Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu opened up about the 'hard time' she went through when she was heartbreakingly bullied as a child.
The 28-year-old had to eat her lunch alone in the toilet because things got so bad.
Ekin-Su appeared on the Late Late Show and spoke to host Ryan Tubridy about her time at school.
"At school, I had a hard time, I was bullied. I was quite overweight, I had no friends," she explained on Irish channel RTE One.
"I used to eat my lunch in the toilet on my own. I'd lock myself away.
"I just felt like: 'you know what, it doesn't matter if I've got my friends'. Naturally, you just made friends who like you for you."
Ryan said: "People can get quite serious about Love Island and talk about misogyny and bullying.
"Do you listen to that and take that seriously and say there is that element of it and I'd like to address it or do you say you're reading too much into what was a bit of fun?"
The Love Island icon said there will 'always be bullying in life', including at work, school, and 'on the street'.
"People just projecting themselves onto you. The best thing you can do is just be confident, give it a smile and just know who you are be authentic," she added.
"Don't be bothered about these bullies, you know."
Meanwhile, Ekin-Su has won over the nation's hearts with her personality and charm on this year's Love Island.
People loved the drama between Ekin-Su and her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti so much that they were crowned winners of the latest series.
After leaving the villa, she signed a deal £1 million deal with fashion retailer Oh Polly.
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She confirmed the news on social media, saying: "This is the news I’ve been waiting to tell you all …
"I am beyond excited to announce that I am now the face of @ohpolly. I honestly can’t believe this is happening – it is a complete dream come true for me!
"I have always loved the quality & fit of @ohpolly as you will all have seen during my time on Love Island."
Ekin-Su continued: "We have so many amazing things in the pipeline and I cannot wait for you guys to see what we have been working on.
"Thank you so much to everyone for all their love and support – I see all of you.
"This journey wouldn’t be possible without you all. I can’t wait to bring you all along on this exciting new venture."
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