Lucinda Breaks Silence on Love Island Drama (no one spoke to me for days!)

8:25Paul C. Brunson:Okay.

8:25Lucinda Strafford:Right? And he just said, well, there's a flight tonight to Cape Town. Do you want to get on it? And I was like, can you give me five minutes? Hung up. Right? Then I started calling everyone. Like, should I do it? Should I not? And I was so going on and off, yes or no.

8:44Paul C. Brunson:Can I ask why? What was the vacillation about?

8:47Lucinda Strafford:Okay, so the main reason was because obviously I'd just done the games. I felt like for social media purposes at that point, I didn't need it, to be honest. Lots of people go on there for more engagement. And I totally get that. I love that. Yeah, whatever. But I feel like for me, do I want a relationship? Am I ready for a relationship or not? You know, I was thinking it from a completely different stance, really.

9:17Paul C. Brunson:Okay.

9:18Lucinda Strafford:And that's what I was going back and forth with.

9:22Paul C. Brunson:I would imagine, too, is are you also thinking what the negative feedback and the consequences of negative press?

9:28Lucinda Strafford:A hundred percent. I was thinking there's going to be press saying this is the fourth time that she's on Love Island. I mean, that was expected. and I was thinking I mean I'm you know what it is I feel like with something like Love Island as well you can be portrayed certain ways and sometimes it doesn't come out positive and I hadn't been on UK television for almost five years that's right okay yeah so I was thinking of that as well I was like I am really happy the way I am right now and I wouldn't change anything of how I am right now and what's going on in my life.

10:05Paul C. Brunson:And you had to make that decision in just a few hours.

10:07Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

10:07Paul C. Brunson:That's a lot. Because I think that what people probably don't realize is that psychologically, it's a lot that you have to think about, but then you have to put yourself in a mind state to say, okay, I'm now going to be away for how long? Up to?

10:23Lucinda Strafford:Up to, I think it was up to six weeks.

10:26Paul C. Brunson:Up to six weeks. Yeah. You're not going to see family and friends during that time. you haven't prepared anything you do want to have some fits yeah you know listen to you like to you like to have some yeah yeah you said you had none of that none of that you said your hair my

10:41Lucinda Strafford:hair you hadn't done your hair i haven't still done my hair in months yeah it's ridiculous it is ridiculous yeah i'm obviously so happy that i went on the show i just can't believe that i did it i can't believe that i had the journey that i did it just it's it's it really is incredible

10:59Paul C. Brunson:Like to think that it started with you literally being signed up for this show three hours before flying to South Africa. All right. So your intention was find love, but you acknowledge there's also some other press benefits that come with it. Were you aware of who the other cast members were when you walked in?

11:28Lucinda Strafford:So I watched about three or four episodes before I flew out. So I obviously knew the starting lineup because I watched it. I was bedazzling my skincare, as you do.

11:43Paul C. Brunson:That's what you do?

11:44Lucinda Strafford:Which in reality, looking back, I probably should be getting hair appointments booked and stuff. But I obviously had no idea. So I did watch it. and it did look like quite a dramatic season even from the first few episodes obviously with the whole Scott and what's his name? The wrong one? Can't even remember.

12:06Paul C. Brunson:Oh, well.

12:11Lucinda Strafford:I'm not wow.

12:12Paul C. Brunson:No, but you're tired. You're tired right now. I'm absolutely shattered.

12:16Lucinda Strafford:But anyway, with the Scott.

12:19Paul C. Brunson:Yeah, all right, let's keep going.

12:21Lucinda Strafford:With the Scott drama.

12:23Paul C. Brunson:Yeah.

12:23Lucinda Strafford:It was just, it looked like a dramatic season, even watching it. And I was like, do I really want to get involved with all of that?

12:30Paul C. Brunson:Do you feel extra pressure of being a bombshell? Yeah. And how would you define, not even how would you define, what are you even told behind the scenes as like being a bombshell? What does that really mean?

12:42Lucinda Strafford:Okay, so I was just told just to be myself, you know. And I actually do love all the Love Island production. and I feel like they really supported me through the whole thing. But yeah, normally as a bombshell you wanna go in and you feel the pressure to maybe cause up drama and stir the pot, but I feel like I obviously did that, but I was also getting to know people when I feel like it wasn't intentional just to go in and cause lots of drama, obviously. I did do a bit of that, but yeah, I did just want to go in there and be happy as well.

13:21Paul C. Brunson:Yes.

13:22Lucinda Strafford:And I feel like that was the last conversation actually I had with my mom. I said, I'm just going to go in there and just be happy. So that's what I did try and do.

13:30Paul C. Brunson:That's what you did. So when you walk in, right, who catches your eye first?

13:38Lucinda Strafford:Okay. When I walk in, I would say, for starters, the boys look so much better looking in person.

13:48Paul C. Brunson:Oh, really? Oh wow, okay.

13:51Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, but I feel like that is usually a thing actually. So they're all just obviously really good looking, but I would say the people that catch my eye the most, obviously Kieran, Sean, and I can't really remember, I think it was mainly Kieran and Sean, to be honest with you. Oh, and Tommy. Tommy, I really liked his personality as well because he's really kind and you can feel that and I love that about him. But I would say mainly those three guys. Obviously, at this point, I didn't know anyone personally. And I do go off. I normally go with vibes and all of that.

14:30Paul C. Brunson:All right, fair. And what about Among the Girls? Because you knew some of the girls previously.

14:35Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. So I knew Millie. I was best friends with Millie when I came off the Love Island UK season. So it was really nice seeing her again. I hadn't seen her in a while. and I've never fallen out with Millie. I think she's such an amazing girl. And yeah, it just felt really nice because obviously it felt like she was my big sister. And then in there, it also felt like she was my big sister as well. And she'd taken on that role again.

15:02Paul C. Brunson:Nice.

15:03Lucinda Strafford:And it was kind of like we just picked up where we left off kind of vibes, which felt really nice.

15:08Paul C. Brunson:And I would imagine she didn't know you were going to be there.

15:11Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. No, she had no idea. Yeah. No idea. And that was actually quite nice because I felt like no one had any idea. It was like someone's seen a ghost or something when I was stood there. I was like, send her? Because obviously I had no idea.

15:26Paul C. Brunson:That's true, no one had any idea.

15:28Lucinda Strafford:So I've seen comments and it's like, how did she hide it so well? And it's like, I wasn't hiding anything technically.

15:34Paul C. Brunson:Literally, you did not know. Yeah. You did not know. Do you know who is kind of paired off with who at this point?

15:41Lucinda Strafford:So I had missed a few episodes, It's five or six days behind, really. So I didn't really, I don't think I had a full gist of what was going on.

15:53Paul C. Brunson:But ultimately, too, and correct me if I'm wrong, but you almost have to go in and basically work your way in to steal someone. Like, that's pretty much how it's set up.

16:05Lucinda Strafford:That is literally what a bombshell is. and I feel like unfortunately if you don't tread on people's toes at the beginning that you won't ever know what's right for you and what's wrong for you that is just genuinely what you have to do as long as you go about it the right way and you you know you that's that's what you have to do especially when I got given 24 hours to make up a decision and I just went of vibes like I feel like at that point you you don't know them well enough really you know them for 24 hours but you just have to go vibes you just have to go for what's right for you and you made within the 24 hours your selection was Kieran it was Kieran yeah all right now when you say vibes break that down yeah so it's looks what else is in there looks how open they are because I feel like if someone's categorically telling you that they're closed off you're not going to go for them you know so well maybe maybe you will but obviously if he's really happy with his couple you know you're not going to go for you're not going to go for them obviously that's a bit of an awkward situation being with someone that doesn't like you back so i would imagine he he then you your interpretation was that he wasn't categorically closed off oh no absolutely not no no he he wasn't at that point in time at and obviously I didn't get to watch him and Sammy get to know each other before.

