Naturally, there was nervous excitement and anticipation for the challenge of whatever lay ahead.
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But there was also a strong feeling that this moment marked something of a new beginning.
Since splitting from boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti just a few weeks ago, this is very much the start of Ekin-Su’s next chapter.
“It’s a new era for me,” she nods, speaking exclusively to Fabulous during our top-secret shoot just days before she entered the Big Brother house.
“I’m single and I’m really focusing on myself at the minute. You can’t plan who you’ll meet in life, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and so I’m just going with that.
“We had great times, and that’s that. With any ex, I wish them well. I’m not a bitter person.”
It was at the end of January when Ekin-Su, 29, took to Instagram to reveal that her passionate 18-month romance with Italian Davide, also 29, was officially over.
According to her post, the couple, who won Love Island together in 2022 “cared deeply for each other”, but it was Ekin-Su who had instigated the split.
“I have recently made the decision to end our relationship and go our separate ways,” she wrote.
However, Davide published a statement shortly afterwards appearing to contradict that version of events and insisting it had been a “joint decision”.
He added: “I was waiting to make it public to respect her time in the show [The Traitors US]. I don’t know why the agreed statement changed last minute.”
Ekin-Su doesn’t want to go into the details today or start a public war of words with Davide, but it’s clear that the fallout from the break-up has been painful.
“It’s really raw at the minute,” she says, momentarily tearful. “It’s only been a few weeks and we had a year and a half together with so many memories. You can’t just move on one day and suddenly everything’s finished.”
Having said that, Ekin-Su has been adjusting to single life and is rather relishing being footloose and fancy-free. This is her time now – an opportunity to strike out on her own as opposed to being tied down as one half of a celebrity couple.
“I do feel a lot more confident in myself,” she says, comparing herself to the person she was before Love Island.
“I know what I want, I know what I tolerate and what I won’t tolerate and I have a lot more boundaries than I did before.”
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Perhaps tellingly, she says any future partner must be someone who fully celebrates her free-spiritedness and independence. She’s certain that a lot of men feel threatened by female strength and confidence.
“Oh, I’m sure men are scared of me. I’m a fiery woman and men who aren’t fully secure in themselves are intimidated by strong women. A strong woman needs a strong man – and vice versa.”
She adds: “I’ve never been dependent on anyone. I’ve always been good by myself. While it’s nice being in a relationship and I’m certainly not against that, I’m not afraid of being on my own. At all.”
Since winning Love Island, British-Turkish actress Ekin-Su has gone on to become the undeniable breakout star of 2022’s series, where she proved herself to be a genuine girls’ girl – hugely likeable, endearingly kooky and entirely at ease with herself. Little wonder fans coined the nickname “Icon-Su”.
Her popularity and relatability led to lucrative brand deals and a place on last year’s Dancing On Ice.
Most recently, she appeared on the American version of The Traitors, where she struck up an unlikely friendship with fellow Brit and former Speaker John Bercow (“I love John so much. I actually saw him today!”) and now looks set to crack the States.
I’m a fiery woman and men who aren’t fully secure in themselves are intimidated by strong women
“I had a few chats when I was in New York recently – I can’t say too much, but why not America?
“If a job was offered and it was one that I loved, and they said: ‘Ekin, you’re going to have to stay here for six months…’ then of course. America has my heart. I love England as well, so why not both countries? I could stay here for six months and there for six months. Anything is possible.”
With reported earnings of £1.8million, 3.5 million Instagram followers and Hollywood beckoning, it’s funny to think that Ekin-Su only signed up to Love Island on the flip of a coin and assumed her quirkiness would mean she came out universally hated.
“It’s true that it all came down to a coin toss – it landed on tails twice, so I was like: ‘You know what, I’m taking the road and going into the villa…’
“It was a risk, but I’m not afraid of taking risks and I’ve never listened to the crowd. I don’t take any notice of what is popular, what’s in fashion or what other people are doing. I’ve always done my unique, quirky thing on my own.
“I went through school as a chubby kid and it wasn’t just name-calling, it was quite extreme bullying, to the point where the teachers were my only friends. But it shaped who I am now. Maybe if I’d been Miss Popular or Miss I-get-everything-I-want-in-life then I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
DARKER SIDE TO FAME
In an industry where competition to stay relevant is fierce, what does she think separates her from a saturated reality star and influencer market?
“I don’t know what it is. Maybe because I don’t put myself on a pedestal or see myself as a celebrity. I don’t have this massive ego. I can talk to everyone and be anyone’s friend and that’s what keeps me humble. Being a nice person in this industry and treating others how you’d like to be treated is very important.
