Ekin-Su Culculoglu claims The Traitors taught her ‘who the real faithfuls are’ in life as she takes swipe at ex Davide Sanclimenti after show wins at Critics Choice Real TV Awards

Ekin-Su Culculoglu has claimed her time on US side The Traitors and taught her ‘who the true believers are’ in life in a thinly veiled dig at ex Davide Sanclimenti – after she branded their relationship ‘toxic’ following his alleged cheating with other women .

The 29-year-old, who won Love Island in 2022 with the Italian businessman, also 29, before splitting for a second time earlier this year, joined her fellow cast members as the US reality show won four gongs at the Critics Choice Real 2024. TV Awards in LA on Saturday.

Speaking to MailOnline after the chic ceremony: ‘Ironically the show has taught me that I have a terrible idea of ​​who the traitors and believers are in my real life!’

“But it’s all been a learning process, I’m taking charge of my career as best I can and I feel like I’m falling in love with life again.”

Ekin-Su looked nothing short of sensational as she went braless to the bash under a white backless dress and celebrated the series by winning Best Competition, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Show Host and Male Star of the Year for presenter Alan Cumming.

As well as heartbreak, Ekin-Su was embroiled in a bullying row during her time on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, but revealed she has finally seen the tide of change.

Saying, “It’s been a whirlwind year, but last night was a light at the end of the tunnel for me, like things are getting better, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

‘I am no longer in my silent woman era, I have taken back control of my life, of who I am, and now that I am getting ready to turn 30, I feel more powerful and I feel like it is the Ekin-2 is chapter’.

The former Love Island star also said she felt ‘honoured’ to be able to attend the ceremony at the Fairmont Century Plaza, claiming ‘little Ekin-Su’ could only have dreamed of such an opportunity.

“The Traitors wasn’t just a show for me, it came at a time when I needed it most, it taught me a lot and I’m so grateful to the team behind it.”

Before adding, “We really have become a family on the show and I’ve made some lifelong friends. Who would have thought that being buried alive would have been the catalyst for so much change in my life. The change I needed’.

The reality show sees 22 strangers stay in a castle in the Scottish Highlands, where they are tasked with completing challenges for a chance to win a £120,000 prize.

But three traitors secretly lurk within the ranks, sabotaging their efforts and picking off the participants.

Ekin-Su appeared in the series alongside former Speaker of the House John Bercow, 61, Real Housewives Of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, 50, and RuPaul’s Drag Race icon Peppermint, 45.

It comes from the reality TV veteran who promised to expose everything in her impressive memoir, including what really happened in her relationship with Davide before their divorce.

The Love Island winner, who met Davide on the ITV2 dating show, confirmed she had split from the Italian businessman for a second time in February, blaming a ‘rollercoaster of ups and downs’ in their romance.

Now Ekin-Su’s new tell-all book will see her open up about childhood trauma and bullying, and look back on her experiences participating in reality shows such as Love Island, The Traitors US and Celebrity Big Brother.

She said The sun: ‘It’s everything, my experience with Davide, there’s a lot in it. I’m done hiding. I’m done lying and protecting other people, this is my truth.’

She added that writing the book felt “like therapy” and said she “wants people to know me, not the work I’ve done or the wrongdoers I date.”

It comes after Ekin-Su spoke about the real reason for her characterless behavior in the Celebrity Big Brother house, noting it had to do with the way Davide allegedly treated her.

She highlighted the devastating effect of his alleged cheating on her ex-boyfriend ahead of their divorce in January, leaving her heartbroken.

Ekin-Su skipped the Big Brother final in March after her management felt she was too ‘vulnerable’ to return in light of her turbulent time on the ITV series and subsequent appearance on a drama-filled spin-off offshow.

The Turkish actress claimed she made a mistake by entering the house after being told Davide had cheated on her and possibly saw evidence of himself.

She told The Sun: ‘I should never have entered the Big Brother house. I was angry, hurt, maybe a little bitter, definitely insecure – Big Brother is not the place you go to cure heartache, I can tell you.

‘I went into the show thinking I could rebuild myself after everything that happened with Davide, but I came out worse. My guard was up.

‘I blame myself for making a bad choice in my career. People could see that I wasn’t myself, and I can understand why they thought I was fake.”

She added: “I never wanted to believe the accusations against Davide, but people told me I was constantly being cheated on. I was so afraid of being alone, and I didn’t know who Ekin-Su would be without him.”