Love Island star opens up about coming out at an 'older age': 'I'm still figuring it all out'

Love Island winner Amber Gill has opened up about coming out in her mid-20s, and admits she is "still figuring it all out".

The former beautician from Newcastle, now 25, revealed last year that she is in a relationship with footballer Jen Beattie.

Speaking to the MailOnline, the star shared her aim of helping those who come to terms with their sexuality at a later point in life still feel "valid".

She said: "I just know there was a certain point where I was like I want to pursue serious relationships with women – I’m still figuring it all out."

Gill, who won the 2019 season of Love Island with Irish Rugby Union player Greg O'Shea, noted that she had received numerous supportive messages from fans since revealing that she was interested in women.

"People say I make them feel comfortable and their emotions feel valid," she explained, "so that’s why I love doing what I do and having a positive impact on people."

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The star added: "It’s important, and I love people who have paved the way and known since they were young and advocated for us, but also I think the people who haven’t done that are still valid, and part of the (LGBTQ+) community."

She previously revealed that she had "accidentally" come out last summer when she posted on Twitter about "switching teams".

In an appearance on FUBAR Radio, Gill said: "I remember looking at [the tweet] and thinking, 's***, what have I said?'"

She joked: "A lot of my friends were like, ‘If you were gonna do it any way, that’s the typical way that you would do that."

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"Normally people have these lovely, beautiful stories and lovely, beautiful real Instagram posts, like just lush. I’ve put switching teams on a tweet and that’s how I came out."

Last week, she made her red carpet debut with her partner Beattie, 31, who plays for Scotland and Arsenal's women's football teams, at the The British Diversity Awards.

Watch: Amber Gill spills the tea on correcting headlines and being in the public eye