Ekin-Su Culculoglu reveals she was bullied as a child and even pushed down the stairs by a boy she had a crush on (Picture: Getty Images)
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu admits she struggles with fame after being bullied in school.
The Love Island icon won the 2022 series alongside boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti after viewers fell in love with their fiery personalities and honestly iconic rows.
But while Ekin-Su, 28, is now among one of the best-loved Love Island stars in recent memory, has secured her own TV show alongside Davide, also 28, and is set to appear on this series of Dancing On Ice.
Despite all her success however, the Turkish actress is finding it hard to ‘adjust’ to being loved, after suffering bullying in her childhood.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Weekend magazine, Ekin described it as ‘overwhelming’ transitioning from ‘being bullied at school to people loving me now.’
Reflecting on the difficult time, Ekin explained she moved from Islington to Essex at age 10, and ‘everyone in my class had Gucci bags and Prada shoes.’
The star stood out as she didn’t have designer clothes like the other girls in her class (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘I thought the other girls looked quite tacky with their fake tan, thin eyebrows and pink lipstick, but when I rocked up with no make-up, a ponytail and a long skirt, my Clarks shoes and a Nike bag, I was considered the weird one,’ she said.
She revealed the bullying even became physical, saying that age 12 she ‘fancied this guy but he would never look at me. In fact he pushed me down the stairs one day.’
Ekin suffered from body image issues, saying she was ‘a bit fat’ when she was 12, and ‘went on a stupid diet called the green apple diet’ where ‘all I did was eat apples and skip every day.’
Ekin is now one of the biggest breakthrough stars of 2022 after finding fame and love in Love Island (Picture: Shutterstock for NTA)
She said she found her confidence after being through difficult phases in her life including her parents divorcing, being bullied, ‘not knowing who your real friends were, not having people to speak to and feeling lonely and lost in life.’
The star showed off her confidence in the Love Island villa last summer, where she met now-boyfriend Davide.
After a rocky start (to put it lightly), the ‘liarr, actrezz’ and ‘Italian stallion’ have been joined at the hip since, and in October took the next step in their relationship in moving in together.
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Since winning Love Island, the couple featured in a two-part travel spin-off programme for ITV2 titled Ekin-Su & Davide: Homecomings, which saw them return to their home countries Turkey and Italy.
Ekin is currently training for Dancing On Ice, where she’ll skate for the trophy alongside the likes of Michelle Heaton, Patsy Palmer, Siva Kaneswaran, and Joey Essex.
Cybersmile and NSPCC
To contact Childline, you can call their helpline on 0800 111, or speak to a counsellor on their website.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu reveals she was bullied as a child and even pushed down the stairs by a boy she had a crush on (Picture: Getty Images)
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu admits she struggles with fame after being bullied in school.
The Love Island icon won the 2022 series alongside boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti after viewers fell in love with their fiery personalities and honestly iconic rows.
But while Ekin-Su, 28, is now among one of the best-loved Love Island stars in recent memory, has secured her own TV show alongside Davide, also 28, and is set to appear on this series of Dancing On Ice.
Despite all her success however, the Turkish actress is finding it hard to ‘adjust’ to being loved, after suffering bullying in her childhood.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Weekend magazine, Ekin described it as ‘overwhelming’ transitioning from ‘being bullied at school to people loving me now.’
Reflecting on the difficult time, Ekin explained she moved from Islington to Essex at age 10, and ‘everyone in my class had Gucci bags and Prada shoes.’
The star stood out as she didn’t have designer clothes like the other girls in her class (Picture: Shutterstock)
‘I thought the other girls looked quite tacky with their fake tan, thin eyebrows and pink lipstick, but when I rocked up with no make-up, a ponytail and a long skirt, my Clarks shoes and a Nike bag, I was considered the weird one,’ she said.
She revealed the bullying even became physical, saying that age 12 she ‘fancied this guy but he would never look at me. In fact he pushed me down the stairs one day.’
Ekin suffered from body image issues, saying she was ‘a bit fat’ when she was 12, and ‘went on a stupid diet called the green apple diet’ where ‘all I did was eat apples and skip every day.’
Ekin is now one of the biggest breakthrough stars of 2022 after finding fame and love in Love Island (Picture: Shutterstock for NTA)
She said she found her confidence after being through difficult phases in her life including her parents divorcing, being bullied, ‘not knowing who your real friends were, not having people to speak to and feeling lonely and lost in life.’
The star showed off her confidence in the Love Island villa last summer, where she met now-boyfriend Davide.
After a rocky start (to put it lightly), the ‘liarr, actrezz’ and ‘Italian stallion’ have been joined at the hip since, and in October took the next step in their relationship in moving in together.
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Since winning Love Island, the couple featured in a two-part travel spin-off programme for ITV2 titled Ekin-Su & Davide: Homecomings, which saw them return to their home countries Turkey and Italy.
Ekin is currently training for Dancing On Ice, where she’ll skate for the trophy alongside the likes of Michelle Heaton, Patsy Palmer, Siva Kaneswaran, and Joey Essex.
Cybersmile and NSPCC
Cybersmile provides a range of support options for people affected by cyberbullying and online abuse, with advice on who to contact on their website.
To contact Childline, you can call their helpline on 0800 111, or speak to a counsellor on their website.
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MORE : Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu melts hearts with 28th birthday surprise for her ‘king’ Davide Sanclimenti
Cybersmile provides a range of support options for people affected by cyberbullying and online abuse, with advice on who to contact on their website.