Roxanne Pallett didn't think she would ever "smile again" after her controversial 'Celebrity Big Brother' stint, but she now feels "bulletproof" after claiming to be the "most hated woman in Britain".
Roxanne Pallett
The former 'Emmerdale' actress was booted off the show early in 2018 after she wrongly accused fellow housemate Ryan Thomas of assaulting her, saying he hit her "like a boxer would punch a bag", but two years on the ex-'Waterloo Road' star insisted she has "rebooted [her] life" and has a "healthier perspective on what's important" after quitting show business.
She said: "It all fell through for me and I never thought I'd smile again or leave my house without my hood up. It's taken a long time and a lot of strength, but I've rebooted my life and I think so much more clearly.
"I think taking a step away from showbiz has been the biggest saving grace for me as it's brought better people into my life and given me a healthier perspective on what's important.
"Before, that would have floored me, but now I'm bulletproof. I used to feel sick or cry but now I feel sorry for those people who still target me. They must be struggling to carry that much hostility."
Roxanne even admitted she feels "grateful for all that went wrong" because she is now living her "best life".
She said: "I've met the love of my life and I feel mentally stronger. I truly believe all the negativity I went through pushed me to this point.
"In a way, I'm grateful for all that went wrong, even though it was brutal. It was worth all the heartache because now I'm living my best life."
Following the 'CBB' incident - which resulted in 27,000 complaints to Ofcom - the 37-year-old star left the UK for the US, and Roxanne says she can "understand" why Prince Harry and his wife Duchess Meghan quit the UK for Canada recently.
She added to Closer magazine: "I didn't feel welcome in England. I was hounded, ridiculed and vilified for over a year. I felt like the country was against me.
"For a long time, I felt exiled and was being told to disappear by online bullies. In a way, I can understand why Meghan left. I'm so happy she's had the inner strength to say, "I'm not happy here, let's make a change.
"I'd encourage anyone who is going through a tough time to have faith that things can turn around as they have for me."
In January, Roxanne married New York firefighter Jason Carrion after a whirlwind engagement, and she "urged him" to research her online because she wanted to be "completely honest" after "years of pretending".
He popped the question in November and the pair tied the knot at Lutheran Evangelical Church on January 26th in front of a handful of close friends and family, who all vowed to keep the ceremony a secret.
Tagged in Ryan Thomas