BEFORE shooting to fame on Love Island in 2016 Olivia Bowen was working in an office as part of a sales team.
Now, seven years after her stint on the ITV2 show, the 29-year-old boasts a whopping 3.1m followers on Instagram, owns an incredible Essex mansion and is now a mum to one-year-old son Abel.
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Olivia Bowen has opened up about her passion for interiorCredit: Supplied
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The star has the most gorgeous Essex mansion
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Olivia shot to fame on Love Island in 2016Credit: Rex Features
Over the years Olivia has worked with various brands, started up her own clothing company with husband Alex, and has even started renovating properties too.
If that wasn’t enough to add to the incredible list, Olivia also has a keen eye for interior design.
Olivia told The Sun: “So I studied interior design whilst I was in lock down, I took a few courses online.
“And then it just turned into something that I just absolutely adore.
on Olivia Bowen
“So, yeah, that’s something that, I’m gonna continue to do.”
She added: “We still do a lots of renovations of the house and, we own a couple of properties that we renovate and do up, so it’s part of my life, which I absolutely love.”
Olivia recently joined forces with Philips on their campaign which highlights that British women don’t take enough me-time.
When asked if interior design was something that she did to take out time for herself, Olivia confessed: “This is the thing, like some people will take time and read a book or some people go for a walk.
“It just depends on what fills your cup. Do you know what I mean?
“For me – like painting, I love, it just really depends on you as a person, but anything can be me-time, anything can be self care.”
According to figures from Phillips, 23 per cent of women spend less than one hour a week on themselves, and instead feel pressure to complete life admin and work tasks instead.
Olivia rose to fame in 2016 on Love Island and found love with husband Alex.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2018, became a family of three after they welcomed their son Abel into the world in June 2022.
Olivia admitted that she’s struggled to make sure that she makes time for herself now that she’s a mum.
“It’s the modern day woman, isn’t it,” Olivia confessed.
“We do a lot. We work full time we’re mums and even if we don’t work full time or we’re not full time mums, there’s just so much for us to do.
“And I think a lot of this sort of mum guilt creeps in.
“For me personally as well, I always feel guilty for doing stuff for myself and I try not to, but you just do.
“It’s like a natural feeling when you become a mum.
“So I think a lot of us feel the same feel like we shouldn’t take time out for ourselves.”
The star makes sure that she takes time to herself – and one thing she does love to to sleep, but also make sure she gets time with Alex.
Olivia said: “It’s really nice to get a nice date day in or date night in with Alex.
“Just because obviously having another little person in your dynamics changes things so much.
“And you need to try and find time for each other because, you know, you were a husband and wife before you had a baby.
“So that relationship is really, really important and I weren’t able to grow up knowing that we both take care of each other.
“That’s something that we really like to prioritise.”
The pair have gone from strength to strength since meeting in the villa – and may be turning into a family of four very soon.
When asked what her future plans are, Olivia revealed: “We’re looking to buy another property as well to renovate and we are considering having another baby next year.”
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Olivia, Alex and their son AbelCredit: Instagram
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The pair are keen to move house next yearCredit: Instagram / The Bowen Home