Former Love Island star Megan Barton Hanson has come out as bisexual and opened up about her sexuality.

Speaking in a new interview, the reality star said that she feels "deeper connections" with women. She also revealed that she previously auditioned unsuccessfully for Love Island in 2017, and thinks being open about her bisexuality "put them off" casting her.

"I just felt like I needed to get with a guy because society said so but after the shit I've been through, I just want to see how it goes with a woman," she told The Sun.

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"I first fell in love with a girl when I was 16, but it wasn't even in a sexual way. I never saw her just in that way, but we'd like hang out, and one thing led to another.

"We would do everything together. I found her more and more attractive, and not even the way she looked, just like the way she was in general."

She added: "I've slept with girls, but I've never had long term romances with girls. It's not just a sexual thing for me, I feel like I have a deeper connection with women...

"I think long-term I would get with a woman, but it's hard. I really want kids, so that's something I'd need to look into when the time comes."

ITV

Speaking of her Love Island auditions Megan claimed: "I was super open and said I feel like I'm more into girls, but I think that's what put them off [in 2017]."

Of her 2018 audition, she added: "In Love Island I already felt I had a stigma attached to me because of being a stripper. I didn't want to like add to it by revealing I like girls as well!

"But now I feel like everyone has accepted that and to be honest, I don't care what people think. I'm 25, I want to find someone, maybe not the one, but the one for now."

Digital Spy has reached out to Love Island for comment.

ITV

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Talking about what she's looking for in a potential partner, Megan said: "I want to find someone to travel with and enjoy life with, so I feel like I just need to be a bit brave now and say it how it is.

"It's so easy to let fear of people's opinions stop you from being true to yourself."

Megan also revealed that having previously felt pressured "by society", she's decided to come out now because people can still be judgmental about sexual identity.

"If it's right, you've got one life, live it, enjoy life," she said. "Just live. Although we're much more open-minded and less judgmental now, there is still a lot of judging around people's sexuality.

"If you have any type of platform I think it's important to use it for people who don't have a voice.

"There's a lot of people who fear they can't come out – but the more it's spoken about the more it becomes less of a thing."

Megan was coupled-up with Wes Nelson during Love Island last year, though the pair split up earlier this year. She'll next be seen on the new series of Celebs Go Dating.

Love Island returns on Monday, June 3 on ITV2, and you can catch up on the show via ITV Hub.

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