A star from The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) and Love Island has spoken openly about her Christian faith as recent data has suggests Generation Z was becoming the most religious generation alive.
Matilda Draper, 25, said she once felt mocked for believing in God but told Sky News that faith was now “becoming more normal” among young people.
“I remember when I was in school I would tell people I believed in God and they would be like ‘you’re a loser’,” she said, adding: “Now I couldn’t be prouder.”
A recent YouGov study found that Gen Z were more likely to believe in a higher power than any other age group, with levels of faith now surpassing those aged over 65.
According to the data, church attendance among 18 to 25 year olds rose from seven per cent in 2018 to 23 per cent in 2024, while belief in a higher power increased from 28 per cent to 49 per cent.
Draper said that online culture was driving the shift, saying young people were “yearning for purpose and fulfilment”, at a time of negativity and uncertainty.
A video she shared of her and her partner, Roman Hackett, who's a fellow TOWIE star getting baptised attracted more than 1.3 million views on TikTok, reflecting the growing influence of Christian voices on social media.