Francesca Allen says she 'didn't know who to trust' during 'Love Island' experience

Love Island star Francesca Allen says she wasn't sure who she could trust during her time competing in the popular dating show.

The 25-year-old said being part of the show in 2019 catapulted her into a "whole other world" and had a disorientating effect on her brain.

Allen entered the competition six weeks in and formed couples with original contestants Curtis Pritchard and Michael Griffiths during her 12 days in the villa.

Read more: Montana Brown says Love Island couples have sex "everywhere"

She told the Mirror: "I do think when you first go in there you get thrown into the deep end, it's a whole other world and it's trying on your mind.

Watch: Francesca says she's glad she spent time with Michael

"It's very peculiar, you're in another little world, you have your phone taken off you, you have no friends and no family there.

"You don't really know who to trust, the producers are telling you to trust them and you're like: 'Hmmm, no, I shouldn't trust you'."

Read more: Curtis Pritchard apologises for Stand Up and Deliver jokes

Despite her misgivings about the experience, Allen was asked whether she'd do the show again and said she'd consider it.

"It's a play on your mental state, but, do you know what I probably would do it again," she said. "I think it made me grow up a lot and made me a better person perhaps."

Love Island has frequently been in the spotlight in the last few years for contestant aftercare, particularly given the intensity of social media reaction to participants, but Allen has revealed she stays away from that.

She said she knows she isn't "everyone's cup of tea", but that doesn't stop her from feeling positive about her own appearance.

"Everyone's form of beautiful is different, so I try not to be too harsh on myself," the star added.

Read more: Laura Whitmore says Love Island is not about appearances

"I have other things going on than worrying about how I look all the time, it can just be really time wasted.

"If you think about too much, it just stops you from doing other stuff."

Love Island is due to return to TV screens this summer for the first time since the inaugural winter series aired at the beginning of 2020.

The planned summer series was scuppered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but producers have hatched a plan to make the show possible this year.

Read more: Ratings drop for Love Island winter series

It has been reported that LGBT+ contestants are being approached to appear in the new series, while former islander India Reynolds wants to see curvier women represented.

Watch: Laura Whitmore confirms Love Island return for summer 2021