17:34Lucinda Strafford:So actually when I coupled up with him, I didn't actually expect the reception that I got. Because everyone was like, and it was kind of like a massive shock. And straight away I was upset. I don't know what was showing. I haven't had the chance to watch anything back, but I was upset straight away. And I did feel awful because I didn't realize that maybe they were closer than I thought. I don't know.

18:08Paul C. Brunson:Okay.

18:08Lucinda Strafford:But, yeah.

18:10Paul C. Brunson:And then, listen, you just said the reception that you got.

18:13Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

18:13Paul C. Brunson:So what was that reception that you got? I think it was initially, so they had a saying that was called charge it.

18:23Lucinda Strafford:You just charge everything. So I don't actually know what it means. I'm still trying to work it out. But it means that you charge it to the game. So you just, it's whatever. So when I chose Kieran, I think one of the girls, I don't know who it was, said charge it. And then Belle said, we're not charging that. And that was the comment that made me really upset. Because at this point, I was only in there for 24 hours. So I was getting along with all the girls. And I've only been there for not long. And when I heard we're not charging that I was thinking, right, this is an issue that I've coupled up with Kieran.

19:01Lucinda Strafford:And I don't know what was shown or not, but Belle did apologize to me for that. And she said, I'm sorry, like, I didn't mean it like that. But, yeah.

19:12Paul C. Brunson:When Belle made that comment, was that the first moment where you realized that you might be an outsider?

19:20Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

19:20Paul C. Brunson:Yeah. This is the first Love Island experience I've had coming on as a bombshell.

19:27Lucinda Strafford:Actually, I've only ever come on a bombshell one other time, which was Love Island, UK, almost five years ago. And I came in with Millie. Right. So coming in as a bombshell as the only girl, this is probably the first time that you do feel like an outsider. And I felt like it for a long, I would say about a solid week. Really? Yeah, where you feel like you're trying to kind of fit in, but it's not quite, you're not an OG. You know what I mean? And you know that and they know that. And that is slightly uncomfortable, to be honest with you. And I remember being quite shocked at that, to be honest, because I'd never had that before.

20:08Lucinda Strafford:I've never, and other bombshells have come off the seasons and said the same thing. and I've been like oh that's sad but thinking no that was never me and then coming in as a bombshell you do need to have thick skin because and you're literally like a foreign object you know what I mean and it's like even little things like there's no wardrobe space and you're just having to like make do and everything else I can see how it it waits on you a hundred percent it

20:35Paul C. Brunson:was waiting on me yeah yeah because you and even to your point of just even the wardrobe yeah so So you have to, so literally no one made space for you.

20:44Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. So you just have to keep pulling your clothes out of your suitcase. Yeah. So you had mentioned Belle.

20:52Paul C. Brunson:Can we do a deep dive on Belle? Because the most popular clips from this series mostly are with you and Belle.

21:07Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

21:08Paul C. Brunson:Okay. Okay. So had you ever met Belle previously?

21:11Lucinda Strafford:No. So I remember watching her when I was younger, and I'd never met her before.

21:17Paul C. Brunson:Okay. What was your impression? Like, were you looking forward to meeting her, excited?

21:22Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, I would say I was excited to meet her. I think, obviously, when you've seen so much about someone, I would say she's like a Love Island icon, to be honest with you.

21:30Paul C. Brunson:What do you think her first impression of you was? I think her first impression was me was probably a bombshell that's going to come in and steal guys and cause carnage.

21:47Lucinda Strafford:Probably.

21:48Paul C. Brunson:When you went in, Belle was with Sean.

21:50Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

21:51Paul C. Brunson:Okay. All right. And he had caught your eye initially.

21:56Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

21:56Paul C. Brunson:But you chose Kieran first, right? At what point does your attention and your focus kind of drift to Sean?

22:07Lucinda Strafford:I felt like very soon. Kieran is a great guy, but Kieran will also say the chemistry was just not chemistry-ing, you know? I get it. And I feel like he, yeah, Kieran is an amazing person, but I was very much like, go back to your gal, go back to Sammy. And I wish you guys the best, genuinely, because it was like, I wasn't really feeling it with Kieran and I feel like with Sean, just the whole time living with him we would always just come back to each other. And it was always like in a friendly, flirty way, a bit lighthearted, obviously he knew I coupled up with Kieran. but we just had banter and we were just always bantering with each other and yeah it was always good vibes with Sean I knew I was always going to get on with him whether we were in a couple or not you know

23:01Paul C. Brunson:yes yes so it was very quick yeah that you knew Sean could be the one yeah but you knew also right that Sean is with

23:09Lucinda Strafford:yeah Belle

23:10Paul C. Brunson:with Belle did you feel like it was categorically with Belle or just temporarily

23:16Lucinda Strafford:I think

23:23Paul C. Brunson:I can't wait to hear what you have to say to this one.

23:28Lucinda Strafford:I think that obviously he was with Val. And I think they obviously did fancy each other. You could see that. But I think he always said that he liked me and that he fancied me, obviously, from our first conversation. and that was maybe on like day one or two and he was saying like how he did fancy me and things and I knew that, but I didn't really know what was going on with him and Belle really. I feel like they weren't that close. I don't know because I wasn't part of the relationship, but from watching it, I don't know if they were that close. Okay. But yeah, I don't know what Sean, Maybe he really did.

24:19Lucinda Strafford:I don't know. I don't know. You know when you don't want to speak for people?

24:24Paul C. Brunson:Right, because you don't know. So this is the reason why, listen, I have clips for us today.

24:31Lucinda Strafford:Oh.

24:31Paul C. Brunson:For us to take a look. So I want us to take a look right over here. So this is a clip.

24:37Lucinda Strafford:What?

24:37Paul C. Brunson:Yes. I don't even know if you've seen this clip.

24:40Lucinda Strafford:I haven't watched any of it back.

24:42Paul C. Brunson:Oh, really? You haven't seen any of this? Yeah. Okay, so this is going to be great live reaction. Stop. So this is a conversation with Belle and Sean, okay? It's an early conversation with Belle and Sean. You ready for this? Can we? Can we?

24:57Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, okay, go, go, go, go.

24:59Paul C. Brunson:I'll be straight up and honest with you.

25:02Lucinda Strafford:Lucinda and I have had a couple of chats, flirty chats. We've just gravitated together. I've got something there with Lucinda. Is it, yeah? I don't know if it's going to work. And I am really sorry. Three days, Shaw. I've actually... Three f***ing days. Our connection has been solely based on the loyalty that we had for each other. Yeah, look. What? No, I understand. I f***ing get that. Is he not going in? Look, but I understand. Is he not going in? Look, I don't know why you're shouting. Because I'm fuming, mate. Well, I can't help how my feelings have felt. What do you mean how your feelings have felt?

