LOVE Island's Olivia Hawkins has quashed rumours that she was dropped into the show by bosses as a 'plant'.
Olivia, 27, has laughed off claims that she was deliberately placed in the villa to stir up trouble among the islanders.
The actress and ring girl has hit back, insisting that she was in there as 'her real self' after auditioning just like everyone else.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Olivia said: "Apparently my dad is CEO of Love Island. You have to laugh don’t you?"
Olivia was among the original lineup when this year's winter series of Love Island got underway in January.
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She was coupled up with six different boys during her stint and, among them, had connections with both Tom Clare and Kai Fagan.
Their heads were later turned by other girls, but Olivia eventually found romance with bombshell Maxwell Samuda.
After losing their place in the villa on Friday, the pair left in an 'exclusive couple'.
Now back in the UK, Olivia said she found the rumours about her being a 'fake contestant' and a 'plant' amusing.
"The truth is I was a real contestant, I was not planted in there for any other ulterior motive," she admitted. "I was my real self the whole way through."
Olivia said she showed her "raw emotions", adding: "I really went through it, even being in six couples.
"It really did take me steps back. It was hard to deal with. No acting was going on in there, that was my true self."
Olivia has also dismissed any suggestion that she was directed by ITV bosses while inside the South African villa.
She added: "Of course they have to make a show at the end of the day but nothing was forced."
Looking forward to her romance with Maxwell blossoming, Olivia is also focusing on work now she has left Love Island.
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The star also revealed to The Sun that she is turning her back on reality TV and is plotting a huge career move.
