Diamanté Laiva, a 22-year-old star from Love Island’s 11th season, has turned her back on the UK, trading its gloomy skies for the vibrant beaches of Da Nang, Vietnam. Known for her bombshell entrance during the Casa Amor twist on ITV’s hit dating show, Diamanté has now made headlines for a different kind of bold move: leaving her hometown of London for a sunnier, more affordable life abroad. With rent costing her just £180 a month—less than £50 a week—she’s living proof that paradise doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.
Vietnam, recently crowned the world’s most affordable place to live for the fourth consecutive year, offered Diamanté the perfect escape from what she describes as the UK’s pervasive negativity. In a candid life update shared with her followers, she didn’t hold back: “Leaving the UK forever has made me realise that you guys are actually the problem—why is the country so negative?” Since relocating to Da Nang three months ago, she’s found a refreshing sense of peace. “I’ve not experienced a single ounce of uncomfortability, weirdness, nothing,” she shared in a video, gesturing toward the stunning beach just steps from her new home. “The key is not going to places that everybody goes to.”
Life in Da Nang has been a revelation for the young star. Beyond the jaw-dropping affordability, she’s fallen in love with the lifestyle. “There’s fantastic food right outside my door,” she enthused, noting that she hasn’t cooked once since moving to Southeast Asia. Why bother when vibrant street food stalls offer delicious, budget-friendly meals? Diamanté also praised the city’s modern architecture, likening some buildings to the glittering skyscrapers of Dubai. Even more surprising? The healthcare system, which she describes as “amazing” and “a lot more thorough than the UK.”
Her followers have rallied behind her bold decision, flooding her posts with support. One commented, “I lived there for 2.5 years! Beautiful country and changed my life for the better, enjoy Da Nang and the amazing culture.” Another chimed in, “I travelled around Vietnam… always talk about this to the day. Such a beautiful country and people.” It’s clear that Diamanté’s move has struck a chord with those who’ve experienced Vietnam’s charm firsthand.
But it’s not just the UK’s dreary atmosphere that Diamanté left behind. She also stepped away from the drama of Love Island’s inner circle. Last year, she made the decision to quit the show’s WhatsApp group chat, tired of feeling gaslit and disrespected by her former co-stars. “I’m sick and tired of defending myself,” she told The Sun. “There have been times when I’ve felt majorly disrespected in a situation, and I’d go to the girls’ group chat and ask, ‘Am I mad to be feeling like this?’… and then I get gaslit into thinking this treatment is okay.” Frustrated by accusations and character defamation, she decided she was “better off on [her] own.”
Now, Diamanté is thriving in her new chapter. With the beach at her doorstep, affordable living, and a vibrant culture that’s won her heart, she’s embracing a life that feels worlds away from the UK’s challenges. As she put it, “I love it, and I really do love it.” With no plans to return, Diamanté’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the key to happiness is a one-way ticket to somewhere new.