“I’ll go into a supermarket and people are always really shocked when they come up to me and I stop to have a chat with them and ask them how their day’s been. But that’s just me, you know? And then, without naming names, I hear of other people from Love Island, who have big egos and, well, it doesn’t hurt to say: ‘Hey, how are you?’ to someone, does it?”
There has been a darker side to fame, though and Ekin-Su has learned some harsh lessons in the last couple of years. Caught up in the initial whirlwind of life outside the villa, she said yes to jobs she later regretted, and found herself working seven days a week without a break.
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By the time she competed on Dancing On Ice, she was fragile and close to burnout.
There are also friends who have betrayed her trust by selling stories – including private voice notes where she called 2021 Love Island winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon “dry” becoming public.
It’s meant that Ekin-Su has been forced to cut people out of her life and can now count her friends on one hand.“I’ve learned that people’s true colours show when you’re successful and working hard.
It made me realise that I should only give attention and love to the people who deserve it.
I hear of other people from Love Island, who have big egos
“I’m not going to lie, I’m actually happier like this, just having two or three friends. I’m happier having my own little circle and not simply trusting everyone. You don’t have to have 10 or 20 friends to be cool, you just have to be you, love who you are and be comfortable in your own skin. Which I am.”
These days, she is a lot more circumspect about the jobs she accepts, and says she values integrity over cash – the money is no longer her primary motivation.
“When I came out of Love Island, I was saying yes to a lot of things, but I’m a lot more careful now… I don’t regret Dancing On Ice – I loved the show, there was a great team, production were amazing and I learned a new skill.
“But I was so busy and rundown and [since then] there have been many, many jobs that I’ve declined although they paid very well. I don’t look at the paycheck, I look at what is good for my personality and what is going to bring out the best side of me to the audience.
“I guess some people are happy to do everything and whatever paycheck comes in they’ll accept it. I just want to do things that make me happy. Money isn’t everything in life.”
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She won’t confirm whether she was approached for the recent series of Love Island: All Stars, but regardless, she would never go back.
“I wouldn’t do it. I enjoyed my season. I won the show and Davide and I were great at the time. I have great memories, but I’m not going to relive it again. I’m not going to go back there. I love the show and it’s brought me to where I am now, but that chapter is closed.
“I don’t work backwards. I want to challenge myself with what’s going to interest me next and I always want it to be completely different to what I’ve done before.”
Bringing us neatly back to Celebrity Big Brother which, thanks to ITV, returned to screens this week after a six-year absence.
The legendary show has been responsible for so much television gold over the years, including George Galloway’s cat impression (2006), Jackie “Yeah, it’s Jackie” Stallone (2005)and the classic “David’s Dead” episode from 2016 – perhaps the most bizarre case of mistaken identity ever recorded.
Ekin-Su didn’t think twice about signing up, and there’s little doubt that she’s a dream booking for any reality TV producer.
“There are so many reasons why I said yes,” she explains. “It’s such an iconic show and it’s a social experiment, sharing a house with strangers and learning about yourself at the same time.
“I don’t really go into shows with any strategy. I go in with my heart and live in the moment and take every day spontaneously. I’m not there to make fights, although I’m not one to sit back and not say anything if someone is being disrespectful.
In the make-up chair with Ekin-Su
Do you have any skincare heroes?
I take my make-up off with mineral water and cotton pads, followed by a Caudalíe toner, an Augustinus Bader serum, an Estée Lauder eye cream and then moisturiser.
What do you splurge on?
La Mer Crème De La Mer Moisturising Face Cream. It is expensive, but it lasts. And for something a bit cheaper, I love the Medik8 range.
What are your make-up bag essentials?
The BPerfect X Ekin-Su Radiant Glow Skin Perfector in Shade 2. Also, I swear by my eyeshadow palette and lashes.
What are your beauty hacks?
Brush your brows upwards with soap. If you do that, then they will stay up and look fresh.
Who’s your celebrity icon?
Olivia Culpo – I adore her, plus her skin is flawless.
“I’m looking forward to being without my phone for a while. I think that will be a peaceful, healing experience for me.
“No internet, no social media, just humans living in the moment, having a laugh, having a cry, having all sorts of emotions running through that house. I can’t wait.”
As ever with Celebrity Big Brother, we should expect the unexpected. But one thing Ekin-Su can guarantee is that she isn’t looking for love in the house. The prospect of a new relationship couldn’t be further from her mind right now.
“I’ve just come out of one relationship and I never jump from one to another. That’s definitely not the reason why I’m going into Big Brother!
“I’m excited to get to know everyone on friendly levels – that’s the only love I’m looking for at the minute.” She adds: “But I’ll never stop believing in love. I live with love. I give love every day and I will always believe in it. I have faith!”
- Watch Celebrity Big Brother, Sunday-Friday, 9pm, ITV1 and ITVX.