25:37Lucinda Strafford:Can you go away? Well, that's you. Mate, can you not comprehend that? I had your back every step of the vein. So what are your feelings in three days? You want me to bleed that summing? Really? We've been at this shit for two weeks. Do you know what? You've made your f***ing bed. I hope it was worth it. Lay in it and f***ing stay there. That was the craziest thing, watching that in person as well. It was like jaw dropping.

26:06Paul C. Brunson:Yeah.

26:07Lucinda Strafford:Obviously, I knew that Belle would be upset, and I knew it was a conversation that we had to have, but I was not expecting that reaction.

26:17Paul C. Brunson:So now, given that moment, how difficult did it become to spend time with Sean, with Belle also being there?

26:29Lucinda Strafford:Extremely difficult. It was the most difficult thing ever, to be honest with you. It always felt really awkward, which is fine. I know she was upset. She was really hot and you could really feel it. And I was trying to apologize to her. She wasn't having any of it to be honest with you. But when we did talk, it was like, not the best conversation I've ever had. Coming, I felt like she was saying, she was kind of saying some things about my personality and things, which isn't the nicest thing ever. But I am quite an understanding person And I just kind of just brushed it all off. And I was like, it's fine.

27:13Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. That was kind of the beginning of everything. To be honest, I think that's the best way to put it.

27:20Paul C. Brunson:The beginning of everything. So there is another clip that I'd love to show you. So there's a few. But there's another clip that I love to show because I think it depicts what you're saying of how challenging it was to spend time with Sean.

27:39Lucinda Strafford:with Belle being so close in proximity. Yeah.

27:43Paul C. Brunson:So take a look at this.

27:44Lucinda Strafford:Perfect.

27:44Paul C. Brunson:Let me know what happened and what your thought was.

27:47Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. Yeah. No, I am a bit like annoyed. I'm not going to lie because I feel like the way that you treated me through the whole Sean thing and like the way that you shouted at me came from... The thing you shouted is a stretch. Calling me all these names basically made me feel so unwanted here. I didn't make you feel I wanted here, and you know that's a lot. No. But you were shouting at me, Belle. And also you were... I don't feel... ...calling at Sean as well. You laughed in my face... You can't... ...for a start. For a start. No, I didn't. My life f***ing didn't. No, I didn't. This is another attempt of you trying to get involved in my f***ing business.

28:28Lucinda Strafford:This don't concern you. So what are you sticking your nose in for? Liam, you're in a good place. But I'm not trying to let me see what you're saying. This is you. Oh listen back. You're a bitch. I'm not doing this to you. It's none of your business and stay out of here.

28:42Paul C. Brunson:What I find interesting about this is that you're looking at this and you are lighthearted about it.

28:47Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

28:48Paul C. Brunson:You know, even though that's a very contentious conversation.

28:53Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

28:53Paul C. Brunson:With someone calling you an effing idiot a few times.

28:56Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. You're still cool, calm and relaxed about it. I actually feel like I'm just, I'm quite like a bubbly, non-serious person. And I don't know where this stems from because I genuinely am not a very serious person. And even watching that, I think I really hope that, you know, she's okay. I don't want her to be annoyed and shouting at me. and I feel like I hope she sorts it out, whatever's making her so angry.

29:30Paul C. Brunson:So you stand by this, though, to this day. You believe that she was a hypocrite.

29:36Lucinda Strafford:Oh, 100 % Belle was a hypocrite.

29:39Paul C. Brunson:Does this become another moment where you feel even further on the outside?

29:43Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, 100%. I feel like... So you felt as if, at that point,

29:51Paul C. Brunson:almost everyone was against you.

29:53Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

29:54Paul C. Brunson:Okay.

29:55Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. Apart from Leanne. But even then, I do feel like a part of Leanne also thought maybe, who are you doing this for? And we did have conversations about that as well. And I said to her, obviously, I'm doing it for me, but I'm doing it for you as well. It's not who I'm doing it for. It's just genuinely how I feel. And I feel like she has been a hypocrite and someone needs to tell her. because I do feel like there was parts, there was sometimes in that villa where it was like one rule for someone and another rule for someone else, you know? Yes. And you could see that a lot.

30:31Paul C. Brunson:So when you just mentioned that about Leanne, are you saying that she was almost suggesting possibly that you were disingenuous,

30:38Lucinda Strafford:like you were not authentic? Yeah.

30:42Paul C. Brunson:Okay. was that a prevailing thought among the group that you were not real yeah but no one ever

30:53Lucinda Strafford:said it to me about this disingenuous thing and I had no idea about it but I could feel it I could feel that like I was slightly outside of that and you know what I'm I was fine with it I was like you know what whatever but and that uh that has

31:15Paul C. Brunson:to be incredibly tough within a siloed off project right because you're not interacting with anyone but the people who are there yeah so you have no idea what the perception is of the public so yeah if you have everyone in the villa telling you yeah you're not real yeah disingenuous then you're probably thinking the public is thinking the same thing yeah and that's exactly what i

31:44Lucinda Strafford:thought and i didn't know it was the it was the craziest i can't tell you how weird it is being in there and feeling like the whole world is against you that seemed to be for the audience

31:57Paul C. Brunson:that seemed to be a turning point.

32:00Lucinda Strafford:Yes.

32:00Paul C. Brunson:But inside you, it seemed to be probably a low moment.

32:07Lucinda Strafford:Yes.

32:08Paul C. Brunson:If not the lowest.

32:09Lucinda Strafford:I think my lowest moment was when Maya came in, the presenter, and we did a game and we all had podiums on the game and each couple was by a podium and we had to say who we thought was the biggest game player, who we thought was in here for clout. And in that game was my lowest moment in the villa. I genuinely... There was points before that that I wanted to leave anyway. Really? Yeah, 100%. I was saying I don't want to be here and this isn't fun, but I really wanted to stick it out for Sean. And I felt like at the same time it is hard in there, But this will be the only time that me and Sean will be in there without a phone in our own bubble.

33:00Paul C. Brunson:That's right.

33:01Lucinda Strafford:And you have to look at the positives of life as well. You know, you can't just think, oh, I don't get along with some people in here. Because in life, there are people that you don't get along with.

33:08Paul C. Brunson:Yes.

33:08Lucinda Strafford:And why would I let that ruin my experience?

33:11Paul C. Brunson:Yes.

33:11Lucinda Strafford:You know, so a part of me was thinking that. But that night was definitely my life. And the morning after. Have you seen that clip of you in the game? Running off

33:26Paul C. Brunson:Yeah, and the game and what was said

33:28Lucinda Strafford:Yeah

33:30Paul C. Brunson:Would you be comfortable if we Look at it, to get your opinion of it

33:35Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, perfect

33:35Paul C. Brunson:This is what the, to be honest

33:40Lucinda Strafford:Lucinda and Sean Lucinda, I think that you love the drama You love to get involved You love to start the part You'll be giggling about it It's a game being played here What have we been involved in that wasn't our business? F***ing everything, Sean. Leanne's situation. The re-goupling speech. Pie in the face to say. Pie in Sammy's face. Thank you, Belle. For a valid reason. For a valid reason. Pie's a pie at the end of the day. Right. I wish I'd love that again. I'd love to laugh. I'd love to laugh, babe. You know it weren't fun. Everyone knows it weren't funny. The only one that was laughing was you.

