LIBERTY Poole thought she’d found “the one” – but when her relationship suddenly came crashing down, it left her totally heartbroken.
She didn’t leave her house and cried for months, but now, the former star said the split didn’t just change her , it “catapulted” her into a bold new era where she’s putting herself first.
After an unexpected break-up last year, Liberty Poole found herself experiencing “anxiety,” which left her “scared” to leave the houseCredit: Instagram/@libertypoolex
Liberty and Joshua called it quits back in August after a year of datingCredit: Instagram
Since then, the Love Island star has been “healing so hard” she turned into a “different person”Credit: LIBERTY POOLE
Back in August last year, and her -lookalike man Joshua Raybould called it quits after a year of .
The couple decided to .
But since her break-up, Liberty, 26, has been “healing so hard” she turned into a “different person.”
Not only has she – which she confirmed has nothing to do with or – but she’s also entered a “villain era” and is keeping men at arm’s length.
Since taking time to work on herself, Liberty exclusively told : “I feel like the rose-tinted glasses that I used to wear have been lifted off.
“I’ve not only become more aware of my own behaviours through this healing process, but I’ve also gained so much more confidence, emotional awareness and happiness.
“This is gonna sound a bit toxic, but I’ve entered my villain era. I’m keeping men at a distance, I can take it or leave it, and I’m not really giving them much of my energy either.
“Maybe this is my healing phase of men, but I’m living that single girl life. I feel like with my red , I’m in my fiery girl era.
“I’m growing into myself and my personality, becoming the girl that’s unapologetically her, and becoming better at trying to set boundaries for myself and with people.
“I’m such a happier person and I do feel like my happiness within is glowing and it’s showing.”
Despite feeling “happier” than ever, Liberty admitted she is “,” as she explained: “Don’t get me wrong, I am in a lonely situation. My lives abroad and my mum’s based out in , so it is quite difficult at the minute.
“My friends are all spread out and I do a lot of work from home, so it can be lonely and difficult. However, I’m embracing it and learning to love my own company, rather than just jumping into something new with someone else.
“I don’t want to repeat the same patterns, and also, I really want to be on my own until I find someone that wholeheartedly appreciates what I bring to the table and loves me for me.”
Reflecting on , Liberty said: “Obviously my relationship hasn’t worked out, which was sudden. I didn’t expect it.
“Every couple has ups and downs, but I think I’m the sort of person that works for it and doesn’t just give up.
“I wish him all the best in life, but I did think that was my person at the time. I thought we were gonna get married, so when it all came crashing down, instead of jumping into something new, which would have been the easy thing to do, I really took the time to invest in myself and process my emotions.
“At the time, I had a lot of questions, I was confused, but I think looking back now, there’s so much positive growth and change that has come through from that situation, that I wouldn’t change it.
Liberty was left crying every day and “going over the situation a thousand times”Credit: TikTok/@liberty
But now, she’s happier than everCredit: TikTok/@liberty
“I had to witness a lot of things in a quick time frame that I didn’t expect which I think pushed me to heal further.
“It might not have been the ideal situation, but I think it was growth that I didn’t realise I needed.
“I was crying every day and going over the situation a thousand times but over time I’ve been able to process everything properly.
“There are up and down days, the healing isn’t linear and the first three months are the most difficult. My nervous system was through the roof. I was anxious to go out on my own, and every little thing I saw or heard felt like a dagger through the heart.
“For the first three months, you’re in the , but after that, you’re fine.”
Liberty hailed her break-up as the “cannon event” that “catapulted” her into a “new beginning,” as she continued: “I would describe my break-up as a cannon event. That was the moment that catapulted me into this change and this new beginning and new lease of life that I’ve got.
“Whoever I’m with next is gonna get the best version of me.”
As part of her “healing” process, Liberty has , had , stopped ordering as many takeaways, hit the gym and (but “not intentionally”).
She explained: “My lifestyle has changed and I’ve got a better routine. I used to order a lot of takeaways because it felt lonely for myself, whereas now, I’m trying to cook more.
“I haven’t necessarily upped the gym drastically but I do go more than I used to.
“I think the stress you go through when you first break up, naturally you lose weight that way anyway, but I’ve got into healthier habits.
“I actually haven’t weighed myself once during this whole process. I think everyone’s so focused on glowing up on the outside, but once you within that’s when you see changes.”
Clapping back to those who have accused her of using to slim down, the snapped: “We need to get out of the habit of assuming that everyone that loses a little bit of weight is on .
“I know a lot of people that are on it and I don’t judge them for it. If that’s your personal choice, then fair enough.
“But for me, that’s just something I never felt like I needed, and also the risks just wouldn’t ever be worth it for me.
“You shouldn’t assume that someone’s been on Ozempic straight off the bat, just because they lose a bit of weight.”
After her split with Joshua, this star reflected on her Love Island experience and the “patterns” she fell into with men.
The stunner, who appeared on the seventh series of the iconic dating show back in 2021, explained: “I didn’t believe in myself enough. Before I went on Love Island, I’d only ever had one long-term relationship, which was very early on in my 20s and it was toxic. I got cheated on.
