New Love Island bombshell Toni reveals crippling health battle that saw her rushed to hospital
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LOVE Island bombshell Toni Laites has opened about her chronic health condition ahead of entering the villa.
The American star, 24, is set to enter the Mallorca house as the first bombshell of this year's series – and is ready to bag a British boy as she believes they're "more polite with better manners" than their American counterparts.
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Toni has shared her health battle with ulcerative colitis
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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When she was 17, doctors looked after her to make sure she got to prom
Credit: Instagram/@connecticutchildrens
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Toni thanked the doctors for making her prom dream come true
Credit: Instagram/@connecticutchildrens
But ahead of entering the villa, Toni shared that she is also battling an illness that leaves her in agonising pain.
She said ahead of entering the show: "I have ulcerative colitis. I had to go to hospital the same week as my senior prom.
"They told me, 'You can't go' and then they said, 'Surprise, you're going to prom!'
"Nothing that exciting happens in Connecticut, so it was a big deal and a few articles were written about me."
"What I hope people see from me being on Love Island is that not all illnesses are visible," she added.
"It doesn't have to hold you back, you can travel etc…I live my life day-to-day like anyone else."
In 2018, Toni was taken to prom straight from the hospital at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, with the team looking after her making sure she was primped and primed for the event.
She wrote a gold sequinned mermaid gown for the event, and posed with her doctors before going.
The hospital later shared photos of her getting ready on Instagram, writing: "After spending a week inpatient for a flare up of #UlcerativeColitis, 17-year old Toni Laites of Newington was told she would be unable to attend her prom...until her team of doctors and nurses at Connecticut Children's banded together to grant her a therapeutic leave, giving Toni the opportunity to experience the Cinderella prom she always dreamed of."
Toni has said she's entering the Love Island UK villa because dating in the States is "a mess" – particularly after moving from Connecticut to Florida and then Las Vegas, Nevada.
Love rats & machete arrests: Love Island's most DRAMATIC launch ever?!
"I live in cities that are fast-paced and party places; Las Vegas and Florida," she explained.
"People are here for a good time, not a long time. I live in Sin City!
"I do love Las Vegas. I've met some of the greatest people I've ever met there. I'm willing to relocate, it would just break my heart to not have my job anymore."
She warns that her "icks" are bad breath, bad hygiene, and not being dressing appropriately for a date.
Toni will enter the house this week, with the series kicking off on Monday night with Maya Jama welcoming this year's line-up to the villa.
Love Island starts Monday at 9pm on ITV, ITV2 and ITVX.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Here's what you need to know about Ulcerative Colitis..
Colitis is a condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed.
The colon is the large intestine, or bowel, and the rectum is the end of the bowel where stools are stored. Ulcers can develop on the colon's lining and bleed and produce pus.
Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis that is caused by autoimmune inflammation (the body attacking itself), whereas colitis can be caused by a number of factors including infection.
Ulcerative colitis is similar to another condition which causes inflammation of the gut - Crohn's disease.
Symptoms can often be very mild for weeks or months but flare ups with extreme symptoms can cause a lot of pain and trouble for sufferers.
Find out more here.
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Despite being told she couldn't go after a flare up, the doctors made it happen for her
Credit: Instagram/@connecticutchildrens
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The star looked incredible as she made it to the event
Credit: Instagram/@ctvarsity
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