34:14Lucinda Strafford:I can't keep it straight. It's so lovely that you've come in here for the fourth time, Leeson, because I think you've shown your true colours of who you really are on the outside, and I'm happy that's being shown. That was just mean. It's true. It's just mean. You guys are just way too serious. Yeah, like genuinely. Get out. You need to go and have a tray or something. Like, this is too much. We've apologized to everyone. Did you apologize to me when you made me cry yesterday? What do you mean? You made me cry yesterday. This is what I mean. I don't know why I would. It's giving PR.

34:42Paul C. Brunson:Boring.

34:45Lucinda Strafford:I'll be right back. Hang on. Lucinda? No. Babe. Yeah, that was my hardest moment in there. That evening and the morning after. I remember the morning after that was the first time that I woke up and I felt like I genuinely had no one to smile to, you know? and it was better if I just stayed silent. I genuinely just didn't want to speak to anyone and I didn't want to talk because if I spoke, it was anything I do, you know?

35:23Paul C. Brunson:Was wrong.

35:24Lucinda Strafford:Was wrong.

35:25Paul C. Brunson:You may not know this, but that particular episode drew over 11 ,000 Ofcom complaints, which is one of the highest complaint tallies in the show's history. with many people saying that that was embarrassing and straight bully. Did you feel as if you were bullied? This is an interesting one because when one of the girls asked me,

35:54Lucinda Strafford:do you think you were bullied? I said no. A, because you're all standing there staring at me.

36:00Paul C. Brunson:Yes. And I'm not going to, I don't want to get into that right now, you know.

36:07Lucinda Strafford:And I was actually happy. we actually said we were all going to move past it that day and I was happy to move past it and not say yes then that's a whole other situation that would be going on I don't know whether I was bullied or not I mean I've never I don't think I've ever been properly bullied before so I wouldn't have anything to compare it to but I did feel on my own at times and I obviously was very very upset um whether it's bullying or not I mean if it's got that many Ofcom complaints um possibly I mean there was definitely a group of people in there that definitely didn't like me and whether I did one thing to someone else it was like they would all just stick up you know it was like a group you know what listen this could be a good

37:03Paul C. Brunson:teaching moment for you. Let's talk about what the definition of bullying is. Because it is a popular word that I think is thrown around sometimes appropriately, sometimes not appropriately. So bullying is when you have someone who has been antagonized typically multiple times, But that person is on the lower end of a power imbalance. So perhaps it is your junior to a boss or perhaps you are the only one of a large of a group. Right. Yeah. So there's a power imbalance plus being antagonized. That together makes bullying.

37:48Lucinda Strafford:Wow. Wow.

37:49Paul C. Brunson:So given that definition, do you believe you were bullied?

37:54Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's what it was. Yeah.

37:59Paul C. Brunson:Because if it's if there's no power imbalance, that's conflict.

38:04Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

38:04Paul C. Brunson:But the moment that there's a power imbalance, you switch to you are now being bullied.

38:11Lucinda Strafford:wow yeah yeah well that was exactly what it was it was like I had in that moment when I was talking to Maya I genuinely had no one to look look to at all apart from Sean there wasn't one single person in there that I felt like was my friend it was literally just Sean and even that night I went to sleep I didn't want to talk to anyone I woke up the next morning I looked around the bedroom and I was like there's no one to even talk to this isn't fun and I remember I went outside and I just cried my eyes out on my own but it wasn't showing because it was just outside the front door and um I got brought in and they said you can't you can't be out here on your own crying I mean the production was amazing and the welfare was amazing as well and I was just in the beach hut in my pyjamas and I was like, I genuinely do not want to go down there, not even into the girls' dressing room because it's awkward.

39:16Lucinda Strafford:And I remember I think I even walked into the girls' dressing room before sitting outside and I walked straight back out again because to face being with all of them in that room, I genuinely couldn't do it because it was like none of them, I felt like none of them liked me you know yeah that was the main thing and um yeah that was definitely the hardest moment in there thinking that none of the girls like you

39:47Paul C. Brunson:do you begin to think that wow and the public is going to feel the same way about yeah

39:53Lucinda Strafford:and that's when I was like I don't know whether being here is a right decision obviously I would never want to leave though because of Sean and it was just like that was just constantly going through my head and it was I would never I would never do that to Sean I would never want him to leave because of me so I was like you know what I'm going to try and enjoy this but it was proving really really difficult what do you think too because seeing when you look at

40:20Paul C. Brunson:that clip right you had already walked in but you after you walked in you saw that uh bell imitated your walk uh you heard someone else mention this is a pr stunt yeah what what's what's your response to that um they would never do that to my face and they never really did so

40:46Lucinda Strafford:So, you know, they did it when I was walking away. Obviously, I have seen that clip online and it's not nice whatsoever. I think that was where the line was. It was just getting completely out of control.

40:59Paul C. Brunson:Yeah.

40:59Lucinda Strafford:You know?

41:00Paul C. Brunson:Yeah. It was clear in that clip that it was many against you and Sean. Yeah. Sean was there by your side.

41:10Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, always. He just constantly had my back. Yes. And it was just like, that's what makes me like Sean so much. It's just like through thick or thin, he is just there.

41:23Paul C. Brunson:Yes.

41:25Lucinda Strafford:I'm starting to get emotional. It was just really difficult in there, you know? I feel like I've never had, like, girls talk like that about me ever.

41:43Lucinda Strafford:So it was just, it was hard. it was really hard um feeling like I had no one but I feel like with me is that I get I feel like I get overwhelmed and I can forget things really quickly as well so I feel like I would then wake up and want it to be like a new day like come on guys let's move forward let's not think about this anymore and it was just like a constant do you know what I mean yeah yeah it was a lot yeah you know and I think um I I you know quite honestly I can't even remember being in a situation where I felt like I was the only one yeah you know so that amount of pressure it's difficult it's like yeah and it was more as well in that moment I just didn't know and he i i just felt like i was just on my own with sean what what was not seen

42:45Paul C. Brunson:or not aired that that that that impacted you know that that made you feel lonely um

42:54Lucinda Strafford:i don't know what was seen and what wasn't but um there was times where like i spent a lot of time on my own so like I was in like the girls dressing room and I just remember there was like a scene I just remember I was like crying in there and I was like touching up my makeup and then the tea would come and I would touch up my makeup again but I don't know if that was seen I haven't seen any clips of it online one of the girls came up to me to tell me something and then a certain like another girl would shout her name and kind of cut off that conversation you know she would go like straight over to them does that make sense yes so I was back on my own sunbathing to keep you alone yeah but like bullying was never going through my head you know because I wouldn't ever think that I'm getting bullied you know so I never thought about it like that I just thought oh I just don't really get along with these group of girls I don't mind my own company to be honest so it wasn't like a big big deal and I love sunbathing so um win win so I didn't really think too much of it what about like food you know like you know because

44:16Paul C. Brunson:you have to eat during the day yeah so you would have to even if it's off camera would you eat with

44:22Lucinda Strafford:the other yeah yeah so off camera I would um normally sit next to Leanne and Helena okay yeah um I never there was moments where I'd go like days and days without talking to certain individuals in there because they kind of when I would when I'd be part of a conversation it would be like you know we we weren't talking to each other you know what I mean so this is

44:51Paul C. Brunson:That's interesting. I didn't know that. You went days without talking to certain people there.

44:56Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

44:57Paul C. Brunson:Wow. Yeah. Wow. Can I ask, there are a few more people that I want to go through, but even right now is looking at just the bell situation. Are you able to forgive her?

