Molly Smith says weightlifting has transformed her 'skinny' body (2024)

Molly Smith says lifting weights has transformed her 'skinny' body and she's proud of her 'womanly shape.'

The Love Island: All Stars winner, 29, told MailOnline going to the gym is 'therapy' for her mental health, revealing she would run laps around the villa pool in South Africa to ensure she was still exercising.

In an exclusive interview, Molly insisted that she trains because she loves challenging herself and the physical impact working out has on her toned body is merely a 'bonus.'

Molly says she and boyfriend Tom Clare, 24, have bonded over their enthusiasm for sport and the footballer has even surprised her by booking an extreme activity for them to do together to celebrate her upcoming 30th birthday.

She said: 'When I was younger, I was always on the skinnier side, and I wanted to have a bit more of a womanly shape.

'Now, I do weights, I like to run, I have done some CrossFit training, a Hyrox competition, I love a challenge and enjoy doing anything that makes me feel good.

'I don't run or lift weights to have a better body, I do what I love... I have done Pilates, yoga, I love anything to do with fitness. The way it shapes my body is a bonus, but I do it because I love it... and I'm proud of that.

'The gym is like therapy, it makes me feel better, the fact it keeps me in shape is a bonus. I love going, I feel better, I fell in love with running last year... when I was in the villa, I used to run laps and laps around the pool.'

Molly, who had a breast augmentation in 2021, is preparing to bare her bikini body when she jets off to Dubai on Sunday, holidaying for the first time with boyfriend Tom.

And it's going to be a special trip for multiple reasons, as the couple plans to spend time with Tom's air stewardess sister and create memories to last a lifetime when they go skydiving.

The reality star said jumping out of a plane was on her list of 30 things to do before she turns the milestone age at the end of April and the new man in her life wanted to make sure she achieved her goal.

She explained: 'We are going on holiday together to Dubai on Sunday.

'Tom's sister lives over there, she is an air hostess, I have briefly met her because she pops back to Manchester every now and then but now, we're going to Dubai and have so many things planned. I can't wait to have that quality time together.

'I did have a 30 before 30 list that I was trying to tick off and I ended up on Love Island, so it set me back a bit but one of them was doing a skydive, which Tom has organised for when we're in Dubai... I can't wait to see how I cope with it.'

Molly's 30th birthday plans don't stop there, with both her and Tom's families coming together for a celebratory meal before she flies to Las Vegas for a party weekend with her closest girlfriends.

She added: 'It's my birthday at the end of this month and we're going for a family dinner, so my parents are going to meet Tom's family, that's going to be a big moment.

'For my 30th we're going to Vegas, which is booked... poor Tom is going to be staying at home because it's a girls' trip. We're doing Vegas and LA for a few days and I'm preparing to party.'

Molly won Love Island: All Stars earlier this year with Tom, beating her ex-boyfriend Callum Jones to the title, who was a runner-up with Jess Gale.

ITV2 viewers were hoping to see Molly reconcile with Callum but the unique experience of living together in a confined environment like the Love Island villa resulted in the pair becoming good friends.

Molly said: 'I learned a lot about myself... when you go on Love Island, you don't expect to be living with an ex even if I did suspect that could be the case... I knew there could be some overlap but to live with an ex-boyfriend for that length of time... it was an experience, let's put it that way.

'It doesn't bother me speaking about Callum, but I do want it to be put to bed because other people with exes get to move on, but we are friends, there's no animosity or bad vibes.

'It's not sour or bitter between us. We have respect for each other, which I hope showed, and our relationship didn't end badly either. There has never been any hatred towards each other.'

Molly is jewellery and accessory brand Abbott Lyon's new ambassador and has created a collection inspired by the necklaces she wore in the Love Island villa.

In tribute to her dog, Molly wore a necklace that spelled 'Nelly' in Arabic, which she refused to take off while starring on the show, and now fans of the sentimental chain can have their own.

She said: 'This collection means a lot to me because these are things that I wore throughout my time in the villa, and I actually couldn't take it off.

'I had a necklace that I wore every single day in the villa, it was my dog's name in Arabic writing, I constantly wore it. And the range is the same, sentimental pieces, that will mean a lot to people and make great gifts too.'

• Abbott Lyon x Molly Smith, Spring Signature Looks launches on abbottlyon.com on Sunday 7th April. Featuring new Arabic Name Necklaces available from £79