Meryl Williams, the breakout star of BBC’s The Traitors, has set her sights on appearing on Celebs Go Dating after a life transformation sparked by her victory on the show in 2022. The 29-year-old won the first season of the hit reality series alongside fellow contestants Hannah Byczkowski and Aaron Evans, taking home a £33,000 prize that has since changed her life.
Since the win, Meryl’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. The £33,000 prize gave her the financial freedom to quit her job, relocate from Edinburgh to London, and even undergo cosmetic surgery to boost her confidence. Reflecting on her newfound fame, Meryl admitted, “The money allowed me to take risks I wouldn’t have otherwise, like moving to London and pursuing a more public life.”
Now, nearly three years later, Meryl is eager for new opportunities in the reality TV world. She’s particularly interested in joining Celebs Go Dating, sharing with the Daily Mail, “I’ve never dated anyone, so I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve always feared being fetishized because of my dwarfism.” Despite her reluctance to date publicly, she is determined to explore her romantic life as she approaches her 30s.
Raised by a single mother who instilled in her a strong sense of independence, Meryl admits her personal fears about dating have held her back in the past. “My mum always told me, ‘You will have everything you need on your own, never rely on a man!’” Meryl said, explaining why she’s spent much of her life focused on personal growth rather than relationships.
Looking back on her time on The Traitors, Meryl revealed that she would be open to a return to the show, though this time, she wouldn’t want to play as a “Faithful.” “I wanted to be a Traitor from the start,” she explained. “After watching multiple seasons, I feel ready to take on that role.” Meryl also expressed interest in other challenging shows like I’m A Celebrity and Race Across The World, having gained confidence from her Traitors experience.
While the £33,000 prize was more than her annual salary at a call center in Scotland, Meryl initially had no intention of winning the money. “At first, we didn’t think about the prize fund, but by episode 10, I turned to Hannah and thought, ‘Wait a minute, we could actually win this!’” She went on to use her winnings to fund cosmetic surgery procedures, including forehead reduction surgery, which she had been considering for years. “I wanted to be transparent about the surgery to help others who might be thinking about it,” she explained, sharing her journey openly on social media.
Over the years, Meryl’s confidence grew further with breast implants and an uplift. At 16, she had undergone a breast reduction due to her FF-cup size, which was out of proportion with her small stature. “People should not judge others for their decisions,” she said, emphasizing that these surgeries were all about feeling comfortable in her own body. “Now, I’m living my best life as I approach my 30s.”
Meryl’s success on The Traitors also led to an influx of public recognition, which she admitted was initially difficult to navigate. “It was hard to differentiate whether people were looking at me because of my condition or because I was on the show,” she confessed. Despite this, she praised the BBC’s aftercare team for their support during this adjustment period and lauded host Claudia Winkleman for genuinely getting to know the contestants.
These days, Meryl dedicates her time to volunteering at Borders Pet Rescue, a Scottish animal rescue center where she is an ambassador. She also works as a content creator, often collaborating with comedian Fats Timbo—another person with dwarfism—to create humorous yet informative videos. Together, they tackle issues of disability in a lighthearted way, promoting awareness and challenging misconceptions.
“There’s a lot of curiosity about my condition, but not enough advocacy,” Meryl stated, advocating for more education on dwarfism. “There’s a lot of representation for different disabilities on TV, but there’s still work to be done in terms of showcasing people like me.”
As Meryl continues to rise in popularity, she’s proving that her star power isn’t just about fame—it’s about using her platform to educate and inspire.
