She set pulses racing when she arrived as a bombshell contestant in last year’s Love Island, eventually breaking up existing couple Yewande and Danny.
And Arabella Chi has issued her advice to the newcomers for this year’s series of the ITV2 show, urging them to follow their hearts no matter what in an interview with MailOnline.
The model, 28, insisted new bombshells should just ‘go for it’ – even if their crush is already coupled up with someone else.
Be bold: Former Love Island star Arabella Chi has issued her advice to the newcomers for this year’s series of the ITV2 show, urging them to follow their hearts no matter what
The sizzling winter version of the popular show kicked off on Sunday night, with twins Jess and Eve Gale coming in as bombshell late arrivals.
And with plenty more set to rock the villa throughout the series, Arabella insisted that islanders must keep a ‘strong head’ and do what’s right for them.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, she said: ‘Obviously I was a bombshell and if you go in as a bombshell, you have to go in there with a very strong head. It is tough, especially if the person that you’re after is coupled up.
‘It’s like being put in there with a bunch of tigers. You have to be yourself but also, don’t not do something because that person is coupled up. If that’s who you want to be with, you have to go for it!’
Stirring things up: The sizzling winter version of the popular show kicked off on Sunday night, with twins Jess and Eve Gale (pictured) coming in as bombshell late arrivals
Fearless: The model, 28, insisted any new bombshells should just ‘go for it’ – even if their crush is coupled up with someone else
The beauty went on to say that when going into the villa, you don’t know anyone personally, so contestants shouldn’t be afraid to cause drama as it’ll soon ‘blow over’.
She continued: ‘You don’t know the people, even though you think you might because you watch them on TV.
‘Everything blows over. Something that is the height of drama in there one day, two days later it’ll be forgotten about. There’ll be a next drama.’
In the 2019 series, Arabella set the cat among the pigeons as she entered the villa and caught the eye of Danny Williams, even though he was in a couple with Yewande Biala at the time.
However, the fitness fanatic kept her cool and got to know Danny anyway, with the scenario creating an awkward love triangle in the villa.
What an entrance: She set pulses racing when she arrived as a bombshell contestant in last year’s Love Island, causing a stir among then couple Yewande and Danny (pictured in 2019)
But Arabella insisted that she felt compassion for Yewande at the time, adding: ‘Obviously for me, I felt awful for Yewande. You can’t completely forget people’s feelings.
‘Feelings quickly develop in the villa and friendships as well, so you’re going to upset people. But I wouldn’t completely ignore those feelings.
‘On the other hand, you’re in there and you have to do what’s right for you. You can’t think ‘I’m gonna go for the single guy because that’s the easy option’, when the person you actually want to be with is in a relationship.
‘You have to do what is right for you. It’s a game and you’re on your own. You’re your own person.’
No regrets: ‘You have to be yourself but also, don’t not do something because that person is coupled up. If that’s who you want to be with, you have to go for it!’
Despite things not working out with Danny, Arabella still managed to have her happily ever after in the form of 2018 Love Island alumni Wes Nelson.
The couple recently set up home together and the star gushed she couldn’t be happier.
She said: ‘It’s so amazing! Living with him is so nice. To be honest we moved in together pretty quick, as Wes was staying in my old flat.
‘But getting a place together and making it ours, I’ve never had that before. So it was really nice to get a place together.
Chemistry: In the 2019 series, Arabella set the cat among the pigeons as she entered the villa and caught the eye of Danny Williams, even though he was in a couple with Yewande Biala
She also revealed that she wasn’t worried about the speed in which they moved in together, adding: ‘I don’t want to say when you know you know, but it just felt so natural. We already kind of living together already so it was just an organic, next step.’
However, Arabella has insisted that marriage and children are not quite on the cards for the loved-up pair.
‘So many people jump full steam ahead when it comes to relationships,’ she explained.
‘I just think ground yourself. Just enjoy the now. Don’t go thinking what’s going to happen next. We’ve just moved in together, we’re so happy together, so why change it?’
Happy couple: Despite things not working out with Danny, Arabella still managed to have her happily ever after in the form of 2018 Love Island alumni Wes Nelson (pictured)
And while her personal life is firmly on track, so to is her professional life as Arabella has collaborated on a brand new campaign with Boux Sport.
Boux Avenue’s new SS20 activewear campaign aims to ‘encourage customers to redefine their goals and rule 2020 with Boux Sport’, and they have the perfect front woman for the campaign in the form of fitness influencer Arabella.
Speaking of the exciting new collaboration, Arabella said: ‘I’m obviously really into my fitness and that’s a real passion of mine. And I used to shop at Boux Avenue when I was younger. So when they approached me for the campaign, it was such an amazing opportunity and to go with a brand that I know well is really nice.
Collaboration: While her personal life is firmly on track, so to is her professional life as Arabella has collaborated on a brand new campaign with Boux Sport
‘The collection, I’m so pleased with it. I’ve trained in it and have been doing fitness videos in it, and it’s so nice to have stuff that not only looks good but actually stays up!
‘There’s so many brands out there who you wear it and you train in it and it looks nice but the leggings are falling down and the sports bras aren’t supportive. And Boux Sports clothes are really supportive and look nice.’
And though she didn’t have an active role in the production of the collection, the TV star hasn’t ruled it out in the future.
She said: ‘Hopefully in the future I’ll become more involved in the range. I used to do a lot of fashion.
‘I actually studied fashion when I was younger and did a foundation course in fashion and design, so that’s definitely something I would want to do in the future. I want to be more involved in it.’
New collection: ‘The collection, I’m so pleased with it. I’ve trained in it and have been doing fitness videos in it, and it’s so nice to have stuff that not only looks good but actually stays up!’
In the meantime, fitness is Arabella’s ‘number one priority’ as she admitted: ‘If I can’t train, it gives me anxiety! That’s my way of relaxing, that’s me time!’
Discussing her fitness routine, she continued: ‘I try to mix up my training. So many people are like ‘It’s January, I’m going to get to the gym’, but by February/March, they’ve given up. And that’s just down to them getting bored.
‘So I really try to mix up my training. I do gym sessions, I do versa climbing and I do yoga, so I mix it up. Everyday I’m doing something different. And that’s so important for your body as your body doesn’t get lazy as you’re training.
Boux Sport is available online and in stores nationwide from Monday January 13
Looking good: Boux Sport is available online and in stores nationwide from Monday January 13