Fresh from making reality TV history as the first American to win Love Island UK, Toni Laites is stepping into an entirely new spotlight. Last weekend, the breakout star took 1883 to the BAFTA Television Awards for a night of red carpets, flashing cameras and industry heavyweights, offering an exclusive look behind the scenes as one of the internet’s most talked about new personalities takes on her next chapter.
Toni first captured audiences as the villa’s unforgettable opening bombshell, winning fans over with her sharp humour, fearless honesty and fiercely loyal approach to friendship. What began as a reality TV appearance quickly became something much bigger. Since leaving the show victorious, she has amassed a huge online following, drawn attention from fashion and culture publications across the globe and earned celebrity admirers including Charli XCX and Cara Delevingne.
But beyond the glamour, Toni remains grounded in the authenticity that made viewers connect with her in the first place. From openly documenting her experience with ulcerative colitis to reshaping expectations of post reality TV fame, she is proving there is far more to her story than a winning moment in the villa.
Read on to find Toni’s exclusive diary she penned for 1883.
If Toni a year ago knew that i’d be walking the red carpet at the BAFTA’s she just wouldn’t have believed you. It’s been the most unbelievable year of pinch me moments and this might’ve just topped them off.
Ready to go!! If I told you that the moment my car pulled up at the red carpet I saw another (stunning) woman in exactly the same dress as me, you couldn’t have made it up.
What I love about girls in general, is that we embraced each other, laughed about it and vowed to get a photo together later in the night. I never did get to catch up with her again but I hope she had as a good a time as me… and if she’s reading this… you rocked that dress too!
The calm before the storm. Everything all laid out ready for me – I can’t tell you how much my heart was racing at this point. I’d just got off the back of filming a big TV show for a few weeks and had, had zero sleep – plus I had to get up to fly to Italy the day after the BAFTAs so the adrenaline was high!
I’m a girl’s girl and will always swear by the fact that the getting ready for a big event is just as fun as the night out itself. I must shout out my glam team Zoe James (make-up) and Georgina Harkins (hair) for making me red carpet ready. I could not have done this look on my own!
Lights, camera, action. I don’t think it will EVER get boring to me that people want to speak to ME on the red carpet. I was surrounded by some of the biggest names in TV and people were still calling MY name. What an honour.
Did I tell you I had an early flight to catch the next day? So it wasn’t a late night for me – instead I went for an early dinner with Shakira Khan – one of my Love Island besties. We might’ve been the most glam dressed people in the restaurant but that dessert was oh so worth it!
A little fact people might not know about me is my obsession with Jelly Cats and I think I might be one of the only people in the world who instead of partying at the BAFTAs, went to the Jellycat store to add to my collection! Aren’t they cute though?
My dress was by an amazing designer called Maria Lucia Hohan (special thanks to my stylist Wonu Adeola for introducing me to her) and how gorgeous is this message inside of it? We are all goddesses and we all deserve the best!