45:19Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. You are? I think I do forgive her. I do feel like I've got emotional intelligence where I don't really... I think there's a deeper thing with that, and I'm not here to obviously do that, but I feel like I do forgive her, and I hope that she's not angry anymore, you know?

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47:53Paul C. Brunson:Get started at Redfin.com. Own the dream. Can we talk about Sammy? Yeah. Okay. So Sammy is someone who you knew prior to coming into the villa.

48:11Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

48:11Paul C. Brunson:All right. What would you say your relationship with Sammy was before you got into the villa?

48:16Lucinda Strafford:So this is a really interesting one. um so i the whole relationship with sammy is that i knew of her she obviously did the show and then i saw a video of me at a plt event an event and people are posting that as part of the reason why we're really close which is not the case well that was we were basically strangers then um and then i remember i went to a trip with a brand to vegas together okay from start bottom i think the trip was about three days long vegas is about 11 hour flight yeah it was a hard trip it was like working like from i think we woke up at about five or six a.m in the morning and we We were up until about 2 a.m.

49:18Lucinda Strafford:at night shooting for this brand. It was crazy. So I went to Vegas, came back, felt like we didn't really properly get to know each other at Vegas because it was such a busy, busy trip. Sure. And then I actually went to the Brits, and I was with one of my friends in our hotel room. We stayed in a hotel together, and she said, Oh, Sammy's going to come in the hotel room. I'm friends with her. I said, Oh, perfect. And so we knew each other. We were chatting after the Brits. And then about a week later, a brand asked me to go to Tulum, to Mexico. He said, who would you like to bring? And I thought, oh, you know who would be perfect for that?

49:58Lucinda Strafford:Because I was also helping the brand out as well. I said, Sammy would be perfect. I'll message her. And Sammy said, absolutely, let's go. So that trip was about four days long. And we went to Tulum together. And we did have a really fun time. and that was it. And then obviously after the trip, we just stay in contact here, there and then that faded away.

50:21Paul C. Brunson:So was that the moment though when you chose Kieran? You think that's really what created that divide between the two of you?

50:29Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

50:29Paul C. Brunson:Okay. And obviously with Belle and Sean,

50:36Lucinda Strafford:it was like Belle and Sammy then kind of, you know?

50:40Paul C. Brunson:Yeah. yeah yeah yeah you know with with with sammy was she one of the cast members that you would go days without yeah yeah so she wouldn't speak to you you wouldn't speak to her for days that's incredible i didn't know that you could do that in the villa neither did i neither did i but i was i got used to

51:03Lucinda Strafford:at points, you know.

51:05Paul C. Brunson:Yeah. How many days did you go without speaking to Sammy?

51:10Lucinda Strafford:Days. It got to a point where, so me and Sammy were getting ready next to each other. So our dressing tables were next to each other. And even to the point that if like my makeup bag was like two inches to maybe her side, she'd go, Lucinda, can you please move that? I'd go, yeah. And it was like, that was the only time we'd really speak. You know? And I always tried to kind of like, you know, speak. I feel like we, mine and Sammy's relationship, friendship was very kind of like, actually it was never up. It was always just like normal. And then dips when I had an argument with Belle or something happened with Belle.

52:01Lucinda Strafford:Okay. And then obviously there were certain things that happened to me and so it would always dip. And then it would dip for a long period of time. And then it would kind of go back to normal. But I knew that it was very frickle when it was normal. It was never going to be up there. You know?

52:16Paul C. Brunson:Yes. Yes. Yeah. I guess, you know, is it that, you know, some people, at least I've experienced this, where there's some people that I realize I'll never be close with them.

52:27Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

52:28Paul C. Brunson:You know, at best we're going to be, not even friends, we're going to be associates at best. Yeah. Do you feel like that's the situation with Sami?

52:34Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. And I think Sami does have a good heart. And I think we are just completely different people. Fair. I think that is just the way to put it. I did try and apologize to Sami that evening, I think it was. and she really, really didn't, she was not having it. And it continued that way. And I think I tried to apologise to her the next day, still not having it. It was like, it was absolutely, this pie was absolutely not, yeah, she wasn't going to forgive me, ever.

53:18Paul C. Brunson:This is my perception, so I'm not saying this is the audience.

53:20Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, 100%. But I feel as if you walked in there and the perception was that Lucinda, she's a villain. Yeah.

53:29Paul C. Brunson:Like, she's a villain, you know? She could be a supervillain out here, right? But then, as the series went on, the perception changed to, wow, you know, she could be a victim with what's happening. And the perpetrators of that victim could be Belle, it could be Sammy, etc. but from their side perhaps they could be thinking no we were just edited poorly yeah so what's your response if their position is they were edited poorly i would be interested to know what what exam examples they've got of that i guess i don't I don't know what they would mean by that.

54:18Lucinda Strafford:I'm actually happy for the editing because I got to see everything that she was doing behind my back, actually. Because I don't have eyes behind my head, so I can't see her doing certain things, obviously. I know that we're not going to be friends.

54:36Lucinda Strafford:I think I'm saying this now after seeing the exit interviews as well.

54:40Paul C. Brunson:So it's raw.

54:42Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

54:42Paul C. Brunson:If we are thinking about Sammy, there's one clip in particular that got a lot of attention. That was even referred to from the previous that we saw. And it is the pie clip. Yeah. Can we take a look at it? Yeah. Okay.

55:01Lucinda Strafford:Might quickly go check on the girls a sec.

55:04Paul C. Brunson:Oh. Oh, God.

55:06Lucinda Strafford:I can't even hardly watch this.

55:10Paul C. Brunson:You can't look at it.

55:14Lucinda Strafford:Because I just know what it's been like in line with this pie. I had no idea it was all going... that it would be such a pillockable moment in the whole entire show.

55:27Paul C. Brunson:And why do you think it's become that? And also, if you can... For anyone who's not familiar, it's pie... Mary...

55:37Lucinda Strafford:Snog, Mary, pie.

55:39Paul C. Brunson:Snog, Mary, pie. There you go. Thank you.

55:40Lucinda Strafford:I had no idea when I pied Sammy that that would be something I would be talking about for weeks. And I wish that was an exaggeration. I think even on the last, we did this like last supper and we were all sat having dinner. And it was even brought up then. And I was thinking this, if I knew it would be going on for this long. To me, it was the reason why I hired Sammy was because she had... Like, she was quite opinionated with the whole Sean thing. And I felt like she was never really there for me, really, through that whole thing. And I kind of wanted to prove her wrong, you know, and be like, oh, me and Sean are...

56:33Lucinda Strafford:I would never, I actually said after I said, I would never make another girl upset just for why not, you know, me and Sean do have a really good connection and I can't wait to prove you're wrong. You know, that was the reason why I applied her and I genuinely thought it was going to be more of a, and maybe this is where I need to be slightly more serious because I thought it'd be more of like a, okay, prove me wrong situation or like maybe a bit annoyed for a couple of days. but I didn't think it would be going on for that long. It was literally like weeks and weeks.

57:14Paul C. Brunson:Can we, can I show you another clip?

57:18Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

57:18Paul C. Brunson:Now I have an opinion, but I'm going to hold my opinion until after.

57:22Lucinda Strafford:Okay.

57:23Paul C. Brunson:And this is a clip, I think this is with Jessie.

57:26Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

57:27Paul C. Brunson:Okay. So this is someone else, but she's talking about your personality.

