THIS time last year Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson were the golden couple of social media - making thousands off their relationship dynamic online.
But fast forward to today and the pair are no longer speaking - let alone making videos together and now for the first time, Zara has opened up on their "frustrating" break up.
The pair called time on their five-year romance just after Christmas and not long afterwards The Sun revealed the Love Island star, 28, was dating One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, 33.
And in a pointed dig, Zara has insisted social media is no longer important to her as she stressed how focused she now is on "real" relationships - which will no doubt come as a blow for Insta star Sam, who was left blindsided by her new and very public romance.
The one-time couple built a whole brand around their social media presence and commanded huge fees to appear in unique and witty online ads together.
I’m A Celebrity winner Sam and One Direction singer Louis came face to face earlier this month when they both appeared at Soccer Aid - propelling scrutiny about Zara’s personal life to an all time high.
Addressing their awkward pitchside head-to-head, Zara insists: “The only thing in my life that's worth writing about is the work I do.
“I see some of the things that are written and I'm like, ‘Why do we focus on the non-existent drama?’ Sometimes that can be frustrating, but I suppose it’s all part of the industry.”
Zara shot to fame on Love Island in 2018, but her career seven years on is a world away from that carefree coupling-up contest in a Mallorcan villa.
She has turned her hand to delivering important documentaries - and has already covered topics such as revenge porn, rape culture and eating disorders.
Surprisingly, it’s meant Zara no longer feels connected to social media in the same way - and despite making thousands from being an ambassador for the likes of L’Oreal Paris and Sure, she says she no longer “cares”.
She banked £4,438 per week last year at Zara Nicole McDermott Limited, the private firm into which she channels her earnings.
Louis Tomlinson squeezes Zara McDermott's bum as they kiss on romantic holiday in Costa Rica
“I spend my day job going out and filming with really vulnerable people. And it’s shaped me so much as a person that it's made me not sweat the small stuff any more, “ she explains.
“I don’t care about social media as much as I used to, or about the aesthetic or the image. I value so much real relationships and real support around me, and being that to other people.
“I'm a totally different person to the one I was when I was 21 years old and stepped into what appeared to be a glitzy world of showbiz. My day to day life is not at all glitz and glamour.”
There comes a point where you have to move on
Zara on Love Island
It’s hard to imagine when you look at her incredibly glossy Instagram page - filled with aesthetically pleasing bikini shots and gorgeous cooking videos.
But peppered amongst them, Zara posts about her documentaries, which boyfriend Louis has gushed about being so “proud” of.
Now, Zara is raising awareness of the horrifying facts about stalking in Britain - and the lack of justice for the victims.
The star - who’s also filmed a documentary about Thailand’s sex industry that should air this year - feels she’s found her niche, learning about film-making and creating programmes tackling crucial issues, rather than trading on her time in a bikini by a sun-drenched pool.
'I'm a completely different person'
Zara, who worked in the Department for Education as a policy adviser before signing up for Love Island, explains: “I'm a completely different person to the one that I was when I was 20 or 21 years old.
"I've grown and changed beyond recognition - for the good, for sure. I've become so much more aware of issues and what really goes on in the world. Now I'm exploring some very deep, dark, traumatic topics.
“It was an amazing experience, Love Island. It was great fun. But I was only in for 10 days, can you believe it? It was literally blink and you’d miss me. I don't necessarily think I was born to be in front of the camera.
“People might have misconceptions about me, think that because I went on Love Island and because of the social media work that I do, that I love being in front of the camera. I don't think I'm a natural - that's why I only lasted 10 days on Love Island. Because I barely said a word, I was so scared and petrified!
“I was always quite a shy, nervous teenager and young person. So that was a real step out of my comfort zone. And I still think every day that being in front of the camera is a step out of my comfort zone.”
'Born to listen and tell stories'
And she now believes she has found her calling in life - and she’s ready to put Love Island, which saw her couple up with Lothario Adam Collard, firmly behind her.
“There comes a point where you have to move on. I'm still a massive fan of the show, I still love it,” she explains.
“ But when I came out of Love Island it was always so important for me that I do something positive with it, and something that can really make a difference in society.
“I think I was born to listen and help people tell stories. It’s an absolute honour and a privilege. But I think if you'd told my 14-year-old self that I would be a presenter, I would have said, ‘No way!”
While there will be times when former Strictly star Zara may feel like her every move is being watched and scrutinised, in her new two-part documentary series, she’s focusing on the stories of women who spend every day in fear of exactly that - terrified of the next text message they’ll get and too scared to go out, because they’re being stalked.
Zara spent months working with the courageous women prepared to share their shocking stories on screen.
“I always knew how much risk the contributors are putting themselves at by going in front of the camera,” she explains.
“Their bravery, I think, was one of the things that astounded me throughout this process. And their vulnerability.
"One thing I learned about stalking is that it's a crime that doesn't discriminate. Any age, any gender, any ethnicity, any background. It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, anyone can be a victim of stalking.”
“My dad has always taught me: ‘If you think you can't do something and you say you're not going to do it, then you won't,’” shares Zara. “There'll be moments where every bone in your body will be telling you: ‘Do not do this.’ It's crazy [on Strictly] - the nerves, like you're going to pass out, throw up… All the things that you feel before you go out on a Saturday night show and dance when you're not a dancer!
“But there's something so character-building about pushing through that experience and that feeling of: ‘I’m going to pass out because I'm so nervous and so petrified.’ But that feeling when you do it… It definitely builds your resilience and it built my confidence a lot in front of the camera.”
The facts around stalking make horrifying reading. One in five young people in the UK have experienced stalking or harassment, yet only six per cent of reports lead to a charge and less than two per cent end in a conviction.
“You can see why victims are scared to speak out and are scared to go to the police,” admits Zara, “because those figures are shockingly low.”
Three quarters of stalkers are the ex-partner of victims, but some people are stalked by total strangers. Zara meets women in both situations and heads out with police attempting to arrest a suspect.
And she says the relationships she builds don’t end when the cameras stop rolling.
“I can't ever just walk away from the end of that project and think: ‘I'm done,’” she reveals.
“That relationship to me is so sacred. I think about every single contributor that I've ever been with for my documentaries every day.
"Something will remind me of them, because I don't take any moment with them for granted. They have been so brave and shared their stories. I can't ever forget that or let that go, it’s so special to me.”
Zara says she hasn’t been stalked, but feels a huge empathy for people who have been victims.
“I've never been through something like this, so I'll never be able to fully understand. But I hope that this documentary gives people the ability to understand, or try to understand, in the way that I have,” she explains.
“I think one of the most incredible things about my job is that I learn every single day. It's about just being there for them and being able to give them a voice, and being next to them and holding their hands.
“I end up absorbing a lot of that emotion, for sure. And I feel a lot of sadness for them, a lot of guilt that they have to go through this horrendous experience and that sense of injustice.”
And for now it seems Zara really has found her niche, making skits online with her boyfriend is very much a thing of the past and with the support of Louis behind her, there are no limits to her possibilities and potential.
