Zara McDermott opens up
Love Island's Zara McDermott has opened up about her experience as a victim of revenge porn in a new interview with The Times.
The reality star was just 14 when a naked photo she privately sent to a boy was shared around her school.
View this post on Instagram
Zara's latest interview comes ahead of the release of her new documentary about revenge porn for BBC Three.
As reported by the Irish Mirror, she told the outlet, 'People don't realise when something like this happens, it affects the whole family.'
'My teachers just washed their hands of me,' she recalled.
View this post on Instagram
'Drilling it into me, constantly blaming me. Do you know what that does to a young girl?'
She said she sent the photo after a boy at her school told her it would make him, 'like [her] more.'
'I saw it as a way to prove myself to him'
Zara said she sent it because she thought it would make him like her, and want to be with her.
'I saw it as a way to prove myself to him,' she explained.
View this post on Instagram
When Zara arrived at school the following day, her fellow classmates were, 'sniggering in the corner with phones in their hands.'
The photo had been shared around her school, and her 11-year-old brother had even caught wind of it.
And while the boy who shared it got off, 'scot-free,' Zara was abandoned by her friends, and suspended from school.
View this post on Instagram
Zara found herself in a very dark place
The social media influencer admitted she found herself in a very dark place, experiencing suicidal thoughts.
'I never want to go to that place again,' she told The Times, as quoted by the Irish Mirror.
Zara became a victim of revenge porn again in 2018.
View this post on Instagram
A man she said she, 'trusted,' shared her intimate images online while she was in the Love Island villa.
The former Islander found out about the photos when she was preparing to fly home following her stint on the ITV series.
Zara is opening up about her experiences so that other victims know they're not alone.
View this post on Instagram
The documentary
She wrote on Instagram, 'It’s only TEN DAYS until the documentary airs, and I am feeling every kind of emotion.'
'But most importantly, I want this documentary to be used as a tool to educate.'
'Parents, I urge you to watch this documentary with your children.'
View this post on Instagram
Zara continued, 'Schools; I urge you to show this documentary as part of the curriculum.'
'Victims; I urge you to watch this documentary and know you are NOT and never will be alone.'
'Everyone, I urge you to watch this documentary to educate yourselves on this topic, for the sake of the inevitable future victims.'
View this post on Instagram
Zara's documentary airs February 23rd on BBC Three.
