LOVE Islander Paige Thorne has spoken about the “darkest time of her life” after a six-figure legal “nightmare” made her turn to booze.
The gorgeous Welsh star released her first collection with fashion label Forever Unique in October, but earlier this month the company owned by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Seema Malhotra collapsed.
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A source told The Sun at the time: “Paige is furious as it’s been stressful enough taking legal action, but now creditors have got involved, chances are she will never see the money she was owed.”
And it all took its toll on the Love Island star, who admitting she coped with her anxiety by “drinking and partying” too much.
She said: “I had lots of opportunities already waiting for me when I came out of the villa in regards to brand deals. It was an exciting time.
“There was a lot of hype around my name.”
But when she found out the news regarding Forever Unique the star said she became “so stressed”.
Paige, 24, explained to OK!: “I was literally like, ‘Oh my God, I’m owed money. Like, what am I meant to do?’ I’m a home owner and I was so stressed about paying my bills that I was crying to my parents every day, saying, ‘What am I going to do?’ I was relying on that contract so much.
“It’s shaken my confidence. I wish I could say it was a good experience, but it’s just been an absolute nightmare, and it’s ongoing.
“It felt like the darkest time of my life, and it put so much stress on my family as well – they were so worried about me.”
She continued: “They welcomed me into the Forever Unique family and promised me the world. I felt like everything had fallen into place, but it quickly turned into a nightmare for me.
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“Forever Unique was one of the first brands I went to go and meet with, and I chose them over some of the other options that I had due to their brand values.
“I went to their office in Manchester, where Seema and the team couldn’t have been more accommodating and lovely.”
The Sun revealed that Paige was suing the fashion label – just six months after signing a big money deal with them.
Paige was the first Islander to work with Seema and was very excited.
After Paige landed the fashion opportunity she flew to Rome for a classy photoshoot.
Liquidators Begbies Traynor say Manchester-based Dress Me Online, which trades as Forever Unique, employed 21 people.
Speaking about the company, Paige added that responses between Forever Unique and her management became “very, very delayed” with the company claiming she wasn’t upholding her side of the deal.
Paige added: “I did all the content, I did all the posting, and tried my absolute best to have a good relationship with them.
“I came out of the bubble of the villa quite vulnerable and then to be exposed to that, it hurt. And with Seema, I thought we had a good relationship, because we got on so well.”
Paige is now completely sober after her drinking habits began to spiral and she began to realise how “bad it was for [her] mental health”.
She said: “My anxiety is so much better for it and I’m much more driven now that I have cut that out of my life.”
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