04 March 2024 , 20:00
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Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu's life was transformed when she was crowned Queen of Love Island, with Davide Sanclimenti her King. The 29-year-old star has since carved out a career in the spotlight, with her next job entering the Celebrity Big Brother house. Sadly, Ekin-Su's quest for love hasn't proved so easy - we take a look at her life now
Love life
Ekin-Su and Davide received a record 63.69% of the final vote when they were crowned Love Island winners in 2022, with viewers loving their passionate on-screen relationship filled up ups and downs. The couple stayed together for over a year after their triumph but it wasn't meant to be, with their break up confirmed at the end of January.
Ekin-Su and Davide had a fiery relationship on the show (Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)"The last 18-months have been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, just like every relationship," said Ekin-Su, admitting dating her Italian stallion in the public eye hadn't been easy. "Davide and I both wanted to make this work as we cared deeply for each other. Unfortunately I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and to go our separate ways."
The former model, born in London to Turkish parents, is determined to keep her next relationship more low key. "One thing I’ve learnt in this relationship, you have to trust your boyfriend or girlfriend because in the public eye, it’s not easy," she said. "Especially when people will make up rumours or say things, or they see things, or things could look different from a picture."
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Career
Ekin-Su became seriously rich soon after leaving Love Island when she was snapped up by fashion brand Oh Polly in a deal worth more than £1m in August 2022. This is the first of many endorsement deals she has bagged since winning the show, including a make-up collab with bPerfect.
Ekin-Su has appeared on The Weakest Link (BBC Studios / Alan Peebles)
The reality star has a make-up collection with bPerfect (instagram/@bperfectmega)Actress Ekin-Su is now worth a reported £1.6m and has appeared on a host of reality shows including her own, ITV2's Ekin-Su & Davide: Homecomings, since leaving Love Island. The influencer had shared the reality show's £50,000 prize pot with Davide and in October 2022 netted £100,000 more when she was signed up for Dancing On Ice.
Early this year she starred in the US version of The Traitors with her next appearance ITV's Celebrity Big Brother. Other rumoured contestants have included Louis Walsh, Rebekah Vardy, Joey Essex and Levi Roots, with Ekin-Su already a favourite to win.
Home life
The star has homes in Turkey, where she was a successful actress before Love Island and Essex, where she lived with Davide. The couple enjoyed romantic holidays together in the Maldives, Ibiza and most recently skiing in the Italian Alps, to celebrate Davide's 29th birthday.
After her recent split, Ekin-Su jetted away to New York. She is close to her family and has a love of all things fitness and wellness, citing her hobbies as reading, walking and going to the gym.
Watch the launch of Celebrity Big Brother tonight on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm