
In 2016, Love Island contestant Zara Holland left the show after receiving news that her mother, Cheryl Hakeney, had fallen ill. Holland was met with a wave of abuse after being stripped of her Miss Great Britain crown for getting intimate with fellow Islander Alex Bowen. Hakeney later spoke out about the heartbreaking abuse her daughter received, and said she wished she could have stopped her daughter from going on the show. Holland's mother's illness was thought to be a cover-up to save face, but it was confirmed that she was in the hospital by tabloids.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Person Whose Mother Was Ill | Zara Holland |
| Mother's Name | Cheryl Hakeney |
| Date of Incident | June 20, 2016 |
| Reason for Leaving Show | Mother's illness |
| Show Name | Love Island |
| Circumstances Surrounding Incident | Zara Holland left Love Island after learning that her mother had fallen ill. This occurred days after she was stripped of her Miss Great Britain crown for getting intimate with fellow Islander Alex Bowen. |
| Mother's Health Status After Incident | According to a tweet by Zara Holland on June 22, 2016, her mother was "much better." |
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Zara Holland's mother Cheryl Hakeney fell ill
In 2016, Love Island contestant Zara Holland's mother, Cheryl Hakeney, fell ill. Hakeney's illness prompted her daughter to quit the reality TV show and return home to the UK.
Zara Holland, a former Miss Great Britain, had been at the centre of controversy during her time on the show. She was stripped of her title after having sex with fellow Islander Alex Bowen. In the wake of this incident, Holland received significant online abuse, not just from the public but also from celebrities and other reality TV stars.
Speaking to Heat magazine before her illness, Hakeney admitted that her daughter's behaviour on the show was "out of character" and that she was "surprised" by it. However, she also defended Holland, saying, "she hasn't committed any crime" and expressing disappointment that her title had been taken away.
Upon learning of her mother's illness, Holland made the decision to leave the show. In a statement, she said:
> "I'm so sad to leave the villa but it's important for me to get home and spend time with my mum while she gets better. I've had the time of my life on Love Island and would like to thank all of my fellow Islanders and the production team for all their support."
A few days after her departure, Holland hinted at a possible return to the show, tweeting that her "mum is much better". This sparked a frenzy among her fans, who begged her to confirm if she would be returning to the villa.
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Holland left Love Island to return home
In 2016, Zara Holland left the Love Island villa and flew home to England after learning that her mother, Cheryl Hakeney, had fallen ill. Holland released a statement, saying:
> "I'm so sad to leave the villa but it's important for me to get home and spend time with my mum while she gets better. I've had the time of my life on Love Island and would like to thank all of my fellow Islanders and the production team for all their support."
A statement from the show read: "Owing to an illness in the family, Zara Holland has left the Love Island villa to return to the UK. Our thoughts are with her and her family and we send all of our best wishes."
Holland's departure came just days after she was stripped of her Miss Great Britain crown for getting intimate with fellow Islander Alex Bowen. Speaking to Heat magazine before she fell ill, Holland's mother admitted that her behaviour on the show was "out of character" and that she was surprised and disappointed by the decision to take away her title.
In the days following her exit, Holland hinted at a possible return to the show, tweeting: "Can't thank you all enough for your continued support, I am overwhelmed. My mum is much better, thank you all for asking about her."
However, some viewers speculated that Holland's mother's illness was a "cover" to allow her to leave the show without losing face. One Reddit user wrote: "I remember at the time everyone thought it was just an excuse to save face. But it’d also be hard to fake her mum being in an actual hospital, as the tabloids were all over that."
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Holland was stripped of her Miss GB title
Zara Holland, a former Miss Great Britain, left the Love Island villa in 2016 after learning that her mother, Cheryl Hakeney, had fallen ill. Hakeney later revealed that she wished she could go back in time to stop her daughter from going on the show.
Zara's time on the show was marred by controversy. She was stripped of her Miss Great Britain crown after getting intimate with fellow Islander Alex Bowen. The decision left Zara devastated, and she broke down in tears, telling her co-stars: "They're taking my title off me."
Zara's mother spoke out about her daughter's behaviour, admitting that it was out of character. She expressed her disappointment in the organisation's decision to take away Zara's title, acknowledging that all young women make mistakes. Despite this, the newly crowned Miss Great Britain, Deone Robertson, agreed with the decision to strip Zara of her title.
Zara's appearance on Love Island subjected her to online abuse and invasion of privacy for her family. She became the butt of a long-running joke on the show due to her being Miss Great Britain when she entered the villa. Cheryl Hakeney revealed that her daughter received abuse not just from the public but also from celebrities and other reality TV stars.
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Hakeney speaks out about her daughter's behaviour
Zara Holland's mother, Cheryl Hakeney, has spoken out about her daughter's behaviour during her time on the ITV2 reality show Love Island. In an interview with Heat magazine, Hakeney admitted that her daughter's behaviour on the show was "out of character" and "not her finest hour". She said she was "surprised" by Zara's actions but also defended her, saying that "she hasn't committed any crime".
Hakeney also expressed her disappointment in the decision to strip Zara of her Miss Great Britain title after she was intimate with fellow Islander Alex Bowen. "I'm disappointed they took her title away," she said. "I hoped they would understand that all young women make mistakes."
Zara's time on Love Island was marked by controversy, including an on-screen romance with Bowen and the loss of her Miss GB crown. She ultimately quit the show after learning that her mother had fallen ill, with a statement from the show confirming that she had left to "return to the UK" and be with her family.
Speaking out about her daughter's exit, Hakeney shared her support for Zara and thanked fans for their well-wishes. She also addressed the invasion of privacy and abuse that her family experienced during and after Zara's stint on the show. In an interview with OK! Magazine, she revealed that they had received "nasty comments" and even visits to their shop from people wanting to see where Zara worked.
Hakeney also shared her regret about letting her daughter go on the show, stating that if she could turn back time, she would have advised Zara not to enter the villa. "It was a very strange experience seeing your child suddenly catapulted to fame overnight," she said.
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Holland hints at returning to Love Island
Zara Holland, the former Miss Great Britain, has hinted at a possible return to the ITV2 reality dating show Love Island. Holland quit the show in 2016 after learning of her mother's illness. At the time, she expressed sadness at leaving the show but affirmed the importance of being with her mother while she recovered.
In a statement, Holland said, "I'm so sad to leave the villa but it's important for me to get home and spend time with my mum while she gets better. I've had the time of my life on Love Island and would like to thank all of my fellow Islanders and the production team for all their support."
Holland's mother, Cheryl Hakeney, also spoke out about her daughter's departure, expressing surprise at her behaviour on the show but defending her against criticism. Shortly after Holland's exit, her mother's health improved, and there was speculation about a potential return to the show.
While Holland neither confirmed nor denied these rumours, she did announce an upcoming appearance on ITV's Lorraine, sparking further speculation. It is unclear if Holland will return to Love Island, but the show has featured returning contestants before, including Adam Collard and Kady McDermott, who rejoined as "bombshells."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 2016, Zara Holland quit Love Island after her mother, Cheryl Hakeney, fell ill.
Holland left the show to return to the UK and spend time with her mother while she recovered.
Holland hinted at a possible return to the show after her mother's health improved. However, she faced criticism for her behaviour on the show, including losing her Miss Great Britain crown for getting intimate with fellow Islander Alex Bowen.
Cheryl Hakeney admitted that her daughter's time on the show "wasn't her finest hour". She also said that she wished she could turn back time and tell her daughter not to go on the show due to the abuse and invasion of privacy the family experienced.


























