Love Island's Ekin-Su shares new life outlook after split and 'losing' herself
The reality star says charity cancer trek was "eye opening" and allowed her to show the real her
Love Island favourite Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu says she looks at the world differently now after a 'humbling' experience meeting women affected by cancer. The reality star joined actress Giovanna Fletcher and more than 100 women on the five-day trip to the Isle of Skye for the CoppaFeel! Trek this week, battling minus six temperatures, strong winds and torrential downpours.
'I didn't realise it was gonna be so hard,' admits two-time Love Islander Ekin. 'When you get to know all the women and their backgrounds and how they're still here and giving everything to life, the things that people complain about back home don't matter. There's people who have got cancer. Every day they have to live with it, and every day feels like it could be their last day. It's been a massive eye opener for me.'
Raising awareness of breast cancer, they also helped raise £418,888, almost hitting their £450,000 target. Ekin, 30, says hearing the stories of cancer has made her want to get her breasts checked for the first time.
'Some told me, 'I might have a few years' - that's what I'm taking out of this trip, that nothing is more precious than life," she told. "I definitely want to get my breasts checked for sure. I've never even felt my breasts and all I'm thinking about is that. And I want to find the nearest GP when I'm home and get my breasts checked for peace of mind. I want to tell my mum, friends, people younger than me. Catching it early is key.'
Ekin detailed a powerful moment where all the ladies stood topless on the top of a mountain. 'We had a picture, all the ladies together, tops off,' she recalled. 'Everyone showing their breasts. They're the reason why we're here. It just felt so natural. I embraced everything with the ladies and I felt connected when we had our tops off. We most beautiful scenery as well in the background on a mountain. Luckily no one saw us, there were no men walking past!'
Waking at 6am and trekking almost 10 hours a day, Ekin was totally out of her comfort zone, having never camped before. 'My friends were shocked,' she chuckled. The trek was a far cry from Ekin's glamorous Love Island days. 'I haven't washed my hair since I got here,' laughed Ekin. 'I've showered, don't worry! You don't think about those sort of things when you're here. You just think about living in the moment.'
She says she enjoyed being with 'wholesome, genuine, lovely, strong' people - and said it was a welcome reality check from the celebrity world. 'It's been very humbling,' said Ekin.
Known for her stints on Love Island, The Traitors US and Celebrity Big Brother, Ekin said it was nice to show her fellow trekkers the real her. 'I did say to them my industry is very lonely and it is a very ego high industry where you can lose yourself," told Ekin, who finished third in this year's Love Island All Stars with dancer Curtis Pritchard - but the pair split announced their split last month. "You can't always show who you really are. And moments like this make you very vulnerable and it shows your emotions, which is the real you. So that was nice for the ladies to see.'
She was joined by Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown, and journalist Bryony Gordon alongside actress, author and CoppaFeel! patron Giovanna Fletcher, who led the group for UK's only youth focused breast cancer charity, CoppaFeel!.
Giovanna said the participation of one woman exemplified the importance of their campaign. 'She heard about CoppaFeel! from Instagram because of the treks,' she began. 'From that, she knew about signs and symptoms and six months later she found her own lump in which the doctor misdiagnosed. She has only just finished her treatment and is now trekking with us. I always say one of the reasons that we do these treks is so that people that are diagnosed can be diagnosed early and then walk with us in years to come.'
