Love Island’s Jess White puts on a brave face as she returns to the UK after being axed amid ‘bully’ backlash
DUMPED Love Island star Jess White put on a brave face as she arrived back in the UK this afternoon.
Just hours after she was axed from the villa and labelled a “bully” by one of her co-stars, Jess flashed a smile and appeared to shrug off any backlash as she landed in Manchester.
The M&S manager, 25, has been on the ITV2 show since this series kicked off, but was sent packing in last night’s show.
The savage mass cull saw Jess head home alongside Hugo Godfroy, Emma Milton and Blade Siddiqi.
Emma, who is also a northerner, joined Jess as she touched down on home soil.
Both girls beamed as they were reunited with their families.
Dressed casually in a grey hoodie and green flared trousers for her travels, Jess flashed a smile as she posed for photographers with Emma, who held a bouquet of flowers aloft.
Jess then hugged Emma goodbye before chatting to her parents.
Her mum had her arm round her daughter while her dad was all smiles behind as they helped Jess pull her suitcases.
Viewers had been voting for their favourite boy and favourite girl in the villa, leading to Jess’ shock exit.
While there was tears all round in the villa, with many of the islanders having grown close to Jess, viewers appeared divided on their reactions to her throughout the series.
She was branded “snakey” and the show’s “real villain” after she clashed with Harriett Blackmore in the early days of the run.
Both were attracted to Ronnie Vint and the triangle saw the girls clash.
Jess was also mocked on social media for her catchphrase “I’m the prize”, which she regularly used when talking about the boys in the villa.
Recently, Casa Amor girl Diamante Laiva branded Jess a “bully” after her time on the show.
The two women famously clashed during the Casa Amor recoupling.
Speaking to Kiss FM Diamante said: “If Jess were here right now, I’d sit myself in my seat and made sure I stayed in my seat.
“And I would just tell her, like listen, you’re not the prize, you’re a bully.
“You need to stop bullying people because it’s not a good look.
She went on: “I don’t know if she feels like doing this is giving her props, making her feel like a big girl.
“But the girls in the villa are intimidated by Jess and I don’t think that’s a good dynamic to have when you’re supposed to be getting along with people.”
Despite clashing with a few islanders, however, Jess proved popular in the villa.
Mimii and Nicole, in particular, were in floods of tears when she left last night.
And breaking her silence after her exit, Jess insisted she had no enemies on the show.
Following her exit, Jess – who hails from Stockport – has even claimed she will be “friends for life” with her co-stars.
She said: “I’m a people’s person, that’s my job, so I knew I’d get on with everybody.
“This journey has taught me to never underestimate how important friendships are.
“I was so close with both the girls and boys in the villa and I love them all individually.
“I’m a tough cookie and rarely cry but everytime one of my girls left I was always in tears. The relationships you form are so special, I’m so proud of everyone and think we will all be friends for life.”