ZARA McDermott rose to fame on the fourth series of Love Island in 2019.

She has since become a well known star due to TV appearances and high profile relationships. Here’s what we know about her.

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Who is Zara McDermott?

Born on December 14, 1996, Zara McDermott is a reality star and former government adviser.

Before joining Love Island she worked for the Department of Education under Damian Hinds, advising on policy.

However, since finding fame she now focuses her life on being an influencer and TV star.

In 2024, she launched her own women’s wear brand Rise, which is available in 384 Tesco F&F Clothing locations across the UK.

On the launch of Rise, McDermott said in a statement: “This is something I’ve envisioned for a long time, and I have been working on this for the past few years.

“I knew this had to be perfect, and it had to speak to all women.

“It had to be accessible and inclusive, as well as comfortable and wearable.

“I wanted each piece to speak for itself; and I worked on each design to ensure that it had that ‘reach for’ factor, those staples in your wardrobe that you just reach for all the time because they are so versatile.”

What TV shows has Zara McDermott been in?

Love Island

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Zara joined Love Island in June 2018, when it was a few weeks into the show.

She coupled up with Adam Collard, who was then with Rosie Williams after ditching Kendall Rae-Knight.

However, Zara’s journey was cut short a few weeks after when she was voted off the island by viewers.

She carried on seeing Adam for a while but the pair announced their break up in 2019.

Celebrity X Factor

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After Love Island, she starred on Celebrity X Factor in 2019.

She appeared alongside fellow 2018 Love Island stars Wes Nelson, Samira Mighty, Eyal Booker.

Going by the name No Love Lost, the foursome proved a hit on the show.

Mentored by Simon Cowell and were eliminated in Week 3 and came in 8th place.

Made In Chelsea

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Sticking with reality TV, Zara then landed a recurring role on Made In Chelsea.
She appeared alongside boyfriend Sam Thompson in season 18 of the show.

Their relationship woes played out on the show and included a very emotional scene on a park bench where Zara admitted to cheating on Sam.

Strictly Come Dancing

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In 2023, Zara became the first ever Love Island star to take part in Strictly Come Dancing.

She was partnered with Graziano Di Prima on the smash hit BBC One show.

The pair made it to week six of the live shows.

In July 2024, The Sun exclusively revealed how Graziano was sacked from Strictly due to an alleged altercation with Zara.

According to sources, the incident involved him allegedly hitting, kicking, and spitting at Zara during rehearsals.

I have wrestled with the fear of opening up – I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming.

Zara McDermott

Following the complaint, the BBC took swift action and decided to remove him from the show.

Graziano acknowledged that his intense passion and determination to win might have impacted his training regime negatively, expressing deep regret over the events that led to his dismissal​.

He said in a statement shared on Instagram: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly.”

Zara responded in a lengthy statement and said she was “scared to speak up”. In part of it, she said: “I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports.

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“Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl.”

Zara added: “I have wrestled with the fear of opening up – I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming.

“But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.”

Documentaries

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Zara has also go on to present her own BBC documentaries, Revenge Porn, Uncovering Rape Culture and Disordered Eating based on her own experiences.

On April 2024, she fronted a BBC Three documentary called Ibiza: Secrets of the Party Island.

In the four-part series, she uncovers how young people are forced to find unusual ways to try to keep up on the increasingly luxurious island.

She told The Sun: “The island has a little piece of my heart – if you go down my Instagram feed, you will see plenty of photos of me in Ibiza over the years.

“I’ve been there before as an influencer.

“But I’ve noticed Ibiza is elevating – now you can be in the same area next to big A list celebrities, and that’s a big draw – to be able to rub shoulders with these people, and have a taste of luxury.

“On social media, it looks accessible, it looks like it’s easy for everybody to enjoy this lifestyle – with its VIP culture, but actually, you could break the bank if you’re not careful.

“There’s a cycle going on there, with so many people out there showcasing the dream of this island of beautiful people, but we are all – including me – part of this selling machine.”

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Who is Zara McDermott’s boyfriend?

On March 17, 2025, it was confirmed that Zara was now in a relationship with former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.

It ended weeks of speculation about the pair dating.

She was previously in a relationship with Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson, but they broke up in December 2024.