For more information about CoppaFeel! click here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island star Casey O'Gorman reveals what he's spent his £25k All Stars winnings on
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island star Casey O'Gorman has revealed what he's spent his £25k All Stars winnings on. The Lothario, 28, rose to fame on Love Island, and has since returned to the show twice. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Love Island star Casey O'Gorman has revealed what he's spent his £25k All Stars winnings on Credit: Rex 4 Gabby and Casey have now gone their separate ways Credit: Rex 4 The couple managed to bag £50k - £25k each - after becoming victorious on the popular dating series in February Credit: Splash Casey first appeared on Love Island in the 2023 winter series but was dumped just days after coupling up with Rosie Seabrook. The following year, he returned to the villa for the show's first All Stars series, and then again this year, where he ended up winning with then-girlfriend Gabby Allen. The couple, who have since split, managed to bag £50k - £25k each - after becoming victorious on the popular dating series in February. Now, speaking to Heart Bingo, Casey revealed what he'd spent his £25k winnings on, four months later. He said: 'Nothing in particular, I know that's really boring. 'I took my parents out for a lovely meal and I treated my mum to something nice, but not myself. 'Me and Gabby went on holiday to Dubai, which was really nice too.' Last month, Casey, who is single again after splitting with his girlfriend Gabby Allen, has dropped a big hint that he is going back in. He was the first to 'like' Love Island's official 2025 trailer when it dropped onto Instagram. Love Island's Kaz takes savage swipe at Casey after his ex Gabby is grilled about their split by Maya Jama And once he had shown his approval, Casey's Love Island pal Ronnie Vint stirred the pot further. The ad features a letter from host Maya Jama announcing the brand new series. Viewers of the ITV show are told Love Island is "coming soon" and that "attendance is mandatory". Casey didn't miss a beat when the trailer dropped and immediately liked it. Ronnie, who starred in the All Stars villa with Casey earlier this year, then tagged him in and wrote: "@caseyogorman HERE WE GO!!!!!!!." Fans immediately spotted the interaction and were quick to comment. "No way 🤣😭😭😭😭😭!" one replied. But Casey tells us that his pals are actually just teasing Love Island fans. He said: 'I think Tom, Ronnie, Chuggs all the boys comment on pretty much every single Love Island post being like 'when's Casey going back,' but it's all just banter and to be honest.' He's also since opened up on his split from co-star Gabby, after fan speculation as to why they went their separate ways. Casey told us: 'It just wasn't working from either side unfortunately - but we are still friends, we ended very, very amicably.' On Sunday night, Maya Jama quizzed Gabby on their split, during her appearance on Love Island After Sun. And it was Kaz Crossley who seemed to hint at the real reason behind their split. Maya chatted to the girls, turned to Gabby and said: "Gabby, what happened with you and Casey?" "How long have we got?" Gabby joked. She then said: "You know what, not really that much to report." Gabby noted how she and Casey were at "very different stages in our lives". Kaz then interjected when she said: "Casey he's a lovely boy, but emphasis on boy," seemingly throwing shade at her pal's ex. "I love Gabby, but a relationship, you just need a bit more depth. "We're looking for our husbands," she concluded.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Love Island star Casey O'Gorman reveals what he's spent his £25k All Stars winnings on
LOVE Island star Casey O'Gorman has revealed what he's spent his £25k All Stars winnings on. The Lothario, 28, rose to fame on Love Island, and has since returned to the show twice. 4 4 4 Casey first appeared on Love Island in the 2023 winter series but was dumped just days after coupling up with Rosie Seabrook. The following year, he returned to the villa for the show's first All Stars series, and then again this year, where he ended up winning with then-girlfriend Gabby Allen. The couple, who have since split, managed to bag £50k - £25k each - after becoming victorious on the popular dating series in February. Now, speaking to Heart Bingo, Casey revealed what he'd spent his £25k winnings on, four months later. He said: 'Nothing in particular, I know that's really boring. 'I took my parents out for a lovely meal and I treated my mum to something nice, but not myself. 'Me and Gabby went on holiday to Dubai, which was really nice too.' Last month, Casey, who is single again after splitting with his girlfriend Gabby Allen, has dropped a big hint that he is going back in. He was the first to 'like' Love Island 's official 2025 trailer when it dropped onto Instagram. Love Island's Kaz takes savage swipe at Casey after his ex Gabby is grilled about their split by Maya Jama And once he had shown his approval, Casey's Love Island pal Ronnie Vint stirred the pot further. The ad features a letter from host Maya Jama announcing the brand new series. Viewers of the ITV show are told Love Island is "coming soon" and that "attendance is mandatory". Casey didn't miss a beat when the trailer dropped and immediately liked it. Love Island winners - where they are now EVERY year Love Island opens its doors to more sexy Islanders who are hoping for a holiday romance that could turn into more. Here we take you through all of the Love Island winners so far and what their relationship statuses are now: 2025 - The second series of All Stars saw Gabby Allen and Case O'Gorman scoop the crown. STATUS: Still together. 2024 - The summer Love Island saw Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan were crowned the winners. STATUS: Broken up. 2024 - The first ever All stars spin off show was won by Molly Smith and Tom Clare. STATUS: Still together. 