Love Island beauty, Ekin-su Cülcüloglu, is stealing hearts on the ITV 2 reality show – but did you know that she once lived in Lancashire?

Ekin-su is Turkish-born and currently living in Essex but spent several years of her life living in Preston.

Here, she studied as a University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) student.

Ekin-Su, aged 27, studied a BA degree in acting at the university before graduating in 2015.

The university has spoken to the Lancashire Telegraph about her appearance on Love Island and wish her “the very best” on it.

A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) spokesperson said: “We wish our 2015 BA (Hons) Acting graduate Ekin-su Cülcüloglu all the very best for her time on ITV’s Love Island and hope she finds her dream man in the villa.”

Since entering the ITV villa last week, the new arrival has established herself as a confident contestant who is unafraid to tread on people’s toes”.

Asked about how competitive she will be on the hit dating show, Ekin-Su said: “I don’t care about treading on toes.

“Of course I am there to make friends too but realistically I’m not there to make seasonal girlfriends, I’m there to find the love of my life.

“I need to find the man of my dreams so if there is another girl in the way, I don’t care.

“I’m quite fiery and passionate so if I want something, I don’t care what gets in the way.”

However, Ekin-su’s “fiery” nature might have cost her a place in the show as she is the bookies’ favourite to be booted from the villa next.

According to Betfair, Ekin-su has 6/4 odds of leaving next and has 20/1 odds of winning the competition – the lowest of the bunch.

Betfair spokesperson, Sam Rosbottom, said: “Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, who seems set on getting to know new boy Jay Younger, is the 6/4 favourite to go next.

“Looking at Love Island's potential winning couple, Andrew Le Page and Tasha Ghouri are the 9/2 favourites to finish top after being the first pair to spend the night in the hideaway.”