Irish Love Is Blind star Sabrina Egerton has opened up about her “devastating year” since being on the show.

The Belfast-born star married Steven Smith on the show and while the pair were seen to be a match made in heaven, they later announced they had split up after 86 days of marriage.

Speaking one year on from being on the show, Sabrina said the last 12 months have been “one of the darkest she has ever experienced, emotionally and mentally”. In a lengthy post on social media, she said: “This past year has been one of the darkest I’ve ever experienced, emotionally and mentally. To have my marriage crumble so publicly and so painfully was devastating.

“One year ago today, I walked down the aisle and said “yes” to what I believed would be the start of my happily ever after,” she continued.

“But life doesn’t always go as planned. Coming to terms with the breakdown of my marriage was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced. For so long, I held onto anger, and even longer, a deep sadness. Deep down, I knew it hadn’t been enough time and that I didn’t truly know this person outside of the experiment.

“But I ignored my intuition. I’ve spent a lot of time blaming myself for not listening to that inner voice. However, I made my decision based on the information I had at the time, and that’s all any of us can do. What if it had worked out? Sometimes, you have to take the leap of faith and hope for the best.

“But through all the hurt, I’ve learned something incredibly important—I am stronger than I ever imagined. I’ve learned to find light in the darkest of places, to be grateful for the love and kindness I still have in my life, even when things seem bleak.”

Despite the admission, the marketing executive said she doesn’t regret doing the show.

“People often ask me if I regret doing the show. The truth is, I don’t. I went into it with an open mind, an open heart, and I was honest and authentic throughout,” she said.

“I was truly ready for that next step in life. And for that, I’m proud. The experience taught me resilience, it showed me what I will and won’t accept in my life, and it gave me a strength I didn’t know I had. Every challenge we face is a lesson, and I truly believe that sometimes things fall apart so that something better can fall into place.

“Today, I’m officially closing the chapter on that part of my life and I’m letting it go with peace and gratitude for the lessons it taught me. Now, as I step into this next chapter, I’m excited for what’s ahead. I know, when the time is right, I’ll meet someone who truly deserves my love, someone who will value and cherish all of me, who thinks I’m worth showing up for.

“Until then, I’m focused on building a life I’m proud of—and that’s a journey worth celebrating.”

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