She blazed into the villa as the ultimate bombshell, turning heads left, right and centre, and prompting Brad to declare that he’d “never felt like this before”. But Lucinda Strafford hasn’t always been lucky in love.
In fact, it’s claimed the former British Airways flight attendant only signed up to Love Island after her ex-boyfriend, Premier League footballer Aaron Connolly, was exposed as a serial cheat earlier this year while they were still together. Because revenge is a dish best served on prime-time TV.
According to reports, Lucinda and Aaron, both 21, were an item for two years and even lived together, but split in March after reports surfaced that the Brighton and Hove player had cheated on her with multiple women – and had also breached lockdown rules in the process.
Apparently, despite breaking things off at the time, Lucinda and Aaron had started getting close again in recent weeks, and Aaron knew about her plans to enter the villa – which, he wasn’t too chuffed about.
CHECK OUT how to follow the Love Island cast on Instagram, TikTIk and YouTube
heat How to follow the Love Island cast on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube - use this one
1 of 22Sharon Gaffka Instagram name
Instagram: @sharongaffkaTwitter: SharonNJGaffkaTikTok: She's doesn't do Tik Tok, sorry babes YouTube: No YouTube either
2 of 22Aaron Francis Instagram name
Instagram: aaronfranciisTwitter: He doesn't tweet TikTok: WE'RE OBSESSED aaronfranciisYouTube: Aaron Francis Essentials
3 of 22Liberty Poole Instagram name
Instagram: libertypoolexTwitter: Liberty__PooleTikTok: libertyamorYouTube: No YouTube, sorry honey
4 of 22Hugo Hammond Instagram name
Instagram: hugo_hammond_Twitter: He's not on Twitter TikTok: No TikTok either :( YouTube: Hugo LOVES mystery, no YouTube either
5 of 22Shannon Singh Instagram name
Instagram: shannonsinghhhTwitter: No Twitter account TikTok: No TikTok either, sorry YouTube: Alexa Singh
6 of 22Jake Cornish Instagram name
Instagram: jakecornish7Twitter: Not on Twitter TikTok: No account :(YouTube: He's a water engineer, do you think he has time?
7 of 22Kaz Kamwi instagram name
8 of 22Brad McClelland Instagram name
Instagram: brad_mcclellTwitter: brad_mcclellTikTok: brad_mcclelland_YouTube: No Youtube account
9 of 22Chloe Burrows
Instagram: chloe__burrowsTwitter: @Chloe___BurrowsTikTok: Chloe doesn't have Tik Tok YouTube: No Youtube account
10 of 22Faye Winter
Instagram: faye__winterTwitter: @MissFayeWinterTikTok: No Tik Tok YouTube: Faye doesn't do YouTube, soz
11 of 22Toby Aromolaran
Instagram: tobyaromolaranTwitter: No Twitter (that we can find)TikTok: tobyaromolaranYouTube: No YouTube
12 of 22Chuggs Wallis
Instagram: chuggswallisTwitter: chuggswallisTikTok: Chuggs doesn't do Tik TokYouTube: No YouTube either
13 of 22Liam Reardon
Instagram: liamreardon1Twitter: _LiamReardonTikTok: Liam doesn't do Tik TokYouTube: No YouTube either, sorry babes
14 of 22Rachel Finni
Instagram: rayfinnTwitter: Rachel is very mysterious and only has Instagram TikTok: You won't find her hereYouTube: Or here
15 of 22Millie Court
Instagram: milliegracecourtTwitter: No Twitter TikTok: milliegracecourtYouTube: You won't find Millie on YouTube
16 of 22Lucinda Strafford
Instagram: lucindastraffordTwitter: She's not on Twitter, soz TikTok: lucindastraffordYouTube: No YouTube
17 of 22Teddy Soares
Instagram: teddy_soaresTwitter: No TwitterTikTok: No TikTokYouTube: No YouTube either :(
18 of 22Andrea-Jane Bunker
Instagram: andreajanebunkerTwitter: @_andreajbunkerTikTok: No Tik Tok, yet YouTube: No YouTube account
19 of 22Danny Bibby
Instagram: dannybibby_Twitter: Danny doesn't tweet TikTok: No TikTokYouTube: He's not on YouTube
20 of 22Georgia Townend
Instagram: georgiatownend_Twitter: georgiatownend_TikTok: Georgia doesn't do Tik Tok YouTube: No YouTube either
21 of 22Abigail Rawlings
Instagram: abigaillouiserawlingsTwitter: Abi doesn't tweet TikTok: abigaillouiserawlingsYouTube: She's doesn't do YouTube
22 of 22Tyler Cruickshank
Instagram: tylercruickshank_Twitter: No Twitter TikTok: No Tik TokYouTube: You guessed it, he doesn't have an account
“They’ve seen each other, been at each other’s houses and had dinner, but over the last couple of days, she’s told a few people she’s going to be on Love Island,” said a source earlier this month, days before Lucinda made her TV debut.
“Aaron knows and isn’t very happy. They have argued about it.”
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And it’s not just heartbreak that spurred her into reality TV action. Up until last year, Lucinda had been jet-setting around the globe for her job, but had recently been made redundant (bloody COVID). She now runs her own online fashion boutique, The Luxe Range, and is keen to give the business exposure.
Speaking as she went into the villa, Lucinda told us her reasons for signing up. “I’m a relationship kind of girl,” she said. “The timing is right and I want to have some fun.”
As for her former career, she humbly told us, “I flew Dannii Minogue, Usain Bolt and Nick Grimshaw. They were all so fun. They were pressing the call button and specifically asking for me.” You sure they weren’t just asking for the free Champagne, Luce?
Read more in the latest issue of heat magazine – OUT NOW.