Love Island’s only LGBT contestant Sophie Gradon has died
Sophie Gradon, the only LGBT person known to have appeared on the reality show Love Island, has died aged 32.
Gradon, who appeared on the 2016 version of the ITV show and who was openly bisexual, was confirmed to have died on Wednesday.
The news was announced by her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong who wrote on Facebook: “I will never forget that smile I love you so so much baby your my world forever ever and always.”
Gradon and Armstrong (Sophie Hannah Gradon / Facebook)
During her time on Love Island, Gradon was open about her bisexuality on the show, which is typically very heterosexual.
In one episode, Gradon opened up about her sexuality, telling fellow islander Zara Holland: “I’ll tell you a secret now, I dated a lesbian for about six months, and another lesbian for about five or six months.”
Tributes have flooded in for the reality star.
Gradon’s ex-girlfriend Katie Salmon has paid tribute to the late star after her shock death at age 32, saying that the world had “failed” her.
In a lengthy post on Twitter, Salmon wrote: “I urge everyone to be kind to every person they meet and speak with on social media and in person a simple smile, a simple nice comment can make a difference.”
(Sophie Hannah Gradon / Facebook)
She added: “You really don’t know the battles they go through every single day.
“The world has failed you beautiful.”
Fly high beautiful so high! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JPrqQgkPqC
— Katie Salmon (@katiesalmon24) 21 June 2018
As well as her appearance on Love Island Gradon had an established career in beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Great Britain in 2009.
(Sophie Hannah Gradon / Facebook)
The organisers of the Miss Great Britain pageant paid tribute to the 32-year-old on Twitter, writing: “Shocked beyond belief! RIP Sophie Gradon, sending all our love to Sophie’s family at this incredibly sad time.”
Shocked beyond belief!!! RIP @sophiegradon sending all our love to Sophie’s family at this incredibly sad time xx
— Miss Great Britain ® (@Official_MissGB) 21 June 2018
Northumbria Police confirmed that a 32-year-old woman was found dead in a property near Newcastle on Wednesday, but that they were not treating the death as suspicious.
A statement from the police said: “At about 8.27pm yesterday (June 20) police attended a property in Medburn, Ponteland, where sadly a 32-year-old woman was found deceased.
“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. A report will now be prepared for the coroner.”
Gradon and Salmon became Love Island‘s first ever same-sex couple during the 2016 series of the ITV2 show.
