Joanna Chimonides chats to PLAN B's Sarina Bellissimo
Joanna Chimonides had a dramatic Love Island journey.
She went into Casa Amor on Day 23 and was brought into the main villa when she coupled up with Michael.
However, her time was cut short when the public voted her and Michael as their least favourite couple and Joanna's Love Island journey ended on Day 37.
Now she's out, it's been tough to watch her ex crack on with Amber but there are lots of exciting things coming her way.
Joanna chatted to PLAN B's Sarina Bellissimo about Michael, her villa experience and life after Love Island.
You've been out of the villa for about a week now. How's it been?
It's been manic. I've been having such a good time. I've been really busy and I've got so many exciting things coming up. It's very exciting.
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What's it like to go from being so enclosed to coming out, having your phone, a sensation overload! How do you handle that?
It's been so intense. My Instagram is now really busy whereas before it wasn't. So now I'm constantly on my phone. It was a bit scary to adjust. You've been in an enclosed environment and you suddenly wake up and you're free to do whatever you want, whenever you want.
It was really scary. It took a lot of time to adjust.
Who was the first person you really wanted to see? Who did you miss the most?
So definitely my Mum and Dad I missed the most. I made sure I called them first, for sure!
Let's go back to the villa. What is that moment like, that moment of elimination?
It's really scary and you start doubting every single thing that you've done in the villa.
It is really nerve wracking but you just have to take it on the chin and know that if you're time is up, it's meant to be.
You hear your name being called. What's going through your head?
It's a bit disappointing because you really think your journey is going to be longer than two weeks and I was hoping it would be. But, I'm happy for the experience and I'm grateful for the experience.
If it was my time to go, then it was my time to go.
Then you leave the villa and all the headlines are about Jack (Fowler) meeting you in the airport and how you're in a relationship! What's going on there?
I found it really funny because me and Jack, we've known each other for ten years! We're from the same area.
Our schools are really close. My girl group are close to his boy group and we've been really close for so many years. So obviously when I see him at the airport I'm like, 'Oh my God!'. But people have taken it the wrong way.
It must be nice to see a face that you know but also that has experience what you've experienced.
Jack told me what to expect and also what to expect on the outside, so seeing a familiar face with his advice made me feel a lot better.
You not get to watch Love Island - what has it been like for you to watch what's happening with Michael and Amber? How are you feeling?
I'm feeling a bit disappointed in Michael because I gave him so many opportunities to say if he wanted to go back to Amber or not. He constantly said, 'No, no, no.' Then magically two days later he wants to go back. It was a bit disappointing.
Him staying in there was either going to make him realise he wants me or make him realise he's not that into me, so for me it's a win win situation because I know the truth now.
How will you deal with stuff when you see him in the outside world?
I don't know! I'm a bit nervous to see him.
I don't know what he has to say. I'm a very positive person, so I'm not going to hold anything against anyone but I' more nervous to hear what he has to say.
Enough about Michael, let's go back to you. What made you want to do Love Island? You've been approached a couple of times.
With me, I don't do dating websites. I don't really go on dates and when you meet someone in a club they only really want one thing, in my opinion. So going on Love Island was a chance to meet someone in a mutual environment, in a different environment and you know they're looking for love.
Were you nervous when you found out you were going in via Casa Amor?
It was scary known I was going into Casa Amor. You don't have the choice whether you're staying in or not. You have to get to know people and it's based on their choice whether you stay in or not!
At the same time, I'm a positive person and I'm just grateful for the experience really.
What is the reality of being inside the villa? What surprised you most about the show?
How much you you have to talk about your feelings! So many people keep they're feelings in, so the fact that you have to adjust to being so open to how you feel was the biggest surprise.
How do those conversations happen? Are you prompted?
For me, it was all natural. I chose when I wanted to speak to someone, I would go up to them.
What's it like watching back the episodes you were in? Is there something that happened, that didn't make it to air, that you wish we had seen?
I wish you guys would have seen my personality more. People say I'm very funny and I've a funny personality so I wish you had seen that side of me. Also my emotional side as well. I did cry a lot in there but it wasn't really shown.
Can you tell me more about Maura? What is she like to live with?
Maura is one of the funniest, most amazing people in the world. She's so lovely. When you get talking to her she really opens up. She's amazing, honestly. She's just so sweet.
Who will you keep in contact with when the show is over?
I'm definitely going to keep in contact with Molly-Mae and Belle.
Who do you think is going to win the show?
I think genuinely, Belle and Anton will make it.
They really get along and they're so compatible.
For anyone who's thinking of applying to the next season of Love Island, what would you say to them?
I would say, 'Expect the unexpected!'
What is next for you Joanna?
See what opportunities come my way. I've got exciting things coming up and I'll just see where my life takes me!
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PLAN B airs every Saturday at 1pm.
