CELEBRITY Big Brother star Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu has returned to social media weeks after she quit Instagram following her car crash exit interview.
The Love Island star was one of 13 celebrities to took part in the first series of the rebooted reality show on ITV.
The 29-year-old entered the house shortly after she split from her Love Island co-star Davide Sanclimenti amid cheating claims.
But while in the house she clashed with a number of her co-stars, including This Morning legend Fern Britton, West End star Marisha Wallace and YouTube sensation Zeze Millz.
Ekin-Su became the fourth housemate to be voted out, and her exit interview sparked a flood of complaints to telly watchdog Ofcom.
Returning to Instagram today, the reality TV star shared photos from life recently and could be seen pickig flowers in a green field in one snap.
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In another, the star looked happier while lying on her bed and reading a self help book.
And the actress explained that she needed time away from the spotlight to reflect on her turbulent few months.
Ekin-Su penned: “Just a little message to say hi
“Thank you once more for all your kindness.
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“Took some time off to reflect, recharge and restore which i’m still very much doing but I’ll need to be back online for work purposes especially.
“Thanks to the brands who I work with who have respected my boundaries and shown compassion and love during the past year.
“Haven’t felt myself for a long time, and I’ve realised i had kind of lost myself and for a while didn’t know who I was beyond being defined by ex relationships or TV shows, and that needs to change!
“I am so excited for all the growth and full healing. CBB was the final lightbulb moment to make me realise what needs to be done.
“Embracing the fresh start to a new month and new era…. Wishing everyone an April full of possibilities. I am so grateful for each one of you.”
Big Brother faced accusations of bullying and ITV was hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints when Ekin-Su appeared on Late & Live following her eviction.
Some fans claimed hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best were harsh on her during the post-eviction show.
When Ekin claimed a lot of things on the show hadn’t been aired, panellist Layton Williams slammed her, saying: “We’re not going to blame the edit, girl.”
AJ then chipped in, adding: “It’s interesting as you’ve literally just walked out of the house, you can’t have seen what’s been shown and what’s been said.
Who has won Celebrity Big Brother?
THE first Celebrity Big Brother aired in March 2001 on Channel 4.
Roll on 23 years and a switch to Channel 5 in 2011, CBB is now into its 23rd season and is being hosted for the first time by ITV.
Here’s who has won the coveted title so far:
Season 1 (2001): Comedian Jack Dee beat actress Claire Sweeney despite walking out of the house and evading security for about an hour. The series was also more memorable for Vanessa Feltz telling Big Brother to “f*** off” after chalking “incarcerated”, “ambushed” and “restricted” on the table.
Season 2 (2002): Take That favourite Mark Owen triumphed over TV host Les Dennis. The latter won over the sympathy of the audience after his marriage breakdown to wife Amanda Holden.
Season 3 (2005): Maraca shaking Bez walked out the winner ahead of Blazin’ Squad’s Kenzie. The Happy Mondays star scooped the £50,000 and went on 10-hour bender, blowing the cash.
Season 4 (2006): This was the season when Big Brother really mixed things up – by sending in a non-celebrity from fictional band Kandy Floss. However, Chantelle Houghton won over viewers and housemates alike and was crowned the winner. During her time in the house she found love with Ordinary Boys singer Preston. There was also added drama when George Galloway pretended to be Rula Lenska’s pet cat.
Season 5 (2007): Actress Shilpa Shetty won after being caught up in a racism bullying row with former BB contestant Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd, and S Club’s Jo O’Meara.
Season 6 (2009): Ulrika Jonsson beat Terry Christian, but controversy came in the form of rapper Coolio who was slammed by viewers as misogynistic, however he finished in third spot.
Season 7 (2010): Alex Reid beat Dane Bowers and Vinnie Jones with a huge 65% of the vote. Alex married Katie Price one month later.
Season 8 (2011): In the first series to air on Channel 5, Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty was the unexpected winner, beating singer Kerry Katona.
Season 9 (2012): Loose Women star Denise Welch triumphed over X Factor contestant Frankie Cocozza, after stripping off while drunk and jumping into the hot tub topless.
Season 10 (2012): Comedian Julian Clary got the nod in the vote over Coleen Nolan.
Season 11 (2013): The X Factor’s Rylan Clark beat couple Heidi Montag
& Spencer Pratt, who were competing as “one entity” and known as Speidi.
Season 12 (2013): Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby beat 5ive singer Abz Love
Season 13 (2014): Jim Davidson won after a blazing row with Linda Nolan. N-dubz Dappy took second spot.
Season 14 (2014): Gary Busey – who chose to roam around the CBB house naked – beat boxer Audley Harrison.
Season 15 (2015): Katie Price won the battle of the Katies as she saw off controversial Katie Hopkins in the final. The biggest talking point was American blogger’s Perez Hilton’s raging row with Calum Best, but the series also saw two early ejections of Jeremy Jackson and Ken Morley.
Season 16 (2015): Apprentice star James Hill beat model Austin Armacost. Tila Tequila was evicted on just the second day after she was found to have posted support for Adolf Hitler on social media.
Season 17 (2016): Geordie Shore’s Scotty T won after sharing a kiss with fellow housemate Tiffany Pollard. Stephanie Davis was runner-up.
Season 18 (2016): Stephen Bear won the show despite a huge row with radio star James Whale. Ricky Norwood placed second but this season saw Christopher Biggins ejected from the house after making an anti-Semitic joke.
Season 19 (2017): Coleen Nolan entered the CBB house for a second time – and this time came out the winner beating Jedward. During her second stint she had a massive showdown with horse star John McCririck.
Season 20 (2017): It was the battle of the reality show singers in the final, with Popstars: The Rivals winner and Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding beating The X Factor’s Amelia Lily.
Season 21 (2018): Courtney Act, otherwise known as Shane Jenek, won with politician Ann Widdecombe runner-up.
Season 22 (2018): Winning Dancing On Ice in 2024, was not Ryan Thomas‘s first reality show title. He won the CBB title in 2018, after a shocking “run-in” with Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallet, who falsely accused him of punching her. Actress Kirstie Alley came second.
Since that night, Ekin had not updated her instagram, other than to change her profile picture to a modelling shot rather than her CBB promo pic.
The Turkish actresses then shared a statement on her Instagram Stories day after missing the Celebrity Big Brother final that saw the other housemates reuniting to hear who had won.
She wrote: “I hope you don’t think I was selfish for setting boundaries and putting my own needs first last night.
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“I’m fully aware that not everybody will understand my absence, or think it was the right decision to make, BUT it was the right decision for me.”
