A former Aberystwyth University student competed on a reality TV show, during which she catfished fellow contestants as her Welsh husband.

Yolanda Thomas, 30, graduated from Aberystwyth University in 2011, with a degree in tourism management, and went on to found her own dating agency, Beautifully Matched.

During her time in Aberystwyth, Yolanda also met future husband and “local boy” Chris John Thomas on a night out in Why Not Bar & Lounge.

“We were introduced on a night out and we just clicked and became best friends,” Yolanda said.

“I graduated and came back to London, but we stayed in contact via social media.

“Eight years later I went back to celebrate my birthday and he was only supposed to come up for three hours but ended up staying three days and said, ‘I let you go once, I don’t want to let you go again’.

“To cut a long story short, a month later he packed up his flat and moved to London.”

The pair married a day before Yolanda went into lockdown for The Circle: “It was pure adrenaline and a huge blur. I feel like you’re wedding day is almost like a dream anyway, you don’t really believe it’s happening.

“I woke up after three or four hours sleep and then next thing I know I was in Manchester.

“It was a whirlwind; I was nervous, excited and sad at the same time.”

For her stint on The Circle, which sees contestants living metres apart but communicating only through a messaging platform, Yolanda chose to play as a catfish, someone who uses a fake identity to deceive others, pretending to be Chris.

Players rate fellow contestants from least to most favourite, and the highest rated contestants can ‘block’ other players and, in episode one, Yolanda was blocked from the competition.

However, Yolanda re-entered the competition and was given the chance to clone a fellow player, Tally, before being blocked again.

“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, because it showed me how mentally strong I am.

“It gave me the confidence and strength that there is absolutely nothing I can’t do in this world.”

On Aberystwyth, she added: “I absolutely loved Aberystwyth, it’s such a random and far place to go for a Londoner. But I needed to leave London to get a degree, there are too many distractions.”

“I was left to my own devices. I passed my driving test there; I had so many first experiences in Aberystwyth, it has a place in my heart.

“But never in my life did I think I would meet my husband there, and Aberystwyth would have a place in my life forever. It’s now my home.

“For those three years, it took so much of my heart. Whenever I go there, I just feel like it’s great.

“Now I have a reason to go there all the time.”

You can catch up with this series of The Circle through Channel 4’s on demand service.