WHEN IT CAME to this year’s Love Island, there’s no doubt that Megan Barton Hanson was one of the most-discussed islanders.

Within both mainstream and social media, Megan’s appearance, demeanour and interaction with fellow islanders dominated discussion over the course of the show’s eight-week run.

And after less than a week out of the villa, the 24-year-old took to Instagram to discuss the narrative which tends to surround women in the public eye.

In a heartfelt post which was uploaded yesterday, Megan alluded to the criticism which was levelled at her during her time on the ITV2 show.

Alongside an image featuring a Madeleine Albright quote, the Essex-native addressed the articles born of her participation in the reality TV show.

Today I really feel that I need to address some of the stories out there about me on behalf of women in general. I support all women, regardless of the choices they make about what they do with their bodies. My dad always told me unless you’ve walked in someone’s shoes then don’t judge them.

Megan urged her followers to counteract the ‘vilification’ of women in the media by supporting women on their respective paths.

It’s 2018 and it’s time we stopped allowing the vilification of women in the media. Thank you to all of the amazing women that have and continue to follow my journey. Your messages of support mean so much to me.

A post shared by Megan Barton-Hanson (@meganbartonhanson_) on Aug 5, 2018 at 3:34am PDT

Explaining that she is simply striving to make a better life for herself and her family, Megan insisted she wouldn’t allow media coverage to chip away at her confidence.

I won’t allow stories like these to stop me from be a free thinking, confident, independent young woman striving to make a better life for myself and my family.

Megan’s post has amassed almost a quarter of a million likes in less than a day, with Love Island host, Caroline Flack, praising her for it during Love Island: The Reunion show.

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