline.co.uk/produ...

Audiobook: https://open.spotify.com/show/17bItR7...

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SYNC ID: MB01ZC6OYFJB81Z

20 Comments

@WeNeedToTalk-Podcast Creator 2 months ago Pinned

If you enjoy open conversations like this one, please hit like and subscribe to our channel! It’s the best way to let us know you’d like to see more episodes like this. Thank you so much for your support 🙏

@Leelllau 2 months ago

So glad Olivia and Alex proved the haters wrong 🙏🏻✨🩷✨🙏🏻

@Leo_Lise 2 months ago (edited)

This was the best season of Love Island. The OGs 🏝️ ❤ back when it was pure and people genuinely going in for love. The smokers pit, Rykard leaving for his girl, Marlin & Terry, Nathan & Cara, Sophie (RIP)…The whole cast set the bar high😊 I don’t watch it anymore though but those were the times!

@hannahgraceoutdoors 2 months ago (edited)

Ive always loved Liv since Love island. She is representative of so many girls our age and Alex is perfect for her. I found my Alex and they're a rare breed!! She's a beautiful soul and thats why shes been so successful.

@elleedwards4298 2 months ago

That letter from her dad, I was in complete and utter tears. It’s so special and rare for our generation to have a parent own their mistakes, to validate a child’s feeling and to not only apologise but to rewrite their relationship ship and to make it better for the next generation. Holy shit, if only so many other parents could do this and heal our generation and break cycles.
It’s so lovely to see and hear.
Olivia deserves it so badly,❤️

@kellylfraser 2 months ago

Olivia, I always thought you were the most naturally beautiful when I first watched you on LI, and it was so obvious to many of us how smitten you and Alex were. You are so gorgeous inside and out! I'm so sorry that you have struggled so much, and it's incredibly inspiring to hear you talk so candidly. What an important and meaningful episode, thank you!

@clairebowley394 2 months ago

I really hope Olivia reads all these beautiful messages from people instead of the wicked trolls she was a natural beauty in that show and still is now and I think her and Alex look great together ❤️

@SophieBedford-x7t 2 months ago

Im so glad she said about the guilt of having another baby and risking your life to have another because that's my current fear that breaks me every day.

@Giinnyyy 2 months ago

When Olivia cry, I cry. And I don't cry a lot..but she is so pure, unique and special. What a beautiful conversation! Truly inspiring.
Olivia is beautiful inside and out; she was then and she is now. ❤️❤️

@loupyemt249 2 months ago

Wow those people that slated her are disgusting. Look at her! She’s naturally beautiful doesn’t put her makeup on with a trowel. People are vile. Olivia I’m so sorry that you had to endure so much hate. The problem is within them and not you. ❤

@bethbee_x 2 months ago

49:16 crazy how she didn’t think she was good enough then, she was and is still STUNNING, different in a more human way, funny and just so normal, she was relatable, always loved her and rooted for her and Alex ❤

@4328898 2 months ago

This has to be a record for the fastest guest to start crying, bless her 😢

@meganparker636 2 months ago

This is honestly the perfect example of how nobody is perfect even parents. But also shows how important it is to love your children hard and work on self growth all the time, you’ll make mistakes that’s part of life it’s how you recover them ❤

@LaurenJolly-y1k4b 2 months ago

As someone who had a eating disorder and got through it couldn’t be any prouder of someone❤️

@mummyjo 2 months ago

This was an amazing interview. I have always always loved Liv and Alex and I am soo soo happy that they stayed together and built a life with a house, career, kids... they deserve the best!

Liv is a genuine, kind, beautiful soul and so relatable in many many ways. ❤

@karenallen8476 2 months ago

What a beautiful young woman! Inside and out, I didn't know who she was. Now I want to know! Great conversation!

@Meganelizabeth-cx 2 months ago

Season 2 was the first season I’d watched of love island and I was 16, I’m 25 now and have followed Olivia and Alex from the start. I loved them both then and have loved watching their journey unfold. They have a beautiful family and life together and deserve the world. Olivia was and always has been a huge role model and I’m so glad it worked out for them🩷

@J9177_f 2 months ago

she has one of the most beautiful souls! As well as one of the best people to come from love island! So happy they lasted❤️

@steviedewit3592 2 months ago

I’ve always loved Olivia and Alex, 🤍

@Georgiahatton-n4f 2 months ago

This episode has really hit home and brought out so many of the same feelings that Olivia mentioned! She really is a true icon and is so beautiful!! Xx