Dead Love Island star Sophie Gradon’s ‘deeply heartbroken’ ex-girlfriend pays emotional tribute to her
Sophie Gradon’s ex-girlfriend has revealed she’s “deeply heartbroken” as she paid a touching tribute to the late Love Island star.
Natalie Phillips, 28, dated Gradon, 32, for eight months before she found fame on the ITV2 show, and on Thursday shared pictures of the pair together and said, “I loved you with all my heart.”
Late Love Island star Sophie Gradon’s ex-girlfriend Natalie Phillips shared a touching tribute (Instagram / Natalie Phillips)
In a moving Instagram post, Phillips wrote: “Where do I even begin. You have said for as long as I can remember that you come to me because I always know the right things to say. All you ever wanted me to do was tell you everything was going to be ok and that was enough. Now I need to hear that from you. I am heartbroken. Deeply heartbroken. I knew you in ways that some people couldn’t even fathom. The good, the bad and the ugly. No matter what I always had your back and you were always on mine
“Meeting you and not only spending time with you as a partner but also as one of your closest friends was both an honour and a privilege. We had our fair share of ups and downs, trials and tribulations but believe me when I say, I loved you with all my heart. Always have and always will. That smile, that terrible tribal tattoo and those pixie ears of yours will remain in my heart forever.
“Night night God bless Miss Gradon ”
Heartbroken Phillips wrote: ‘I loved you with all my heart. Always have and always will.’ (Instagram / Natalie Phillips)
Gradon spoke lovingly about Phillips while on the show.
She told Tom Powell, who she was coupled up with: “I was quite serious with the last girl I was with.
“We broke up and still saw each other on and off. It wasn’t right, I love her to bits. It would be nice for you to meet her, you’d probably get on.”
The former Miss Great Britain was found dead at her parents home in Medburn, Portland, at around 8.30pm on Wednesday.
Sophie’s body was discovered at her parents’ home on Wednesday night (Sophie Hannah Gradon / Facebook)
Police have confirmed that no suspicious circumstances surround her death and a coroner’s report is currently being prepared to ascertain how and why she passed.
Sophie captured TV audiences hearts when she appeared on Love Island in 2016 and was refreshingly honest about her sexuality.
At the start of the series she was in a relationship with Powell, but later in the series she and Katie Salmon became the first, and only bisexual couple on the show.
Over the past two years Gradon was open about her mental health struggles and in March revealed in a radio interview the toll that online trolls took on her.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, suffering from anxiety or depression or just want to talk, call The Samaritans on 116 123.
