Love Island star shares hidden heartbreak after 'soulmate' died in horror crash

Daily Mirror

a day ago

Leah Taylor starred in the ITV2 dating show in 2023, initially coupling up with Sammy Root before being dumped from the villa alongside Montel McKenzie following a public vote
Former Love Island star Leah Taylor has revealed she was hiding a devastating secret during her time on the show after opening up about her "first love" in emotional social media video.
Leah, 29, who starred on the ITV2 dating show in 2013 alongside the likes of Molly Marsh and Kady McDermott, revealed to her followers that it had been 10 years since she lost her boyfriend in a fatal motorbike accident at just 19-years-old.
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Dancer Leah had dated Elliott Xavier Campion when they were in their teens but Elliott, a breakdancer who had worked with Britain's Got Talent star George Sampson, died in the crash in 2015. Opening up about the loss, Leah said: "I went to put some flowers down [for the 10 year anniversary] and it made me realise that I feel completely different to how I did at the time."
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She adds: "I remember feeling like I was never going to be able to feel happy again or find love again. I felt so cold and empty. Now, 10 years on, it's so nice to be able to go to his grave, put flowers down, and be able to feel happy about the time I got to experience with him as my first love.
"It was such a great first love. I remember when it happened, I was so young at the time. I felt like I had nowhere to turn to. It was a hard thing to cope with at the time. I'm so proud of how far I've come."
Tragically, Elliott's last Instagram post was a tribute to Leah shared just weeks before the accident on June 23, 2015.
Alongside a picture of Leah, he wrote: "The prettiest girl I know and she's mine! Missing you so much, cant wait to join you in LA! Until then, the gym is my bestfriend."
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Following his death, Leah commented on the post, writing: "How someone could love me so much I will never ever understand."
Leah entered the Love Island villa as a bombshell and briefly looked set to couple up with Sammy Root, but he changed his mind at the recoupling ceremony and decided to stick with Jess Harding.
She then coupled up with Montel McKenzie, making it through Casa Amor before being dumped following a public vote.
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The couple decided to "just be friends" shortly after leaving the Love Island villa, with the pair still following eachother on Instagram despite cheating rumours at the time.
In her tribute to her "first love" Elliott, she added: "You overlooked my every flaw, mistake and imperfection cause you always made me feel like to you I was just perfection.
"I want you back ell, you made me feel like no one ever could."
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Leah was in LA when the accident happened. Elliott ran a weekly dance club and classes for school kids in Manchester, had had even performed with BGT winner George Sampson.
He shared a picture of his motorbike on Instagram just weeks before his crash, writing: "There's nothing quite like it."