2023 - Jess Harding and Sammy Root took home the 50k, and won the summer 2023 Love Island. STATUS: Broken up. 2023 - The first series of 2023 saw Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan crowned Love Island winners in South Africa. STATUS: Still together. 2022 - Davide Sanclimenti and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu's time in the villa was anything but a smooth ride, but they managed to win the public's hearts - and the ITV2 reality show. STATUS: Broken up. 2021 - Liam Reardon and Millie Court were announced winners of Love Island 2021. STATUS: Still together. 2020 - The first ever winter Love Island saw Paige Turley and Finn Tapp crowned winners after falling in love on the show. STATUS: Broken up. 2019 - Series 5 saw Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague runners up to winners Greg O'Shea and Amber Gill, who met in the last few days of the series. STATUS: Broken up. 2018 - It wasn't surprising fan favourites Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer won the show, as they were strong throughout. But sadly things didn't last. STATUS: Broken up. 2017 - Kem Cetinay and Amber Davies had lots of ups and downs in the villa but went on to win. STATUS: Broken up. 2016 - Nathan Massey and Cara De La Hoyde were together from the start of the series, and since they won the show they've had two kids and are married. STATUS: Still together. 2015 - Despite poor Jess Hayes being Max Morley's second choice on the show, they did win - but they didn't last as a couple. STATUS: Broken up. Ronnie, who starred in the All Stars villa with Casey earlier this year, then tagged him in and wrote: "@caseyogorman HERE WE GO!!!!!!!." Fans immediately spotted the interaction and were quick to comment. "No way 🤣😭😭😭😭😭!" one replied. But Casey tells us that his pals are actually just teasing Love Island fans. He said: 'I think Tom, Ronnie, Chuggs all the boys comment on pretty much every single Love Island post being like 'when's Casey going back,' but it's all just banter and to be honest.' He's also since opened up on his split from co-star Gabby, after fan speculation as to why they went their separate ways. Casey told us: 'It just wasn't working from either side unfortunately - but we are still friends, we ended very, very amicably.' On Sunday night, Maya Jama quizzed Gabby on their split, during her appearance on Love Island After Sun. And it was Kaz Crossley who seemed to hint at the real reason behind their split. Maya chatted to the girls, turned to Gabby and said: "Gabby, what happened with you and Casey?" "How long have we got?" Gabby joked. She then said: "You know what, not really that much to report." Gabby noted how she and Casey were at "very different stages in our lives". Kaz then interjected when she said: "Casey he's a lovely boy, but emphasis on boy," seemingly throwing shade at her pal's ex. "I love Gabby, but a relationship, you just need a bit more depth. "We're looking for our husbands," she concluded.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Love Island's Shaughna Phillips showcases her six stone weight loss in stunning lingerie transformation snaps
Shaughna Phillips looked incredible as she showed off her nearly six stone weight loss in an impressive before and after snap. The former Love Island star, 31, has been working hard on her diet and fitness in recent years and has gone from 97kg (15st) to 61kg (9.6st). The influencer embarked on her weight loss journey following the birth of her daughter, Lucia, in 2023. In her latest post, Shaughna shared a photo of herself in white lingerie alongside another taken 14 months later after losing the weight. Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Let the record reflect, although I've dropped a few dress sizes, I will ALWAYS love a high waisted full brief.' The star was inundated with messages from followers who wrote: 'Well done'... 'You look happy with your new body that's all that matters lovely'... 'Well done you look amazing. Determined to be the strongest version of herself for her little one, she ditched old habits in favour of a disciplined meal plan and quick-fire boxing-inspired workouts. It comes after Shaughna, who was told previously she was clinically obsese, showed off her figure in a white bikini as she shared before and after shots of her weight loss. She posted three side-by-side pictures of herself on her weight loss journey - on day one, nine months in and just over a year later. She wrote over the top of it: 'This is me on day one fronting it out, showing sass I didn't feel.' The video then skipped to her at the end of her weight loss journey as she wore a similar bikini, showing off her weight loss. She added: 'Just hoping I'd get to here one day and still kinda shook that did.' The Love Island star has dropped five dress sizes after starting on her fitness and diet plan and is now a healthier nine stone 10lbs. Shaughna recently addressed claims she's used Ozempic to slim down, after stunning fans with her weight loss. She was hit by accusations that she used the drug Ozempic, which was previously used to treat diabetes but in recent years has been used by stars as an appetite suppressant. But the star has hit back at the claims, telling The Mirror: 'I love food way too much.' She went on to add: 'There's a new fad every other year. It just so happens that this is the fad this time around, and after I have lost weight. 'The thing is, it just coincided with the time when I had my daughter Lucia, and I had this baby weight, and everyone was commenting on it. 'Had it of been a few years prior, everyone would have been saying I had a BBL, or some magical liposuction that completely transformed how I looked.' Shaughna went on to add that she is 'terrified' by the prospect of the side effects of using Ozempic.
