Former Love Island star Malin Andersson says she is “incredibly proud to be making a difference” after returning to work as a carer during the pandemic.
Ms Andersson, 26, previously worked as a carer following the death of her mother in 2017. She is now helping elderly people in their homes across Bedfordshire.
Andersson, who shot to fame after appearing Love Island 2016, says working through the pandemic has been a “beautiful” and “humbling” experience.
She also revealed that she is not scared of catching the disease having “been through so much” after losing both her mother and one-month-old baby.
“I couldn’t sit at home, knowing I had the skills and training,” she told the BBC. “I don’t need to do it financially but I’m getting so much satisfaction from it.”
The TV personality said she is currently working up to four days a week and visiting around six elderly residents and starts work at 5am.
Andersson, who uses her social media presence to promote body positivity, mental health issues, grief, trauma and domestic violence, says she hopes that her experience will inspire others.
“Carers are needed more than ever,” she said. “I would never have predicted I would do this but I really feel like it is helping me get through this period.
“I get them out of bed, wash them, dress them, give them their medication and I have chats with them. I might be the only person they talk to that day, and it is filling a void for me as well as them.”
Andersson also said she lives alone and appreciates the struggle many people are going through as the lockdown continues.
In late 2018, Andersson gave birth seven weeks early to a baby called Consy. She named the baby after her mother who died with cancer in 2017.
Consy died one month later despite the best efforts of medics at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
She now acts as an ambassador for the stillbirth and neonatal charity Sands as well as the domestic violence charity Refuge after speaking out about a previous violent relationship.
