21 February 2024 , 13:53
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Love Island champion Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu has shared an insight into her split from Davide Sanclimenti.
The couple split last month after less than two years of being with one another. Ekin-Su took to Instagram to reveal they had split after she "made the decision". But Davide later hit out at her comments and accused his ex-girlfriend of lying, saying they had decided together.
Now, the 29-year-old has said she wishes things had been different due to the "pressure" of having a relationship in the public eye. The former couple won the ITV dating show in 2022, beating the likes of Indiyah and Dami, as well as Tasha and Andrew.
"You've got to make sure that your relationship isn't focused on the show and what fans think of it," she said while offering advice to the recent Love Island All Stars finalists. Ekin-Su went on to add: "Personally, I've learnt from my recent split that the more private you are and the more of your relationship you keep to yourself, the more real it is."
Ekin-Su has opened up about her split from Davide (Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The reality star admits she wishes she had kept parts of their relationship private (Instagram/ @davidesancli)But the star insists that keeping a relationship private after leaving the famous villa is difficult and it's hard to please one another. Speaking in conjunction with Spin Genie, the reality star commented: "You have this pressure to be the couple that everyone loves and the couples who vlogs or goes on TikTok.
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"But that's just pleasing for the fans and you're not focusing on pleasing each other. You've accidentally put social media on the pedestal and not each other. That's what I've realised I need to do in future relationships. Put the public bit to one side and keep those cute little moments for each other. You've got nothing to prove to fans."
Ekin-Su previously told the Mirror that she and Davide ignored the hate they received and focused on one another. Speaking just weeks before their split, she said: "We just ignore and we just live our lives privately and we focus on each other, like a normal couple and we're really happy. We just ignore the hate, ignore the pressure and live a normal life. That's what makes us happy."
Reacting to their split on January 30, Davide hit back at Ekin-Su, saying: "Ekin and I, just after the ski holidays, decided to go different ways. It was a joint decision, but I was waiting to make it public to respect her time in the show. I don't know why the agreed statement changed last minute. I agree, it was a beautiful story even with its ups and downs like all couples. I loved every moment, from the first time I knew her in the Villa until life outside. I really believed in us and saw a future for us. But sometimes in life people need to grow apart."
Just weeks after leaving Love Island, Ekin-Su and Davide moved in with one another but were hit with claims that Davide had been unfaithful – which he strongly denied.