"It was unfortunate": Ekin-Su shares real reason for Curtis Pritchard split in first interview since break up
Now, two months on, Ekin-Su has opened up for the first time since their split, telling Cosmopolitan UK exclusively: "It was unfortunate."
Talking about their time on the show, Ekin-Su gushed: "Basically, when you're in the villa, you're living your own reality, and you're able to give your time and attention to that one person."
She continued: "And when we came off the show, we tried to keep that same bubble for ourselves. But what really happened was we were just so incredibly focused on our careers and when both people are focused on their careers, I think for us, we didn't want to end up resenting each other in the future, and we didn't want it to turn into something that wasn't healthy for us, because we do get along and we had such a good relationship."
Asked the moment they realised it wasn't going to work, the 30-year-old actress and reality TV star explained: "Well, I was literally in the US a lot, and it was actually the time when his boxing appeared. I love seeing him passionate about something he loves, and he was the same with me. And I think with boxing as well it's intense training every day and you do need to focus on that on its own. Sometimes they don't see their wives for months when it comes to professional boxing, so it was hard to see each other."
Unlike some of the other All Stars couples - like Grace and Luca, who have taken several trips together since the show, including to Italy, New York, and Dubai, where he asked her to be his girlfriend - Ekin-Su felt that she and Curtis hadn't been able to reach certain milestones in their relationship due to their busy schedules
"We didn't see each other as much as we'd like," she said. "You know we never had the chance to really go away together and have our romantic honeymoon holiday that most couples did in the villa. So it was unfortunate."
Ekin-Su, who originally appeared on the eighth series of Love Island, which she won with her ex Davide Sanclimenti, and Curtis, from the fifth series, met on the second season of Love Island: All Stars earlier this year.
Despite a few wobbles along the way, they made it to the final and finished in third place, behind runners-up Grace and Luca, and winners Gabby Allen and Casey O'Gorman.
Three months later, however, they decided to end their relationship, with Ekin-Su releasing a statement on her Instagram Story.
"I wanted to share that Curtis and I have decided to go our separate ways. It's been really a tough decision, but one made with a lot of love and respect for one another," she wrote.
"He's an incredible person and I'll always cherish the memories we made both in and out of the villa. Thank you all so much for the love and support over the past few months. We're both focussing on navigating the transition and would really appreciate privacy during this time. Love always, Ekin-Su xx"
Curtis, who is a professional dancer and has recently got into boxing, shared a statement of his own at the time confirming the news.
He said: "It's true, Ekin and I have decided to go our separate ways. Break ups are never easy, but I'll always be grateful for the laughs, the adventures, and the memories (especially the dance routines.)"
Despite the split, Ekin-Su tells us that she and Curtis are still on good terms.
"It was actually a really healthy relationship, and we brought out the best in each other, but it just didn't work," she smiled.
"We entered it [the break up] in a way where, if you ever need me, I'm here, sort of thing. I was like, 'If you need me, I'm here. And he said the same. I said, 'I might need help in the future for dance moves. I'm gonna be calling you.'"
This is Ekin-Su's second split from someone she met on the ITV2 dating show.
She broke up with Davide in June 2023 after meeting on the show in 2022. Although they briefly got back together, they called it quits for good in January 2024. Davide is now in a new relationship with entrepreneur Iris Au and Ekin-Su was linked to Married At First Sight UK star Georges Berthonneau last year.
"I have been on a few dates here and there," she revealed. "I was quite nervous, but I'm having fun. It's my Hot Girl Summer. I'm enjoying being single, but I'm also enjoying having a little flirt."
She added: "I'm a lover. I'm a romantic. I wear heart my sleeve. So if I meet someone, I meet someone. I'm not going to say no, because I've just come out of a breakup. You don't know when you'll meet the one, but I am open."
Could Mr. Right be just around the corner, Ekin? We hope so!
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