Traumatic cancer battle shattered my body confidence – I’ve ditched Love Island diet for comfort food, says Demi Jones
STANDING in a mirror, Love Island beauty Demi Jones admits it can be easy to point out 'flaws' to herself.
The influencer, 23, is heavier than when she burst on to screens in the ITV dating show and she has a new scar on her neck - thanks to an operation to remove her thyroid cancer.
She tells The Sun: “I’m struggling with body dysmorphia at the moment. Before Love Island, I was on a strict diet and in the gym every day.
"I was the smallest I’d ever been and I managed to maintain it when I came out until the diagnosis.
“I want people to know it’s a human thing for your body to change. I’m not scared to share that I have been comforting eating. I’ve been through cancer. It’s a really traumatic experience.”
Demi shed three stone ahead of going into the villa to find love in January 2020, but a cruel twist of fate turned her fit lifestyle on its head.
She was diagnosed with cancer in May 2021 after chasing doctors for months over concerns about a growing lump in her neck.
As part of her treatment, she underwent two operations, the first to take out the lump and the second to remove her thyroid the same month as the disease was spotted.
Finally, in December last year, she was given the all-clear after a body scan that checked for cancerous cells.
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After everything she has been through, it's no surprise that her physique has changed.
But despite admitting her body confidence is "quite low at the moment", Demi is keen to embrace the moments when she feels sexy and empowered.
She says: “I think confidence is something you have to learn and then teach yourself.
“I feel most sexy when I go out on the weekends with the girls and do all my make-up. It makes me feel like a different person.
“I’m going to try and teach myself self-love this year so I can feel more confident.”
Devastating diagnosis was 'dark cloud'
Demi’s ascent to fame came to a crashing halt shortly after leaving the South African Winter Love Island villa, when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
The devastating news came two years after her step-father was told he had terminal cancer.
Thyroid cancer is one of the rarer forms of the disease, and most common in women in their early 30s and over 60, according to the NHS.
Demi's battle with the disease lasted just six months as the cancer was caught early enough that it could just be removed.
But it still took its toll on the family, especially her mum who was already dealing with the terminal cancer of her partner.
Demi says: "My mum, bless her, has really been stuck in the middle of this. Our lives have not been the same since 2019 when my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
“She’s been dealing with this for three years and has had to be strong for both of us. My dad has been really poorly. Luckily I had a very treatable cancer but I know it was still a burden for her.”
Demi, who is judging , said: “Last year I felt like it was a dark cloud that followed me and as much as I was trying to be positive on social media, in my private life it was a really heavy burden.
“The really scary thing about cancers is that you don’t know if it’ll get worse or if other cancers will spring from it. It was a scary feeling.
“Now I can start trying to piece my life back together and try and get back to where I was.”
Stripping for TV was 'therapeutic'
During her ordeal, Demi joined ITV's The Real Full Monty which sees a different set of celebrities strip for charity each year.
She found the show "therapeutic" as everyone on it had some connection to the illness, which helped her deal with her own diagnosis.
She starred alongside fellow Love Islander Teddy Soares, Christine McGuinness, EastEnders actress Laila Morse, former Strictly dancers and husband and wife James and Ola Jordan and Blue singer Duncan James among others.
While she is happy to share her cancer story with the public, she prefers to keep her romantic relationships to herself.
She has been linked to music boss Miami in June but fans reckon they have now split after she posted a cryptic quote on Instagram.
She says: "I do want to keep my future relationships as private as possible. But it is hard when you’ve got people that are engrossed in your life. We’re all nosey and generally, people are happy for me but it can cause problems if it’s all playing out in public."
Symptoms of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a rare form of cancer that affects more women than men, according the the NHS. It is most common in ladies in their 30s and those over 60. Here are some symptoms to check for if you are concerned:
- A painless lump or swelling in the front of the neck – although only 1 in 20 neck lumps are cancer
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Unexplained hoarseness that does not get better after a few weeks
- A sore throat that does not get better
- Difficulty swallowing
The reality star is now focusing on empowering other women and celebrating their achievements - and hopes to become an ambassador for a cancer charity
Demi is thrilled to be on the judging panel for the Pour Moi Uplifting Women Awards, which opens today for nominations, because it celebrates the achievements of women in all areas of their life.
She said: “Women have come so far in the space of the last few hundred years but we still have further to go with regards to women’s safety and things.
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“Taking the time to celebrate our achievements is so important because it’s a chance for us to inspire each other.”
The Pour Moi Uplifting Women Awards launches on 8th March to celebrate and platform amazing women in the UK. To nominate yourself or others go to