57:31Lucinda Strafford:Yeah. Okay. You know you love to rage bait. You throw a little something in there whenever you think there's going to be a little fire. I don't physically rage bait to piss people off, and I don't actually rage bait. But don't put a lie to you, Cindy. I think you do. I know you from the outside. I've not been to know you in a long time. But I think that you're a lot smarter than whether you like to be perceived or you come across because you do like... I can blame myself, Diane. I know, but I think you're smart. No, I think you're underestimated. This is a compliment, but also in the sense that I think that, you know when you do the baby voice, it's like, well, why did it do...

58:09Lucinda Strafford:So you think I'm doing that baby voice on purpose? It's the way I... I know. I'm not here to fucking explain the way I am. Where did this stem from? That come from Jessie Pullman Lucinda, and I don't know why... But I don't understand why Jessie's the one to... It doesn't make any sense. Why is Jessie the one? My reference has kind of nothing to do with you. What are the situations you've been involved in Lucinda? I've been really sat back on it. This is literally about me.

58:32Paul C. Brunson:She's looking at us. This is what I'm doing on here.

58:34Lucinda Strafford:I don't know who you're looking at, because all these people will probably agree with me over you right now. I'm looking at her. This is when I check out.

58:40Paul C. Brunson:Oh, this, okay.

58:41Lucinda Strafford:Because you can speak to me if you want to, and I'm not feeling like you. It's just like, this is where I walk away. I'm trying to be here for you. If you want to be like that, then that's on you. Do you, babe?

58:51Paul C. Brunson:Three things from that clip I want to pick up on. Yeah. Rage baiting, baby voice, but then also what Jessie said. a lot of people here would agree with me right so basically saying you're wrong we're all right

59:04Lucinda Strafford:when actually they were saying the opposite which they showed they were saying what what's going on

59:10Paul C. Brunson:why is she doing that you know yes all right so let's start with baby voice yeah all right yeah so this is this this has now come up a few times what's your response to Lucinda on the and the baby voice is is this something you do or don't do it's just something I've always done my whole

59:33Lucinda Strafford:life obviously I wouldn't do it now with you you'd like to think that but I just I've done it my whole life and it's actually really funny I've been home for um about 24 hours now and I saw my friends yesterday and they actually said watching that show you were more yourself than we've ever seen before yes you were obviously so comfortable and saying your silly things your control deletes and your baby voice and this that the other you could tell that you are obviously being yourself and

1:00:07Paul C. Brunson:that's probably because of sean you know yes um so you're here on the record saying you do the baby voice yeah and you stand by it and there's nothing wrong with it yeah all right a hundred percent

1:00:20Lucinda Strafford:And I'm sorry, more people do the baby voice than they think, you know?

1:00:27Paul C. Brunson:Can I say, what do you think my response is to the baby voice? What do you think I'm going to say? You think I stand?

1:00:35Lucinda Strafford:You think it's, yeah, you think it's like normal. Not normal. Maybe not quite as normal.

1:00:41Paul C. Brunson:No, no, but do you think I think it's normal?

1:00:43Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:00:44Paul C. Brunson:It is 1 ,000 % normal.

1:00:48Lucinda Strafford:Is it?

1:00:49Paul C. Brunson:This is what I got frustrated with with this clip. And whenever I've seen people say, oh, listen to talks in this baby voice. So there is something called communication accommodation.

1:01:00Lucinda Strafford:Oh, okay.

1:01:01Paul C. Brunson:Now, do you know what this is? This is something that 50 to 80 % of people do.

1:01:07Lucinda Strafford:No way.

1:01:08Paul C. Brunson:What it means is that when we are in conversation with people, different people, we change our pitch of our voice. We change the tone. We change the pacing. and women typically go up in pitch and go up into almost this baby voice, you know, sound.

1:01:27Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:01:28Paul C. Brunson:And talk a little bit faster.

1:01:30Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:01:31Paul C. Brunson:You know what men typically do?

1:01:32Lucinda Strafford:What?

1:01:33Paul C. Brunson:They go low and they start to get real slow in their voice. This is something that we almost all of us do at a certain point in time. And so I guess what I see when I see this is I say, yeah, she was doing the baby. And that's what most people do. They change their voice. This is what they do. Communication accommodation. So I'm with you on this. Especially when you're in an actual relationship with someone in there that you really actually like. Exactly.

1:02:10Lucinda Strafford:All my friends do that with their boyfriends as well. It's just like, I don't know what it is. It's just, I'm just being myself. I'm not thinking about like the cameras and stuff. I'm literally just talking, having a conversation with Sean and just really kind of like being the way I am. I don't know. I've always kind of done that.

1:02:30Paul C. Brunson:I'm with you on this. But now let's go to, are you a rage baiter?

1:02:35Lucinda Strafford:I need to know the definition of rage baiting because I feel like I don't do things to annoy people on purpose. All right.

1:02:46Paul C. Brunson:So I will give you the definition.

1:02:48Lucinda Strafford:Okay.

1:02:49Paul C. Brunson:It is that you are specifically doing things. It could be in what you say or what you post, right? Yeah. Or what you signal to encourage the emotion of anger or fear and then the feeling from that is rage.

1:03:06Lucinda Strafford:No.

1:03:06Paul C. Brunson:So you're saying that you don't do this?

1:03:09Lucinda Strafford:Absolutely not.

1:03:10Paul C. Brunson:Okay.

1:03:10Lucinda Strafford:I do not. I don't want people to be angry or fearful or anything like that. That's absolutely not. I'd never do anything to create anger from anyone. What do you think?

1:03:27Paul C. Brunson:Well, one is I'm just really getting to know you now. Now, I think the number one, my number one takeaway so far from the conversation is I think you're misunderstood. I find that the response to you is really interesting because, you know, you are 26. You're a young woman. I think you're just now coming into your identity and who you are. and the most profound thing that you've told me today truly is that you walked into this villa feeling whole when you feel whole your voice becomes strong but it's that internal voice of who you are like you stand on business when you really know who you are and you love yourself i think you walked into this villa for the first time on television and you were you and when you are bold in who you are and unapologetic and uncompromising a lot of people are not going to like that a lot of people won't but you know what that's life yeah that's it doesn't matter because as long as you like you the people who are attracted to that boldness and that confidence will be attracted and it seems like that's exactly what happened with Sean yeah yeah so that's that's my interpretation so far yeah that's interesting

1:04:53Lucinda Strafford:god i didn't actually think of all like the deep complex i just thought i was really upset in there you know what i mean and now i've come out and i'm like whoa oh yeah yeah there's there's layers

1:05:05Paul C. Brunson:to it they're 100 there's layers to it there's always layers to it can can we talk about some other folks yes all right can we talk about let's let's talk about millie yes all right so So Millie is someone who you mentioned you knew her prior to.

1:05:21Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:05:22Paul C. Brunson:Then you come into the villa. You kind of rekindle. It seems as if she really stayed by your side as your sister.

1:05:34Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:05:38Lucinda Strafford:Millie has always been an older sister to me. When we were best friends, we were really super close. she was always a big sister role you know um before we stepped into the love island uk villa almost five years ago she said how old are you i said i'm 21 and she said she was 24 she said i'll be your big sister in here chloe actually came in and we all became the naughty trio which people loved okay because um chloe's treaded on toes and coming back into love island and all stars it was really nice because it was like we just picked up where we left off and um it felt really nice to always have her and I genuinely felt like the whole time when I was in there I could go to her about anything you know and she'll give the honest opinion yes it seems

1:06:31Paul C. Brunson:like it was what will you say Millie and Sean that really got you through this yeah yeah really

1:06:39Lucinda Strafford:Brady did. All right.

