How Love Island’s Ekin-Su will become multi-millionaire and surpass Molly-Mae as show’s most successful contestant ever
EKIN-SU Culculoglu is set to become Love Island’s richest star ever — with global superbrands queuing up to work with her.
As fashion, beauty and lifestyle firms circle, the Turkish bombshell has already emerged as the real winner of this year’s series of Love Island.
Brand experts reckon her earnings could even surpass that of Love Island multi-millionaire Molly-Mae Hague.
But ITV have first dibs and intend to get her and villa lover Davide Sanclimenti, both 27, signed up for a spin-off show.
A source said: “There’s a pretty well-trodden path for Love Island winners. Over the past seven series it’s the usual fast fashion, drugstore make-up and then, of course, teeth whitening and protein shakes.
“Only Molly-Mae has really and truly broken that mould but even she ended up finding a home at a High Street fashion brand, Pretty Little Thing, albeit on a £250,000 salary.
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“Ekin’s appeal to brands appears to have gone way beyond all that. It’s not just clothing brands, but big, global corporate brands that want to work with her. She’s going to be a very, very busy girl.”
Last night, Ekin-Su and Davide confessed their love for one another during the dating show’s glittering finale.
Viewers fell for the couple’s fairytale ending after their explosive rows lit up this year’s series.
Devoted Ekin-Su told the Italian businessman: “The spark was instant. I love everything about you. You have shown me what happiness is. Davide, only you can annoy me so much yet at the same time have a passion to kiss you right back after.
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“The Turkish delight and the Italian stallion, perfect for one another. You’re my soulmate.
“I want you in my present and my future.”
Davide replied: “When the right person crosses your path you feel it straight away. We have a world to enjoy together and I’m so excited to see what the future holds for us.”
ITV bosses were waiting in the wings ready to sign the couple up for a spin-off show, following them for the rest of the year.
Both their Love Island contracts include exclusivity rights for the channel.
An insider said: “Just like with Olivia and Chris from 2018 then Jack and Dani in 2019, a spin-off show following Ekin and Davide would be a real ratings spinner.
“It is one of the first things ITV want to discuss with them.”
Brand guru Jonathan Shalit of InterTalent said: “Ekin-Su is funny, confident and the star of this series. She’s a girl’s girl which will go a long way in enticing brands. She could earn at least a million in the coming year.”
It comes after four couples battled it out to be crowned winners. Gemma Owen, 19, told her love Luca Bish, 23: “We started our journey on separate paths but ultimately led to each other.”
Luca gushed: “You are my best friend and hopefully something else very soon.”
Indiyah Polack, 23, told Dami Hope, 26: “You make me feel like the only girl in the world.”
Dami responded: “I’m so excited to do everything we spoke about.”
There was also an emotional moment for Tasha Ghouri, 23, and Andrew Le Page, 27.
Dancer Tasha, Love Island’s first deaf contestant, gushed: “I hoped to meet my love, my first love. You’re everything I asked for. Thank you for accepting me for me.
“The fact that when I fall asleep you take out my cochlear implant, I know you’re the one.”
Andrew replied: “You are incredibly brave and inspired more people than you’ll ever know.”
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The eighth series of Love Island was once more hosted by Laura Whitmore, 37, and her husband Iain Stirling, 34, was narrator.
It will be followed by a second series of Winter Love Island in January.
Top moments of the series
TERRACE KISSES: EKIN-Su secretly arranges to meet Jay Younger on the terrace and crawls on all fours, so that no one would see her. They kissed and then she and Jay ducked down as they left the terrace.
ANDREW’S BOOB: ANDREW confesses to Tasha how far he went with Coco in Casa Amor, fearing she would find out from others in the villa. Sheepishly, he told Tasha that he “licked her t*t, or whatever”.
ONE-LINERS KING: DAVIDE’S words of wisdom. He branded Ekin a “Liar! Actress!” then “Faker than a Louis Vuitton from China”. And when Tasha called someone a “Liar!”, he quipped: “That’s my line, Tasha.”
PANCAKES AT DAWN: EKIN-Su and Nathalia cooked pancakes in a boxing ring-style showdown for Davide’s heart. They exchanged angry words the previous night, with Ekin asking if Nathalia had a problem with her. Flippin’ Ek!
IT’S PULSE-ATING: THE raunchy dance challenge left viewers in shock as the Islanders including Gemma simulated sex acts. It left half of the villa upset after pulses were left racing by the wrong people for some.
