LOVE Island newbie Shaughna Phillips is striving to find love in the South Africa sun after a double death tragedy.
The ITV2 star, set to head to the Cape Town villa this weekend, had a dismal 18 month period which saw the loss of her best mate, Tommy Blackmore, and dad Eddie.
Tommy, 20, died from a single punch after breaking up a fight in June 2015, when he was wrongly accused of stealing a phone, while her beloved father Eddie lost his battle with cancer in December 2016.
Londoner Shaughna documented her heartache on her social media pages and flooded her Instagram account with a series of emotional messages.
Speaking of Tommy’s passing, she posted: “Hoping this is all a nightmare and I wake up soon… I cannot put into words how much of a p*** take this boy is, he would do anything to be mischievous and I cannot believe I’m not going to be experiencing another one of his pranks again.
I am actually heartbroken. Hope you’re okay with the Angels Tom, love you and miss you.
Meanwhile, just 18 months later, the democratic services officer let her grief flow for her father.
Alongside another sweet snap, she put: “My brave, amazing daddy passed away this morning at 5:35am.
He has spent the past 5 days completely pain free, surrounded by all of his closest friends and family.
My mama hasn’t left his side once, and all of the stories and memories that have been spoken about have shown me it’s okay to smile.
Cancer may have taken my dad but it cannot take the past 22 years away from me, and his love will stay with me forever.
Me and my dad had loads of chats the past few months, and any promise I made to him will be fulfilled, I bet my life on it.”
It appears Shaughna isn’t shy in sharing her feels and emotions, something the self-confessed “politics nerd” will no doubt continue in the show.
Before entering the villa, she admitted she would be full of surprises and to expect the unexpected.
“Im chatty, funny and clever people wont expect it from me,” she explained. “When they hear me speak about certain things theyll be shocked.”
Shaughna also hinted she isn’t afraid of falling out with people and isn’t one to back down.
When asked what her worst habit is, she admitted: “Thinking Im always right or should I say, knowing Im always right.
Also I never know when to shut up, there are some battles you wont win, but Im still going to try.”
However, she is a firm believer in girl code: “Dont go near your friends man and dont go near a man who has got a girlfriend at all.
“If I actually liked someone, had a genuine connection and a girl comes in and would like to talk to them, Id definitely mark my territory – in a cool, calm way.”