1:06:42Paul C. Brunson:If you've made it this far, I know you're loving the conversation. So please do me one small favor. Hit that bell icon. Join our community. Thank you. So, Sean, the quick thing that I just want to say or ask you about Sean is, do you believe that you are in love with Sean?

1:07:07Lucinda Strafford:Yes. Yeah, I think I, at the beginning, I didn't say I love you back straight away. And that caused a bit of something I've seen. And to be totally honest, I definitely could have said it. But I wanted to wait and just, I don't know. I think as a girl, you just want like another really cute special time. You can wait a little bit. But I definitely could have said it, you know.

1:07:37Paul C. Brunson:Okay, so you felt it.

1:07:38Lucinda Strafford:I felt it. there was so many times even before then I kept wanting to say it and I just stopped and I think what I have with Sean is like I've never experienced anything like it before in my life like it's just so like I don't even know how to even explain it like I genuinely feel like he is like the male version of me but in the best way possible okay um as in we've got quite similar We're very similar with like our humor and the way that we are. But also at the same time, he sticks up for me. He is just so loyal. Like he's really loyal. And I feel like, yeah, I just can't believe that I met someone like him on the show.

1:08:24Lucinda Strafford:I kept saying to the producers, where the hell have you found him from?

1:08:26Paul C. Brunson:I'm so happy. Yeah. Well, it's incredible. You know, too, to think that that's the reason why you came, why you went on the show and then boom, you find Sean. When you think about, so this is your fourth time in a Love Island. You've left with others before. Yeah. What makes Sean different than the other Love Islanders that you've paired off with?

1:08:55Lucinda Strafford:Sean is genuine. That is like the main thing. He doesn't want clout. He doesn't want all of that coming with it. He is just genuine. And he just genuinely loves me. You know?

1:09:15Paul C. Brunson:Yes. I mean, to the point where I've seen some people comment to say, he may love you more than you love him.

1:09:22Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:09:22Paul C. Brunson:What's your thought on that? I think, I mean, I don't know who loves who more. Fair. There is something that I want to share with you.

1:09:38Paul C. Brunson:I just want to say, I am so, so proud of you.

1:09:41Lucinda Strafford:I absolutely love you to bits. I literally cannot believe we met in a villa and we've got a life outside of it now. It is crazy. But you are the best person in the world. Honestly, how do you carry yourself? You're a role model, your inspiration. never ever changed for anyone your funny, ditzy, clever self I absolutely love you to bits you absolutely smashed it in there and I am so excited to meet all your friends and family and give them all a big hug and I just want to say I'm so proud of you and you should be so proud of yourself, literally can't even put it into words but I love you lots and I'll see you soon Stop!

1:10:19I'm so so proud of you Oh!

1:10:25Lucinda Strafford:He is just the best.

1:10:29Paul C. Brunson:Who is that?

1:10:31Lucinda Strafford:That's my boyfriend. That's my boyfriend. That's your boyfriend.

1:10:36Paul C. Brunson:That's big. That's a big statement.

1:10:38Lucinda Strafford:That is big. But he is just genuinely... I've never met anyone like him before in my life. And on this show, the one big red flag that I've realised, coming on that show or coming on love island is that a lot of boys are not genuine a lot you're saying that are on reality tv shows yeah well yeah probably reality tv shows but with my experience it's went on love island a couple of guys that i've dated from love island are just they're not it's not a genuine thing it's it's giving i don't know what on earth it's giving But it's like you just think that they just want all of the fame, maybe. Sure.

1:11:31Lucinda Strafford:And the high insights and stuff. But he is like completely the opposite.

1:11:41Paul C. Brunson:I heard he's picking you up after this.

1:11:45Lucinda Strafford:He's picking me up.

1:11:46Paul C. Brunson:There you go. He's picking you up. And then where are you two going after this?

1:11:50Lucinda Strafford:We're going to my house in Brighton.

1:11:52Paul C. Brunson:Look at that.

1:11:53Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:11:53Paul C. Brunson:To meet your? To meet my family. Oh, wow. So he's going to meet your family tonight? Yeah. This is big.

1:11:59Lucinda Strafford:He's meeting like my whole entire family, all my friends.

1:12:02Paul C. Brunson:This is big.

1:12:03Lucinda Strafford:This is big deal, but they obviously absolutely love him.

1:12:07Paul C. Brunson:Yes. You know, I have a very transparent thing that I want to tell you. so I have been doing reality tv for a long time in the dating genre and I have begun to feel as you just mentioned about feeling a bit saddened by how few people are actually joining reality tv shows looking for love I completely agree yeah I think it is it's much harder for people casting now because it makes sense that people want to build up a profile, but you also should be on a dating program looking for love. It's becoming harder and harder and harder. So when I see a couple form on a reality dating show, I normally look at them as a skeptic.

1:13:03Paul C. Brunson:So seeing you and Sean, I can't say that I was on the, okay, this is real, real.

1:13:10Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:13:11Paul C. Brunson:But truly. Sitting here, listening to the words you've used, looking at your expression. You use words like, I feel seen by him. I feel safe with him. Right? Looking at your expression, I can see you are in love with this guy. Like you truly are. Yeah. And I believe he is in love with you. Yeah. And for that, I'm so happy for the book.

1:13:37Lucinda Strafford:Oh, thank you. Yeah, it's beautiful.

1:13:39Paul C. Brunson:And when you got your phone back, was he with you?

1:13:41Lucinda Strafford:He was, yeah, I was petrified getting my phone back, honestly. And I remember I was on the phone to a psych who was absolutely amazing. Like this woman that works for Love Island and ITV, she is amazing. And she put things into perspective for me a little bit. But I remember I was telling her I am just absolutely petrified, genuinely, because at that point I didn't know anything. I knew that there was times where I was obviously felt very isolated in there. I felt slightly on my own at times. Could that be the same on the outside? You know?

1:14:28Paul C. Brunson:And now that you've seen the reaction, what's your response?

1:14:31Lucinda Strafford:I am just genuinely happy that people understand me and kind of get my personality and get my humour as well and kind of understand it. it was very overwhelming in the in in a good way in a good way but not in a smug way at all it's kind of like in a way that it's like that's really nice you know that people see that so we have a

1:15:04Paul C. Brunson:another surprise there's lots of surprises is uh i've loved this podcast with all the surprises oh my gosh we have that video of sean winner right winner he's the best so i we have community questions. So we reached out to the community, to the We Need to Talk community, and said, hey, we've got Lucinda coming in. What questions do you have? So we have questions from them. These will be good. These are going to be quick and good. Let's see. I will reach in. Let me see. Let me see what we got. Okay. Lucinda, do you think some Islanders treat it more like a career move than others?

1:15:46Lucinda Strafford:Yes. I'm not naming names.

1:15:50Paul C. Brunson:Okay. No T-T, just T.

1:15:54Lucinda Strafford:Yes.

1:15:55Paul C. Brunson:Okay. All right. Next one. Why do you think it'll work with Sean when your past Love Island relationships haven't lasted very long? Okay.

