EXCLUSIVE: 'He can't wait to be a dad': Love Island's Olivia Buckland talks marriage and children with beau Alex Bowen... as she admits they still can't keep their hands off each other

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They have Love Island to thank for a whirlwind romance that's seen them move in together, get matching tattoos and meet each other's families in six months.

But Olivia Buckland says Alex Bowen is thinking long-term for their future, telling MailOnline on Monday that he can't wait to be a dad.

Speaking exclusively at the launch of her new Hair Rehab London collaboration with founder Lauren Pope, from TOWIE, the 22-year-old said marriage and children are 'definitely' on the cards.

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Debuting a new do: Olivia Buckland gushed about her boyfriend Alex Bowen as she debuted her new collaboration with Hair Rehab London on Monday

'He literally cannot wait to be a dad,' Olivia said. 'He's so caring, he's always thinking of other people. 

'He gets a lot of stick because of his look - which is a typical 'laddy' sort of look - but inside he's not like that whatsoever. He's a big softie.'

Olivia previously revealed that she's already chosen an engagement ring with Alex, but she insists that the talk of a future doesn't scare him off.

Too cute: Olivia and Alex met on Love Island earlier this year and embarked on a whirlwind romance

The blonde bombshell continued: 'I don't think Alex gets scared - I think he's just as soppy as me.

'When you're in this honeymoon stage you always talk about whether you'll get married and how many kids you'll have and you say it in a joking way but really you kind of mean it. 

'We do talk about it and it is on the cards and hopefully it will happen one day.'

Olivia and Alex met on the 2016 series of ITV2's Love Island where 12 single contestants battled it out for a prize fund of £50k in Majorca. 

They finished in second place.

New look: The stunning star spoke to MailOnline as she introduced her new luscious extensions

Showing her shape: The blonde wore a glorious gold bodycon dress

New friends: Olivia has befriended TOWIE star Lauren Pope (left), who asked her to come on board for the collab

The couple quickly moved in together in her native Essex this August, after finding it too difficult to be apart. 

'Being apart - we just hate it,' she said. 'We're such soppy little things. We've just been apart for five days but even that is just a nightmare for us.

'We keep in contact constantly when we're apart but it's the honeymoon period - we can't keep our hands off.'

Olivia admits that after living together they have finally experienced their first argument but went on to say that he acts as her calming influence; 'the other half of [her]'.

Soppy: Olivia says Alex is just as soppy as she is and can't wait to be a dad

'I feel like if I didn't have Alex, I wouldn't be as sane as I am now. He's been such a shoulder to lean on,' she continued.

'He's been so helpful with everything because he's going through it as well. If I'm having an off day then he knows why because he has them too. We just get through it together.'

Alex and Olivia's parents have also become 'one big happy family' since the pair returned home as a couple, she says.

'Our parents have met each other - they all went out for dinner and drinks. We didn't even set them up, they just did it themselves and they sent us a picture at the table. 

'We found it so funny. They get on really well. The mums are probably getting secretly excited; buying their hats already.'

Introducing, the 'dirty blonde': Olivia says her hair colour is always the 'dirty blonde' shade that she's been introducing with new friend Lauren

She added: 'I've been spending a lot of time with his mum while he's been away and we get on really well, just us two.

'It's sort of become one big family really, she does miss him quite a lot because it was just them two for quite a long time and he misses her lots but we just constantly keep in contact through the family.'

Family life isn't quite the same as when she left it six months ago for the Love Island villa. 

'My life is done a complete 180 in the last six months, from sitting in an office, selling pens and not wearing make-up every day, to this, and just being busy every day.

Sweethearts: The duo have been part of a whirlwind romance since leaving the show

Matching tattoos: Olivia and Alex already have matching King and Queen tattoos

'Doing things I've dreamed of doing like a clothing line and now these hair extensions, it's things I never thought I would get the opportunity to do.'

Olivia's latest exciting venture is at the request of The Only Way Is Essex star Lauren, who recruited the beauty's help to model her new extensions range. 

'When I was younger,' she said. 'I used to watch Lauren on TOWIE so when she asked me to work with her it was so unexpected.

'I was starstruck at the start and I thought, how am I going to work with her if I'm so starstruck? It's hard to get used to being around people that I've looked up to for so long.'

Hair Rehab London is a premium brand of clip in hair extensions, founded and designed by reality star Lauren.

Olivia is the face of the new 'dirty blonde' colour, which she was seen debuting at the launch event in London on Monday.  

'Dirty blonde is always my shade. It's the perfect thing for anyone who's got a little bit of roots in their hair and it's saved me.'

Can't be apart: The duo haven't been able to be apart from more than five days at a time