Sophie Gradon, 'Love Island' star and former Miss Great Britain, dead at 32
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sophie Gradon, the former Miss Great Britain who was later a contestant on the British dating show “Love Island,” died Tuesday night at age 32, her boyfriend confirmed. Her death comes months after she spoke about dealing with "horrific" online bullying.
The cause of her death has not yet been revealed.
Gradon’s boyfriend, Aaron Armstrong, announced the news on his Facebook page Thursday, saying he is “absolutely devastated.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I will never forget that smile I love you so so much baby your my world forever ever and always,” Armstrong captioned a photo of him and Gradon.
Police arrived at a home in Medburn, Ponteland, just before 8:30 p.m. and found the woman dead, Sky News reported. Ponteland is a village located roughly 9 miles north of Newcastle.
"There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. A report will now be prepared for the coroner,” a police statement read.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Just a few months back, the former beauty queen spoke about dealing with a “horrific” amount of online trolls sending her nasty comments about her physical appearance.
“It was horrific. I think when you get so many comments on the scale we did coming out of thousands of followers,” Gradon said in an interview with Radio Aire in March. “There are fans and positive comments but people would focus on the negatives. Sometimes I would look for it.”
She continued, “There would be so many negative comments. They are commenting on the way you look, the way you talk. They would come up with an opinion of you on a TV show where they’ve watched you for 45 minutes.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gradon said the online bullying could take a toll on a person and the “harsh reality” was that the negativity could lead to someone’s suicide.
“And as you’ve seen in the media, that is what happens. Can you imagine being responsible for that?” she said.
Gradon, crowned Miss Great Britain in 2009, became a reality television star in 2016 when she appeared on the second season of “Love Island,” where single men and women move to a luxury house on an island in hopes of finding love.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The reality star was in two relationships while on the show, one with a man and one with a woman. She was part of the show's first same-sex couple.
Gradon was active on social media a day before she died. She posted a video on Twitter of Armstrong dancing with a dog.
“When the love of your life loves his dogs like this you know he’s the one. She’s cuddling him right back... & those arms,” she tweeted.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The couple was recently vacationing in the resort town of Antibes in southern France to celebrate Armstrong’s birthday.
Several fans and former co-stars paid tribute to Gradon on Twitter.
“Love Island” star Holly Hagan said Gradon was helping her “battle the twitter trolls yesterday,” adding “rest in peace beautiful.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Shocked beyond belief!!! RIP @sophiegradon sending all our love to Sophie’s family at this incredibly sad time xx,” Miss Great Britain’s official Twitter account wrote.
Olivia Buckland, a former “Love Island” contestant, tweeted: "Awful awful news this morning. I am gutted. I am so sorry the world failed you. You were such an intricate, creative, intelligent soul. Words fail me."
"We had lots of little chats and so many laughs. you were the the shoulder to cry on and a beautiful person with a beautiful soul. Shine bright in that sky Sophie gradon,” reality star Alex Bowen tweeted.