A new group of 12 virgins landed on our screens last night (27 April) as Virgin Island returned for a second season.
While once again met by some criticism and controversy, its participants continue to speak highly of the show – slamming any suggestion they are being ‘exploited’.
It’s fair to say last year’s group had their lives changed by the experience, having left Virgin Island with a new-found confidence in themselves and feeling more comfortable with intimacy.
Of course, one of the lads, Dave, ended up having sex on the show with surrogate Kat Slade.
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And while some of his cast mates may remain virgins a year later (although they’re dating and ‘working on it;), one of the others is now expecting their first child with their partner.
Dave
The aforementioned accountant was the only participant to lose his virginity on Virgin Island last year.
Speaking during a special reunion with some of the cast, he explained that before the experience he felt like he was ‘in a really dark room and I didn't know where I was going’.
But now, he’s found a ‘tiny little torch’ and despite ‘stubbing his toe’ occasionally, knows there’s a ‘light switch’ somewhere.
Dave ended up in a relationship with a woman he met on Hinge that he says he’d never ‘have been able to talk’ to without the show.
“I was desperate before the show and I was getting in any relationship I could before the show,” he said. “I’ve learnt to not force it with someone I’m not happy with. I have had relationships with amazing people and I never would have had them without the show.”
Taylor
During the show, the receptionist’s journey saw her come out as gay.
And since then, she’s been dating but isn’t in a relationship.
“Despite my best efforts, I haven’t met the right person yet” she explained, which is still part of the great progress she has made, gaining so much confidence. “I hope I'll get to the stage where I'm dating and having a nice time that way. Hopefully at one point I will pop this cherry.”
Ben
Following his time on the show, Ben was outspoken about his experience in a bid to help clear some of the stigma around being an adult virgin.
The oldest participant of season one, he sometimes shares his interactions with women on social media and keeps a spreadsheet of his romantic life.
While he’s still yet to have sex, he’s said he has been ‘a little intimate’ with one woman which he wouldn’t have done before.
Emma
Having had a brief fling with cast member Viraj, Emma has since said she’s not in the current mindset for a relationship but has somewhat explored intimacy.
She’s dated a bit but hasn’t had anything serious but says she’s ‘not rushing’ while she’s ‘less afraid.
“I’ve had a couple of other situations since the show. Nothing serious. But I’m definitely less afraid now. I’m not rushing. I’ve waited this long, right?”
She’s spent most of her time since the show travelling, sharing plenty of stunning pictures as she has grown in self confidence.
Viraj
He’s also been travelling since his experience and recently shared a video to slam negative comments on Virgin Island.
“My goal was to work on my confidence, to work on my social skills, and just feeling okay being me around women,” he explained.
“And honestly the experience changed me. I've come out of my shell so much more and I feel way more confident. I feel like I can open myself up very well and that growth, whatever that was that I did on the island, it changed me and I can't thank the therapists enough for those one-to-one workshops. It changed me massively."
Jason
Jason may have joked that he would leave the show a ‘sex god’, he hasn’t yet had sex.
However, he’s come leaps and bounds since being fearful of even just lightly touching another person on Virgin Island.
His dating life might be ‘non-existent’, but Jason is ‘working on it’ and has much more body confidence.
He said: “My life now, I am more confident. I can hold a conversation. When the time does come to do the deed I won't be scared.”
Holly
Perhaps the biggest change in life out of all of last year’s cast, Holly is now expecting her first daughter with her boyfriend.
She confirmed after leaving the show that she’d lost her virginity, saying that while it ‘wasn’t perfect’, she didn’t regret it.
Her Instagram bio reads ‘decided to start being hot again’ and in early February, she confirmed she was pregnant with a baby, expected in August.
Therapist from the show, Danielle Harel commented: “Wow, this is amazing! Congratulations, sweetie!”
Topics: Virgin Island, TV and Film
Jess Battison