By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-12 15:00:44 | Updated at 2026-06-13 10:11:09
19 hours ago
Love Island USA star Melanie Moreno is being accused of using the weight loss drug Ozempic after fans discovered she used to be a plus-size model.
The 24-year-old beauty is currently on season eight of the series, and flaunting a slim figure with a toned tummy.
A TikTok video of her looking noticeably heavier while strutting in a Pretty Little Thing fashion show in 2022 has gone viral.
One of Moreno's family members came to her defense, writing on an X thread this week, according to The Tab: 'Melanie is my little cousin and I can tell you it is her!! And no Ozempic.
'She worked hard to get her current body!!! She wasn’t insecure when she was plus-size, and she’s not insecure now.
'People are allowed to change, grow, and become healthier without having to justify it. Her confidence didn’t come from her size, it came from knowing her worth.'
Love Island USA star Melanie Moreno is being accused of using Ozempic after fans discovered she used to be a plus-size model
Moreno pictured modeling for Pretty Little Thing in 2022
In addition to her cousin, the reality star’s sister Steph Moreno joined the discourse, commenting under a social media post.
She wrote, according to blogger Stephanie Tleiji: 'Mel’s sister here. Melanie has always had very high self-esteem, even when she was plus-size.'
Love Island contestants are stripped of their phones while filming inside a Fiji villa, making Moreno's family's defense more pertinent.
Per The Tab, her cousin also urged in the informal statement, 'Support women at every stage, not just the versions you’re comfortable with.
'She openly shared that past relationships hurt her, and those experiences shaped how she views relationships today. It takes courage to be honest about your pain, not weakness.'
Moreno's latest Instagram post was shared on April 11, and shows her wearing a white dress on a beach across multiple selfies.
Her follower count has reached 155,000 as more viewers discover her online presence.
The clip that has fans in a frenzy and speculating about her GLP-1 use shows the stunner in a pink monokini during Miami Swim Week four years ago.
The 24-year-old beauty is currently on season eight of the series, and flaunting a slim figure with a toned tummy
Moreno pictured with Love Island castmate Sincere Nicholas
L-R Beatriz Alexa Hatz, Aniya Harvey, Trinity Celeste Tatum, Mackenzie 'Kenzie' Brooke Annis, Moreno
And some social media users have found Moreno's weight loss journey endearing.
'Woww this is so inspiring she lost all that weight,' wrote one person on X.
'The amount of weight she lost in span of 3 years while still looking/being healthy is genuinely impressive. Proud of her,' added another.
Someone else weighed in, 'Melanie was stunning then. She is stunning now.'
Another supporter pointed out: 'Love Island contestants always come with interesting backstories, and modeling is just another chapter in hers.'
There was also a fan who preferred the way the TV personality looked before losing weight.
'Everybody is talking about the glow up, but am I the only one who thinks Melanie actually looked better before?' the person asked.
