Virgin Island's Emma 'I'VE FOUND LOVE WITH.NZ!'

The British TV star's made a fresh start on our shores

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After capturing hearts and headlines on the controversial British reality show Virgin Island, participant Emma Cains has traded grey British skies for Kiwi sunshine - and she's not looking back!

"I just needed a reset," the 23-year-old tells Woman's Day, speaking from her temporary base in Auckland. "I came to New Zealand to heal and to figure out who I really am."

As a cast member on Virgin Island - a provocative TVNZ+ series that follows young people exploring intimacy for the first time while under the supervision of professionals on a tropical island - Emma's vulnerability made her stand out, and also sparked conversations about consent and self-worth.

Emma's personal healing has been a long time coming.

"It was my last resort," she explains of going on the show. Saying yes wasn't about chasing fame, but about reaching a breaking point.

“I was 23 and I'd never had a relationship,” she shares. “I'd never even had sex. I felt like something was wrong with me. I remember thinking, 'If I don’t try something big now, will anything ever change?’”

Despite being “scared of intimacy”, Emma made the decision to share some personal experiences on telly, including painful events from her childhood.