1:16:07Lucinda Strafford:I think it will last with Sean. Well, a lot of reasons. Obviously, I touched on the fact that I think he's really genuine. There was a lot of early red flags that I ignored in my previous relationships that I haven't had this time at all. I haven't had any red flags.

1:16:24Paul C. Brunson:Okay. All right. Next one is, there's rumors that you've been dating while on Love Island. Give us the tea.

1:16:36Lucinda Strafford:Okay. This is absolutely not true. um this has been an ongoing rumor for a long time and it's actually about one of my friends um I haven't actually spoken to him in a long time but um I work closely with his brand and people keep saying that we're dating and this that and the other and that is just absolutely not the case like we're genuinely just friends and there's even a picture of me on in Tulum and that was literally on a brand trip and it's like people are taking things out and out of context context yeah it's like they had an argument on a beach in tulum and i was actually filming a tiktok and he was helping me film it and i um the phone ran out of charge whilst i was mid-filming this TikTok and I was annoyed that the that the TikTok got deleted.

1:17:39Paul C. Brunson:Ah okay.

1:17:40Lucinda Strafford:And it's like people are saying oh they've gotten this argument because they're dating and it's like he's nothing but a work friend and it's just like what on earth is going on you know.

1:17:50Paul C. Brunson:Yeah so all right so you're putting that to bed. Absolutely. Never dated never never you weren't dating on Love Island And currently, Sean is your only exclusive. You're not in an ethical, non-monogamous relationship with anybody, Lucinda?

1:18:06Lucinda Strafford:Yeah, no, I'm absolutely not doing that.

1:18:08Paul C. Brunson:Okay. All right. Good deal. Oh, wow. Okay. What really happened between you and Chloe Burroughs? You seemed really close before. Full disclosure, I know Chloe.

1:18:20Lucinda Strafford:Oh, do you? Yes, I do. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Chloe's hilarious. and we just basically distanced ourselves from each other. And that was it. I feel like it wasn't a major, major deep thing that people are making out and I've seen some crazy rumours. And I just wanna say here that I have not been with anyone's ex or kissed anyone's ex or flirted with anyone's ex. That's absolutely not the case. I've seen like some wild rumours. but I I moved to so I live in Brighton and when they moved together in Essex it just eventually just distanced you know

1:19:04Paul C. Brunson:yes yes yes fair enough next one is tell us honestly do you low key enjoy being the centre of the drama

1:19:17Lucinda Strafford:I don't think I low key love being the centre of the drama but I think I genuinely think my personality for some reason is just something especially on Love Island in my personal life it is not this dramatic whatsoever and I was telling Sean that I said by the way it's gonna be boring yeah it's pretty boring I spend time with my family my mum my brothers, my cousins and my friends and I live in a little village near Brighton and it's very just chill and it's like when you go into something like Love Island there's all these big personalities sometimes you do find yourself the centre of drama and it's not the fact that I love it it's more the fact that it just it just comes to me in that kind of environment you know.

1:20:07Paul C. Brunson:Now I have one final question every guest gets it okay it is my favorite question okay you have had listened to some incredible conversations throughout your life which conversation stands out as the most memorable so who was it with and what did you learn ever ever in my life in your life in your 26 years of being on this planet stop yes yes which one stands out okay top of the top i need

1:20:43Lucinda Strafford:to think about that stop it really seriously okay this is really seriously happening yes i need to

1:20:52Paul C. Brunson:concentrate for a second okay all right i will say focus okay um i remember speaking to my

1:21:03Lucinda Strafford:Nana when she was passing away and she was just saying like how proud of, proud she was of me and that she thinks I'll go far and just live my life to the fullest and I think that's, that is, that sticks with me a lot. I feel like also just conversations with my mum, My mum I look up to so much and I feel like she genuinely, the words that she speaks to me and everything, she always uplifts me and she's always just the best. But I just can't think of one certain conversation with my mum.

1:21:44Paul C. Brunson:I mean, but the one with your mum, the one with your grandmother, I think that's beautiful. How old were you when you had a conversation with your grandmother?

1:21:51Lucinda Strafford:I was 13. Wow. Wow. Yeah.

1:21:55Paul C. Brunson:Wow. What do you think your grandmother would think of you now?

1:21:59Lucinda Strafford:I think she would be so proud of the woman I've become, honestly. I think she would be so proud of me and she would be, she would be fighting my corner like Sean, you know? Yes.

1:22:18Paul C. Brunson:You know what? Listen, I think you're super. I think that you have grown so much just in the five years, you know, that you've been on my radar.

1:22:27Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:22:28Paul C. Brunson:And I believe truly that your voice is going to continue to become bolder and bolder. And that, to me, is what life is all about. It's about like we fight so hard to identify who we are, then feel comfortable in who we are, then fall in love with who we are. and I feel like you are finally at this place where you are falling in love with who you are.

1:22:59Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:22:59Paul C. Brunson:And that is beautiful. That's beautiful.

1:23:02Lucinda Strafford:Yeah.

1:23:02Paul C. Brunson:Yeah.

1:23:03Lucinda Strafford:Wow.

1:23:04Paul C. Brunson:Thank you. Thank you. Lucinda. I didn't realize how hard a time Lucinda had in the villa. You could see that Sean definitely was a saving grace for her, but also Millie was as well. I believe many people are unsure about what bullying actually means and could be being bullied but are unaware. And when we're able to discuss that definition, you could see clearly that from Lucinda's perspective, she was being bullied. I know there will be people that say, come on, Paul, this is ridiculous. No, it's not. I will debate you every day of the week if you can tell me with a straight face that you have never modified your voice.

1:24:01Paul C. Brunson:Tone, pitch, pace. If you've never modified your voice, then come see me. But we all have. We all do it. We're trying to, you know, increase attraction. And so the fact that Lucinda will switch on a baby voice, I have no issue with that. I've probably changed my voice five times this week.

1:24:26Lucinda Strafford:On Love Island, I feel like Harry was gaslighting other people. We could all see what he was doing.

1:24:31Paul C. Brunson:Are you in love with him?

1:24:33Lucinda Strafford:Shut the f*** up! You haven't got a halo around your head either. Going through high school, the beauty standard was blonde, blue eyes, He's thick tan, and I was right at the bottom of the barrel. And I really, really, really liked the boy. It was my first kiss. But he was, like, racist. He went to EDL March, and then there was a great shift. In beauty standards...

1:24:57Paul C. Brunson:What are you thinking you'll do?

1:24:58Lucinda Strafford:I wanted to go on Love Island. North South Asian female has been on that show and not been booted off. That might have helped insecure little me. That might have seen someone who looks remotely like me

1:25:08Paul C. Brunson:from the media. So these are the main characters in Shakira's world.

1:25:13Lucinda Strafford:Meg, we didn't see eye to eye. Ben, it was a difficult concept for him to understand. He wasn't what I was looking for. And Harry, that's my villa fella.

1:25:23Paul C. Brunson:That's your villa fella.

1:25:24Lucinda Strafford:Um.

1:25:25Paul C. Brunson:Was there actually a divide?

1:25:27Lucinda Strafford:I was crying to my chaperone. I'm not going to be anyone's type. They're going to fancy the blue-eyed blondies. It's going to be like high school all over again.

1:25:36Paul C. Brunson:You left as one of the most followed Love Islanders. You came in second place. Shakira, you are very impressive on Love Island. Is there any moment the audience didn't see that might surprise them?