Love Island’s Zara Holland: I haven’t committed a crime – all women have needs

Love Island contestant Zara Holland has branded the decision to strip her of her Miss Great Britain title as “horrific”, saying she has not committed a crime.

Holland was ‘de-crowned’ by the pageant organisation after she had sex with a fellow contestant on the ITV reality show.

The organisation argued that Holland could no longer be promoted as a "positive role model" because she had failed to "uphold the responsibility expected of the title".

Holland – who has since quit the show – said she stands by her actions.

“I’ve done nothing wrong. All women have needs,” she told The Sun.

“I’m a 20-year-old girl who was in the moment. There are lots of girls my age who go out every week and do that — mine was just on national TV.

“I haven’t committed a crime, so why should I have my title taken from me? It’s horrific.”

She continued: “All the things Miss Great Britain claims to stand for have been used against me.”

Holland - who claims the organisation never made it clear that she was banned from having sex on the show - said her only regret was that her actions reflected badly on her family.

"I feel I let everybody down," she said. "My mum seeing it on TV was the worst thing to ever happen. I was mortified, horrified.

“But it has happened now and I can only move forward.”

Holland's comments come after a petition was launched calling on the pageant organisation to reinstate her Miss Great Britain title.

A Change.org petition titled “Give Zara Holland her Miss GB Title Back” has amassed over 16,000 signatures and described Holland’s treatment as a “harsh punishment”.

Caroline Flack has also hit out at the decision and accused the organisation of living in the "dark ages".

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