Celebs Go Dating has transformed how I date, says Ella Morgan

• Ella Morgan is looking for love in the latest series of E4's Celebs Go Dating

• She made history on Channel 4 reality series Married At First Sight UK as its first trans bride

• In her own words, the reality star has shared all the details behind the scenes of her time on the dating show and what's next — with Yahoo.

I do wear my heart on my sleeve on Celebs Go Dating.

On Instagram, I get a lot of messages from queer people and trans people but I get so many more messages from mums, daughters, people that aren't queer or trans. They say to me, "We love you because you're so relatable."

Before, I always thought my supporters would all be queer or trans but actually I have found anybody can relate to me and that makes me happy. I'm not afraid to cry or say how I feel or show my feelings.

My fear was that people would think my only storyline or that all I've got going for me is my trans-ness. I said to Stephen (Webb), "Do you think I would have been on Celebs Go Dating and MAFS if I wasn’t trans?" And he said he did.

I said to him, "But do you not think my trans is my unique selling point?"

But Stephen told me: "No, because you've still got the best personality."

It made me think people relate to me even though they're not trans because of how I feel. There's a little bit of me or something I say, or something I do on Celebs Go Dating, that I think everyone can relate to. Whether you're a woman, whether you're queer, whether you're lesbian, whether you're straight, or anyone.

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I don't find it difficult to wear my heart on my sleeve because I'm the most honest person. I have a way of saying it that for some reason doesn't get taken in the wrong way. I say it with love and it comes from a good place. People can't have a go at you so I don't find it hard to be vulnerable, open and honest.

I just feel like you get through life easier, or at least I like people that say it as it is and are straight up because you know where you stand with them. I never go into any filming thinking about what I'm gonna say. You never know what's gonna come out of my mouth but nothing ever comes out that is meant to be malicious or hurtful.

I'm representing a whole community that I don't want to let down, even though I didn't ask to be a role model. It was put on me. So I always do everything thinking: I need to make sure that I'm positive for the young trans people and any trans people that look up to me.

It's true, everyone's always going to have an opinion on you. When you sit there and you cry and you show your vulnerability, you seem more human and emotional and relatable. I know I'd rather watch someone like that than someone who is completely cold who doesn't open up.

I found it easy to be open on Celebs Go Dating because there's no cameras in the room. There's no camera men, it's like the Big Brother house, so you get lost in the moment because there's no one facing you with a camera. You forget the cameras are there and they are all hidden. It's so much easier to get stuck into the therapy.

Working with dating expert Paul [Carrick Brunson] again made it easier for me to be honest about how I felt. I was also more open to critique and constructive criticism on Celebs Go Dating, whereas I wasn't quite ready to hear what was being said to me on MAFS.

Dating has always been really scary for me. I did go into Celebs Go Dating knowing I'm not good at dating. I don't have a good track record but Celebs Go Dating has transformed the way I see and feel about it now. Rather than being scared of it, I have left the show feeling like I'm actually quite good at dating! I wouldn't be scared to date in the future.

Before I did MAFS and Celebs Go Dating, I looked for stereotypical or materialistic things like looks. I didn't get very far with dates because everyone saw me as more of a fetish or they didn't look past my looks. The only way men validated me was by saying, "You're beautiful, you're pretty." So that's why on MAFS I'd always focus on wanting to be found attractive and wanting people to say, "I fancy you."

Whereas now I know who I am, I'm the most confident and the best version of myself that I've ever been. I'm 100% Ella. I've left Celebs Go Dating feeling I love myself inside and out. As much as I used to concentrate on looks of both myself and the person I was dating, it is about personality and finding someone who makes me laugh. That's what Celebs Go Dating has taught me.

Before I never got far enough to know what a deep meaningful relationship was and when I did MAFS, I was a dating virgin. MAFS was incredible but Celebs Go Dating has been the best experience of my life, hands down. I want to find a boyfriend and meet the man of my dreams.

What's next for me? I am living my dream now, being an advocate for my community is the best responsibility. In fact, I don't really see it as a job because it's a passion of mine that I feel I'm slowly getting better and better and better at. I'm still learning as well.

If I could have a wish, it would be to do Strictly but I would also love to do – although I'd be terrible as I'm scared of heights and everything! - I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. That would be great. But also someone showed me there's a petition online to get me into Celebrity Big Brother. I'd want to know who was going in but I would do those three reality shows.

Behind the scenes, I've got some exciting work coming out soon - individually and with Stephen. I'm not allowed to talk about it though. Hopefully, you'll see me on This Morning as the first ever trans host. Who knows what the future holds?

Ella Morgan told her story to Lily Waddell.

Celebs Go Dating airs Monday - Thursday at 9pm on E4.