She's set to ruffle feathers as she struts into the famous Love Island villa tonight (Wednesday June 8) and newcomer Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu already has a fan in Manchester City star Jack Grealish. The Turkish actress, 27, could be about to turn Manchester business owner Davide Sanclimenti's head as she makes a late arrival as a bombshell on the eighth series of the ITV2 dating contest.
Ekin-Su was introduced to viewers in a teaser at the end of last night's dramatic episode. And midfielder Jack, 26, has clicked 'like' on a snap of the Ekin-Su posted back on April 26.
In the photo shared with her 354,000 followers Ekin posed in a white swimsuit as she soaked up the sun in Bodrum, Turkey. And the compliments came pouring in as she wrote: "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
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One fan ashleaedwards praised: "Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous." And chelms38 said: "Truly stunning. xx" In 2021 Jack signed for Manchester City in a transfer deal worth £100 million, making him the most expensive English player ever.
Ekin-Su says she 'looking for that real genuine spark' in the villa. Asked why she is single she said: "Partially because I’m quite picky and I’m not just looking for looks, I’m looking for brains!
"I’m looking for someone with intelligence, someone who can have good chats. Nothing like cockiness! I’m looking for a serious man and a serious relationship."
Asked why she chose to go on Love Island, she said: "I’ve seen relationships that have worked out really well - and marriages! Dom and Jess, Camilla and Jamie - they’ve had kids as well. Dating for me has been very hard, especially in today’s world with dating apps. It’s a very false perception of somebody on these apps.
"I’ve found that whenever I’ve tried to date somebody through these apps, it’s been really unsuccessful. I’m looking for that real genuine spark and they just see me as me. I think the concept of the show brings back true and raw feelings."
Ekin-Su, who stars in a programme in Turkey called Kuzey Yildizi, says she'll be 'bringing laughter' to the TV villa. "I’ll bring a lot of advice. I think I’m mysterious in a way - people assume differently of me and something will come out of my mouth and people will say, ‘Did she just say that?’" she said.
In Tuesday night's episode hunky Davide, 27, chose to couple-up with dressage rider Gemma Owen, 19, the daughter of former England striker Michael Owen. The show set in Mallorca couples up singles in the sun over eight weeks in isolation from the outside world.
