'I honestly believed Teddy was my soulmate

Faye Winter shares the pain of her break-up and reveals she won't let her single status stop her from starting a family

- RHIANNA BENSON

Love Island star Faye Winter has opened her heart for the first time since she and boyfriend Teddy Soares parted in February, telling new the pressure that accompanied their high-profile romance simply became too much to bear.

Fans were heartbroken when the much-loved couple called time on their relationship after 18 months together, but Faye says it was time to move on.

“We’re from very different worlds and we were trying to build a relationship in this very high-pressure environment,” the 27-year-old reality star explains. “We got moulded together, but we had different dreams and ambitions and I had to respect Teddy’s. We were so similar and we got on so well – he’ll forever have a very special place in my heart – and it feels like I’m grieving someone.”

Her voice cracking with emotion, Faye admits, “It’s so hard. I honestly believed he was my soulmate. It’s always hard to come to terms with these things and him not being there to build a life with. But you have to respect each other. It’s a loss, but you’ve got to keep on moving forwards.”

Former lettings manager Faye and ex-financial consultant Teddy, 28, met during the seventh season of the hit ITV2 dating show and kept viewers gripped with their fiery on-off romance. Despite finishing third, the pair went on to become the longeststanding couple from the 2021 series after winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon called it quits last July. Runners-up Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran split in October.

In February, Faye and Teddy – who moved into a plush Essex apartment together just three months after leaving the villa – broke the sad news of their split on Instagram.