BEING buried alive in a coffin might break some, but Ekin-Su Culculoglu says the peculiar TV ritual on The Traitors US has been the making of her.
The Love Island 2022 winner’s dramatic exit from the hit mur- der mystery show in January has helped her to crack America — and changed her outlook on life.
Ekin likened the “iconic death” to a spiritual awakening — and not a moment too soon as she was straight in to the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday night.
In her only newspaper chat ahead of the show, Ekin, 29, said: “This sounds really f***ed up, but I died in a coffin on The Traitors US and they buried me under the floor with mud all over me. That changed me.
“I watched my own funeral. It felt very, very emotional. Like I went to heaven or hell.
“You know, like, that’s it, God decides where you end up.
“I’ve just become stronger and I realised life is f***ing short and that we could die and who gives a f*** what people think about you, because no one cares.”
Ekin and, strangely, former Commons Speaker John Bercow, 61, were part of the largely American cast filming at Ardross Castle, in the Scottish Highlands, where the BBC’s The Traitors is also shot.
The British-Turkish actress was ousted from the show in the same “poisoned chalice” challenge that saw off retired teacher and fan favourite Diane Carson, 63, in the UK’s second series this year.
Ekin then had to play dead inside a casket as part of a fake funeral as the remaining Faithfuls and Traitors looked on.
On ITV’s resurrected Celebrity Big Brother, Ekin is rubbing shoulders with former X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, both 71, and TV presenter Fern Britton, 66. But she insists she can hold her own.
Ekin, who just weeks ago announced her split from Davide Saclimenti, with whom she won Love Island, added: “I feel so good right now, I feel free and empowered this year. I’ve learned to say no. I said yes a lot. I’m a people pleaser.
“I used to tolerate and say yes to everything. Now I’m gonna say no to things, and there’s power in that.”
Ekin has so far thrown herself into the madcap challenges set by Big Brother.
I thought, this is the perfect time to do something like this, to show different sides to me, to show the real me.
Last night’s episode saw housemates take part in a race day-themed game where Ekin had to dress up as a horse called “Equine-Su”.
She said: “The skills and challenges in Big Brother, showing that side will be fun. Facing your fears, that’ll be fun. I’m not scared of anything.
“I thought, this is the perfect time to do something like this, to show different sides to me, the real me. People always judge people on the way they look. I’m really against everything being based on looks, it’s about what’s in your heart.
“I never judge people for what they are, what they look like, their status, I treat everyone equally.”
In her first chat since her split from Davide, 29, Ekin added: “Life isn’t all about finding someone.
“Everyone’s like, ‘oh, you’re single, when are you gonna find someone?’ You don’t need that in your life.
“You can be independent and there’s other things that are interesting. You could be soulmates with someone but in a friendship way.”
Ekin feels ready to embrace life as an independent woman and has vowed to dodge romance on CBB.
She said: “I’m not going in there for love. I’m going in there for an experience, an experiment.”
Hinting at the reason behind her split from Italian stallion Davide in January after 17 months together, she added: “What I’ve learned throughout my life, and having a public relationship, is I don’t agree with always posting to prove a point to people, or each other, that you love each other.
“I don’t like that and I don’t agree with it.
“I think a healthy relationship is private, not posting about each other because it proves you are happy or posting to get likes.
“I’m not interested in that. That’s false.”
I’m 30 this year, so there’s been a lot of changes since Love Island and viewers will see a more elevated Ekin, I think. Maybe this is Ekin 2.0.
Ekin has become one of Love Island’s biggest success stories. As well as landing six-figure deals with fashion and beauty brands, she has appeared on Dancing On Ice, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip and The Weakest Link. Despite winning over viewers of the ITV2 dating show with their fiery and comedic showdowns — including Davide famously declaring Ekin to be “a liar and an actress” — she insists she has simmered down over the past two years.
So how will Ekin cope with being holed up with a bunch of strangers again?
She said: “I’ve changed in many ways. Before I would shout and scream, but now I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no’. There’s no point doing that, you don’t win an argument.
“I won’t suffer fools, that’s for sure.
“I think a more mature side to me will be seen in the house.
“I’m 30 this year, so there’s been a lot of changes since Love Island and viewers will see a more elevated Ekin, I think. Maybe this is Ekin 2.0.”
The Sun revealed last month that Davide had been left raging after Ekin secured the CBB gig, as he had been “hounding” ITV bosses for weeks for a meeting but was snubbed.
A source told The Sun: “Unfortunately ITV weren’t interested in Davide so didn’t meet him. They always had their sights set on Ekin.”
She couldn’t resist taking a brutal swipe at her ex on Monday when CBB host Will Best asked her what kind of housemates she hoped to be living with, simply replying: “Loyal.”
In last night’s episode, the reality star continued to open up about her former partner.
Let’s just say he hurt me.
Ekin-Su on Davide split
Chatting to American Broadway star Marisha Wallace, 38, Ekin asked: “They always say to me that the man should be more into the woman. Is that true?”
Marisha replied: “I think so. Always.”
Ekin went on to tell Marisha that she had made the “mistake” of being the partner to have the stronger feelings and that she had quit the relationship because her ex had “hurt” her.
Davide had been accused of cheating on Ekin on a number of occasions, but has always denied the allegations, including in a rant-fuelled video posted to Instagram last September.
It seems Ekin may need more convincing.
Keen to put the past behind her and approach her next reality TV stint with a more mature outlook, she told The Sun: “I am gonna deal with conflict like I always do now. I just listen.
“I don’t want to be falling out with someone over something petty.
“If there is conflict, I’d like to solve that and just get over it.
“We’re in there for a limited time, then on to the next thing.
“I like to handle things in a more mature way, we’re not kids, you know.”
Perhaps this new-found maturity is why Ekin — who has previously been described as an “old soul” — has made a beeline for older housemates such as Sharon and Louis.
Just hours after entering the house she revealed to daytime TV legend Fern that she finds it “hard” to be “strong” all the time and often cries after returning home from public appearances.
Ekin explained: “I just sometimes feel like I can’t find someone to talk to if I have sad days.
“I’m always the one giving advice and helping people but I find it hard to find someone on my phone that I can just call and say ‘I feel really sad today’.”
But in a lighter moment she expressed her excite- ment at the prospect of making new “friends”. Ekin said: “I love Irish people so I just wanna be best friends with Louis, make him tea, you know, look after him like my dad or granddad in there. And, of course, Sharon Osbourne, icon. What a strong woman.
“I prefer being older. The older you get, the more attractive you feel. I can’t wait to even turn 40 one day.
“I feel like the older I’m getting, the more comfort- able I am in my own skin. I’m more confident about who I am, what I stand for, what I want from life. You don’t take bulls**t any more.”
