Love Island’s Chyna Mills opens up about her relationship with Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones and admits that she didn’t know who he was.

Chatting to hosts Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng on the showbiz gossip programme Access All Areas, the reality star spoke candidly about the moment she realised her boyfriend was famous: “Before, I didn’t even know who Neil [Jones] was to save my life. It was only when we got to know each other more that I was like “Oh! Okay you are actually really in the public eye.” When I eventually told my friends about him, their mums were like “oh my god!” and I’m like who is this man? It wasn’t until we were properly together that I realised. When I went to see Strictly for the first ever time I said “wow you can actually dance! I thought this was a joke”. I literally knew nothing about him or his friends. I could have walked past him in the street.”

The 24-year-old revealed that her family and friends found out about their relationship through the press: “We hit things off when we were at an event and from that point, I knew that he loved me. I thought this is meant to be, this could go somewhere. I don’t like to get my hopes up, so I didn’t even tell my friends. As soon as you tell your friends, something bad happens, that’s always been the case for me.”

She continued: “We didn’t actually tell anyone it was more we just got papped together and everyone said “oh yeah they’re together”. I was thinking “has he even asked me to be his girlfriend?” Then I had my family and friends messaging me saying “is this true?” and I thought well, I kind of have to admit it now.”

Later in the interview, the Love Island bombshell was asked whether she’d ever want to go on Strictly with her partner: “I know instantly that Neil would say he wouldn’t want me as his partner. I would say the same. He’s tried to teach me salsa and I cannot be taught by him because I can’t take him seriously… I’d have to be partnered up with anyone else but Neil.

Chyna also spoke about how post Love Island fame has made her a more anxious person: “It has been a whirlwind. Life has been totally different. Life was simple. As soon as I came out, I couldn’t even go to Zara, I’d literally be bombarded. Now I don’t even go shopping on my own. I used to do that all the time. Anywhere that I need to go to, I have to ask someone to come with me.”  

Listen to the full episode, also featuring Anna-May Robey here.