Megan Barton Hanson has issued a chilling warning to women after a terrifying ordeal that left her shaken, distressed and fearing for her safety – and that of her dog.
The former Love Island star, 31, revealed she was relentlessly followed by two men in a black Mercedes Estate while out walking on Friday in the Benfleet, Hadleigh and Rayleigh areas of Essex.
Megan Barton Hanson revealed to fans she has been left ‘distressed’ and ‘unsafe’ after she was followed by two men in a car on Friday
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Megan posted a photo of a similar-looking car and urged followers to stay vigilant:
“Safety alert Benfleet/Hadleigh/Rayleigh – women and dog walkers stay alert.
“I was followed by a black Mercedes Estate by two men inside. They stopped next to me multiple times. Looped the area then returned again trying to wave me over.
“I felt unsafe and distressed – thoughts of either me or my dog being taken. Part reg possibly ending J10 (Not 100%). Car looked similar to the one shown (from memory).”
She ended the post with a powerful message: “Please trust your instincts and look out for each other.”
Above a picture of a similar looking car, she wrote: ‘Safety alert Benfleet/Hadleigh/Rayleigh – women and dog walkers stay alert’
The incident triggered Megan’s fight-or-flight response in the worst way, leaving the reality star rattled and determined to alert others to the potential danger still at large.
Megan, who shot to fame on Love Island in 2018, has always been candid about her journey. In a recent appearance on Paul Carrick Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, she opened up about the bullying she endured at school over her nose and prominent ears – experiences that first pushed her toward cosmetic procedures.
But it was financial struggle, not insecurity, that ultimately drove her to go under the knife for breast augmentation.
Working as a Legal PA in London while commuting from Essex on minimum wage, Megan admitted she could “barely afford a train ticket.” Watching another woman make serious money on social media and Page 3-style shoots, she turned to her then-boyfriend and said: “She’s making so much money… don’t you think I’m prettier? I could definitely do that if I had bigger t**s.”
She decided to combine the breast surgery with the nose job she’d always wanted, viewing it as an investment. “I hate being put to sleep,” she laughed, “so I thought, get the t**s done, the nose done, all in one – and I can make so much money.”
The gamble paid off. Posting bolder photos on Instagram, her following exploded. Glamour modelling and a stint working in a strip club followed, giving her the financial freedom she craved. Six years later, she boasts 1.4 million Instagram followers and a career built on unapologetic confidence.
Yet Friday’s frightening encounter is a stark reminder that fame doesn’t shield anyone from real-world danger. Megan’s urgent warning serves as a wake-up call: stay aware, trust your gut, and look out for one another. Because this isn’t reality TV – this is real life, and the threat may still be out there.