Love Island's Camilla Thurlow defends the 'fun, flirty and frivolous' show for boosting her confidence and helping her find a 'happy relationship' with Jamie Jewitt

She was one of Love Island's standout contestants last year, thanks to her brains, class and beauty - all of which attracted her beau Jamie Jewitt.

And Camilla Thurlow is now speaking out in defence of the racy ITV2 show amid ongoing charges of being superficial viewing, as she declares it regularly sparks healthy debate among viewers about relationships - and boosted her confidence.

In a piece written for Grazia entitled 'Love Island Changed My Life - And I’ll Always Defend It To Its Critics', the 28-year-old beauty also credits the show's producers with successfully created an environment where Islanders can express themselves.

Loving Love Island: Former Love Island contestant Camilla Thurlow has spoken out in defence of the racy reality show, stating that it greatly boosted her confidence

Loving Love Island: Former Love Island contestant Camilla Thurlow has spoken out in defence of the racy reality show, stating that it greatly boosted her confidence

She wrote: 'Perhaps its sounds like I am taking it unnecessarily seriously, but the thing is for me it’s personal, because Love Island changed my life. In the last few days I have been extremely aware of how immensely lucky I was to meet someone on the show who I’m still with now.

'The happy relationship that has followed is not just a product of good fortune - the team on Love Island and my fellow islanders boosted my confidence, and pushed me to believe in my own self-worth.'

And while she understands why the show has its fair share of detractors, Camilla believes Love Island serves a legitimate purpose in laying bare the realities of relationships once people scratch beneath the surface of good looks. 

Perfect match: Camilla and her boyfriend Jamie Jewitt are one of just two couples to have stood the test of time from the show, alongside Jess Shears and Dom Lever

Perfect match: Camilla and her boyfriend Jamie Jewitt are one of just two couples to have stood the test of time from the show, alongside Jess Shears and Dom Lever

She concluded: 'The fact that people have opinions is GREAT. The fact that people will change their opinions over the course of the series is GREAT. Because if Love Island is anything, it’s real; it’s certainly worth talking about, and this unashamed Love Island fan is really looking forward to the rest of this series.'

Bomb disposal expert Camilla and her boyfriend Jamie, who is also 28, are one of just two couples still together following last year's season. 

The well-suited couple who have gone the distance-  as have Jess Shears and Dom Lever - have managed to outlast the other finalists Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies, Chris Hughes and Olivia Attwood, and Marcel Somerville and Gabby Allen.

Brainy beauty: The Scottish beauty, who works as a bomb disposal expert, was dubbed the brainy beauty of her time on the show last year

Brainy beauty: The Scottish beauty, who works as a bomb disposal expert, was dubbed the brainy beauty of her time on the show last year

These days Camilla is still a keen humanitarian and activist, regularly encouraging her social media followers to help refugees in Syria.

She boasts a brand new look, ditching her long blonde extensions in favour of darker, more natural waves.

It's plain to see how smitten Camilla and Jamie still are, spending all of their time together and sharing sweet couple pictures together. 

What a gal: These days Camilla is still a keen humanitarian and activist, regularly encouraging her social media followers to help refugees in Syria

What a gal: These days Camilla is still a keen humanitarian and activist, regularly encouraging her social media followers to help refugees in Syria

Transformation: She boasts a brand new look, ditching her long blonde extensions in favour of darker, more natural waves

Transformation: She boasts a brand new look, ditching her long blonde extensions in favour of darker, more natural waves

The fan favourite recently described her Love Island experience as 'therapy' during an interview with the New Zealand Herald.

Camilla explained: 'I may have looked fragile, but I'm not. Crying on TV was a cathartic experience and something that needed to come out. I learned so much about myself and how I bottle things up.'

The brainy beauty, who was educated at the £33,000-a-year Fettes College in Edinburgh, also said she was happier than ever since meeting Jamie.

Describing their relationship, she said it was 'easy, happy, balanced'.

Emotional: The fan favourite recently described her Love Island experience as 'therapy'

Emotional: The fan favourite recently described her Love Island experience as 'therapy'

There's still hope for him! Much like this year's Dr Alex George, Camilla stood out last year thanks to her brains and class 

There's still hope for him! Much like this year's Dr Alex George, Camilla stood out last year thanks to her brains and class 

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