Exclusive:
After Malin Andersson shot to fame on ITV’s Love Island, she found herself in thousands of pounds worth of debt for using credit cards to fund her cosmetic procedures
Malin Andersson was stuck in thousands of pounds worth of debt after leaving the Love Island villa.
The then-make-up artist was 23 years old when she starred in season two of the ITV dating show in 2016. She had recently discovered lip filler and Botox and would regularly splash out to have her face injected and plumped. Only, she didn’t have the money in her bank account to pay for it.
Instead, Malin would stick the bill on credit cards. But after her beloved mum, Consy-Gloria, died of stomach cancer in 2017, she had to use her inheritance to pay it off. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Malin revealed: “If I didn’t have my mum’s money to fall back on, I don’t know what I would have done.”
The reality TV star turned mental health campaigner, 31, said she “wasn’t worried about the money” when she fell into the dangerous habit of using credit cards – but was later hit with a huge bill. “I wasted all my savings and got payday loans out for Botox and lip fillers in my early twenties. It was addictive and ridiculous,” she said.
“You think those types of treatments are minor – a quick £200 or £300. But I took out loans to pay for them and they were like small pockets of debt. I wasn’t worried about the money at the time. I didn’t care. It wasn’t like I was spending £10,000 on big surgery. But that’s the dangerous part of getting Botox and filler.”
Malin, who has joined Experian to highlight the financial reality of cosmetic treatments, continued: “I loved a payday loan. It cost me more to pay it back than what I took out. And then when my mum died, I had to use her money to pay it all off. I got stuck in the cycle. I was young and I didn’t care about the repercussions of what I spent my money on.”
New data from the credit reporting company found that popular reality TV programmes, like Love Island, are having a direct impact on the beauty industry. According to their research, in the past five years, the number of beauty salons in the UK has surged by 31 percent and the number of dental surgeries by 16 percent.
“Going on Love Island massively affected my body dysmorphia, especially with all the online comments from trolls,” Malin said. “Within a few months of leaving the villa, I had a full set of veneers, two breast uplifts and liposuction.”
This time, however, Malin was offered the treatments for free and flew to a surgery in Turkey – which has now been shut down – to have her stomach slimmed, breasts lifted and teeth shaved. Although it didn’t cost her a penny, Malin says she “should never have had it done”.
“I don’t regret anything in life, but in hindsight, why did I want to damage my body? I didn’t think about my breasts being used for breastfeeding. Now I’ve got fat deposits in strange places and my skin looks uneven,” Malin said. “My breasts leaked pus and became infected quite quickly. I had to go to the NHS in England and get antibiotics.
“They were never resolved so I went back to Turkey and they corrected my nipples. Then five years later, in 2023, I noticed a blue thread was coming out of my nipple. I started pulling it and it kept on coming out. I called a top surgeon and he removed it. It was the length of my arm. He told me, ‘That shouldn’t have been in your boob’.”
Looking back, Malin wishes she had not started cosmetic treatments at all. “I became delusional and kept thinking I needed more and more adjustments, and in hindsight, I could have saved money as well as avoided some of the damaging side effects,” she said.
“I shouldn’t have followed the trend and I wish I had just learnt to love myself, without seeking the validation of society and succumbing to the pressures that came with being on a reality show.” Two years ago, Malin started meditating and healing, and discovered the importance of self-love.
Asked what she would say if her two-year-old daughter Xaya wanted cosmetic surgery in the future, Malin said: “Absolutely not. She doesn’t need it. I’m hopefully giving her enough love, stability and affection that she will grow up feeling loved and not want to change anything about herself because she is perfect the way she is.”
John Webb, consumer affairs expert at Experian, told The Mirror: “Cosmetic procedures have increased in popularity in recent years, meaning more demand and an increase in cosmetic treatments available on the high street. Lots of procedures come with credit plans, such as loans or even Buy Now Pay Later agreements.
“Before booking any appointments, it’s important to ensure you’re comfortable with any repayment plan you decide to apply for. These procedures can be costly, so make sure you’ve explored your options and make sure it’s affordable. If you’re considering paying for treatment on a credit card or loan, then it’s incredibly important to think about a repayment plan alongside any long-term health effects.
“If you’re not able to pay back any money borrowed to pay for your treatment this could affect other life goals. For example, missing any repayments will affect your credit score and possible access to future credit including the most competitive mortgage deals.”