“When I come out the villa, I was only 21 and I quickly fell back into the same patterns.
“I was looking for validation from someone, whereas I should just back myself and not give a s**t anyway. I’ve now got to this point of not caring.
Liberty had “a lot of questions” when she and Joshua splitCredit: Instagram / @libertypoolex
She dated Love Island’s Jake Cornish after their time in the villaCredit: Eroteme
“In Love Island I used to chase guys that obviously didn’t want me and look for reassurance from them. Whereas now, if someone doesn’t want me, I’m a bit like, your loss mate because I’m f*****g fantastic.
“I feel like my self-belief and confidence has massively grown. I’m trying to be more unapologetically me, because I’ve always doubted myself.”
Liberty’s self-doubt stems from her days at college, where she developed a “fear of abandonment and rejection.”
Liberty revealed: “I didn’t realise how much I had come into agreement with what negative things people had said about me. I kind of believed it when people used to say that I was cringe.
“Things that had gone on during my childhood made me feel like I wasn’t good enough. I’d always felt like a bit of a misfit.
“When I was at college I remember being ignored by a group of girls. I used to get pushed out of social circles.
“I’d make friends and then very quickly find myself losing people all the time, and I think because I had that fear of abandonment and fear of rejection, I would literally cling on to any bit of attention or love that I got shown and hold on to that for too long, and struggle to let go because I wanted that.
“Whereas after my , which was a big heartbreak, I feel like I really sat down to work through it, and recognise why I would chase guys that maybe didn’t want me, or why I would pick certain types of guys.
Liberty Poole's break-up advice
IF you're going through a break-up, we've got just the thing for you.
Sharing her for others who might be going through a break-up, revealed her top tips.
The Love Island star stressed: “If I was to give advice to any girl going through a break-up, it would be to really invest time into yourself.
“Get your goals set – the career goals, gym goals, hair goals. If you want a new hobby, do it. If you want to invest into a business, do it. This is the time to be selfish.
“Even if you’re seeing the other person moving on quickly, focus on taking your time and you’ll be better in the long term.
“Work and invest in yourself rather than just jumping into something and repeating the same patterns.
“Talk it through with your supportive friends as much as you need to. Don’t hold it in and don’t rush into anything with someone else.
“And I think also just look at it from a positive mindset – like the cup is half full, not half empty.”
“I feel like I really worked on myself through that and I really do feel like I’m in my prime right now and am becoming the best possible version of me. I feel like a whole new different person.”
Liberty also touched on online abuse, but claimed she doesn’t let it get her down, as she acknowledged: “I get comments about my appearance a lot.
“I get ‘Fiona from Shrek’ but I’ve kind of almost become a bit bulletproof to it now.”
As part of Liberty’s “healing process,” she has been working on overcoming her
The entrepreneur told us: “I’ve been getting over my anxiety of being on my own.
“I got in unhealthy habits, I wouldn’t leave my house, I’d order takeaways, I’d be scared to go out and do my food shopping on my own.
“The one time I did go out and get a parcel on my own, something dodgy happened where I got followed back to my car, so that kind of reinforced the idea that it’s not safe out here on my own.
“But now I’m single, I’m really breaking down these barriers. I do things that feel like acts of self-love and go on solo dates.
“It started off when I went on a walk and I also took myself to pottery the other day.”
Liberty is focusing on acts of self-love and is trying to beat her anxiousness around going out aloneCredit: Instagram
She opened up on previously being co-dependent and revolving her life around making others happyCredit: Getty
While is high on Liberty’s priority list, she explained that she’s not in a rush to get into another relationship.
The star, who is the founder of Uplifted the Label – a brand providing fashionable and supportive for bigger busts, acknowledged: “Having a family one day and finding that person to do that with is definitely still a priority for me.
“But I don’t want it until I’m ready and I think I definitely needed this time on my own. I still need time on my own to continue this growth journey.
“I don’t think I realised I was co-dependent. When I got into a relationship, I very much found myself not doing everything I wanted to keep that person happy, and almost revolving my life a little bit around them, and I don’t think I would ever do that in a relationship again.
“It took me four months to kiss someone else, six months to even have a little bit of a holiday romance, and now, I’m open to love if it comes naturally, but I’m still prioritising me, my emotions and my healing. I’m happy on my own until that right person comes along.”
Liberty also got candid on the difficulties she experiences with , as she shared: “There’s two things I’ve found really hard in dating – one, because I’m doing alright for my age, I’m 26, I’ve got my own house, I’m starting my own and I’m the main income earner in – I think sometimes men feels demasculated, so I need someone that’s comfortable with that.
“And two, being in the public eye, it’s hard to know who’s with you for genuine reasons or if they’re just trying to get on the next Love Island and get a bit of press, so I feel like my guard is up.”
The entrepreneur shared her struggle to trust menCredit: Instagram/@libertypoolex
She encouraged those who are newly single to “really invest that time into yourself”Credit: Instagram/@libertypoolex
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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