Love Island's Alex Beattie reveals secret bullying hell ruined his confidence
LOVE Islands Alex Beattie has been branded brave and inspiring by fans after he revealed his secret heartache at being bullied as a child – and how he finally learned to be confident in himself.
The 22-year-old personal trainer, who was known for his quiet disposition in the villa, opened up about not having the best journey through childhood.
Alex Beattie opened up about being bullied as a child and finding his confidence in a candid Instagram message to fans.
In a moving and candid message on Instagram, the hunky reality star confessed that he used to hate having his photo taken and suffered from a lack of confidence as a child because he was quieter and skinnier than his classmates.
Posting a selfie of himself at a photography studio, he explained how hed gone from being bullied to someone confident enough to appear on one of the summers most-watched TV shows.
I used to hate my photo taken and its taken me years to get to this point, he said.
I have not had the best journey through childhood, being bullied, lack of confidence, feeling too skinny, not being the loudest guy in the class etc. But I have since realised that it is totally okay and normal to be like that.
His remarks came after he was branded quiet by Love Island viewers, in comparison to some of the more outgoing and dramatic islanders.
Love Island fans often called Alex quiet in the villa compared to the other outspoken islanders.
He is now a qualified personal trainer after turning to exercise to boost his confidence.
Alex told fans that his confidence levels changed when he started training at a gym, leading him to become the qualified PT he is today.
The whole reason I started training was to make me feel better about myself, to be happy in my own skin and, God, did it help my confidence, he said.
He urged fans to find what makes them happy in life and embrace it – and not listen to critics who dont always have their best interests at heart.
We all need to learn who and what makes us happy and I believe I have found that, he said.
Do what you love no matter how many people question you or think they have a better idea of what you should be doing.
Alex finished Love Island in fifth place with girlfriend Montana Brown, but The Sun exclusively revealed they split after the show.
With fellow Love Island star Chris Hughes. Alex added that hell always embrace a healthy and positive lifestyle and hell use his newfound Love Island fame to help others unlock their inner confidence.
For me to feel good I need time to train and eat well, he said. I need to spend as much time with family and those I care about and be around enthusiastic and positive people.
I get pleasure from making others feel good about themselves and seeing their progression.
That will always be my aim with this newfound reach I have.
Alexs message struck a chord with his 633k followers, with thousands of them rushing to like the comment in minutes.
Many agreed with his words and others assured him there is nothing wrong with being the quiet person in the room.
One wrote: Its okay not to be loud. Some people are quiet like you and thats okay..
Another said: Thats brave of you to open up like that and it will help a lot of people that feel like that right now.
You are doing something positive with your new found fame..
A third commented: Thats so good to share that Alex because so many people think everyone on social media is perfect and just woke up like this stay positive!. And a fourth simply said: How inspiring.
Alex, pictured with his Love Island colleagues, said he wants to use his newfound fame to help others. Montana and Alex get dumped from Love Island – 24 hours before the final.
Alex hooked up with Montana Brown, 21, during his time in Love Island.
He asked the Hertfordshire-based student to be his girlfriend and later told her he was in love - although she didnt say it back on the show or when quizzed during a later interview on This Morning.
Instead, she said: I don't love Alex yet, no. "I'm really true to myself. I don't want to just say it if I don't mean it.".
Alex and Montana sat together at the Love Island reunion party despite The Sun exclusively reporting on their split. Love Islands Montana Brown admits she doesnt love boyfriend Alex Beattie.
Alex and Montana insisted on the reunion show they havent split - but live far apart so its difficult to meet up.
A source told The Sun that Montanas romance with Alex would take a back seat while she pursued her career.
The Sun exclusively revealed last week that Alex and Montana quietly split after being dumped from the ITV2 show in fifth place.
A source said: "Montana is keen to follow her dreams as a TV presenter and has been attending meetings this week to get the wheels in motion.
"She doesn't like partying and isn't a big drinker so personal appearances in nightclubs aren't really her thing.
"Instead she is ambitious and very much a career woman – her relationship with Alex is going to take a back seat.
Montana and Alex denied splitting when quizzed by Caroline Flack on the Love Island reunion show.
They both insisted it was the fact Alex lives in Newcastle and Montana is from Hertfordshire that is keeping them apart.
"We just live at opposite ends of the country," said Alex. Montana agreed: "It's not true, he lives way up north.
Then Caroline cheekily asked Alex if Montana had said she loves him yet, to which he replied no and Montana looked uncomfortable.
Love Islands Alex Beattie and Montana Brown insist theyre still dating.
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