Love Island star Grace Jackson has expressed her surprise at being dumped from the villa alongside Reuben Collins just days before the final.
The pair were eliminated in a sudden twist at the end of a compatibility game, after the public voted them as the least compatible couple. Grace, 25, admitted that her exit was "brutal", but remains optimistic about her future with Reuben.
In her first interview since leaving the villa, Grace told The Sun: "100% it was a shock, you have to expect the unexpected. They say that all the time, and I feel like you really start to take it seriously when things just happen which you least expect."
She described the moment of her dumping: "I think it was the last question of the game and we were all getting really tired. We'd been out in the sun and then Josh got the text. I think I half expected it to be like islanders gathering on the fire pit and some sort of dumping. But it was just literally like, 'you've got the least votes, pack your bags and leave the villa'. It's brutal. It honestly is."
Despite the initial disappointment, Grace emphasized that her experience was positive overall: "Whether I made it to the final or if I didn't, I was really pleased just to be there. I think, ultimately, what I went in for, I found. I'm enjoying my time with Reuben so much. So, whether it meant I left when I did or made it to the final, it wasn't a massive deal in that sense. I'd found what I wanted so I was happy to go at any point."
Looking ahead, Grace and Reuben are focused on building their relationship: "We're planning date nights. I'm going to go and meet the rest of his family. He's going to be coming to see my friends and family and just making it work," she explained.
Their different locations â Reuben is from London and Grace from Manchester â don't seem to be a hurdle: "He's London, I'm Manchester. But I'm hoping to move to London soon anyway. I'm really excited to get on the outside with him."
The Love Island live final airs on Monday 29th July on ITV2 and ITVX.
Love Island Series 11: Villa Feuds
No Love Island season is complete without its fair share of drama, and series 11 has certainly lived up to expectations. Here's a look at some of the most fiery feuds so far:
Joey Essex & Samantha Kenny: Samantha entered the villa on Day 1 and was initially coupled with Sam Taylor. However, she was quickly "stolen" by Joey, the first bombshell of the series. She was later "dumped" on Day 16, claiming she had been brutally snubbed by Joey in the villa, though this was not shown on air.
Matilda Draper & Jess White: While Matilda arrived as a bombshell on Day 12, Jess was a member of the original cast. The two clashed in Casa Amor over Jess' frustration with Matilda talking to new arrival Hugo Godfroy, whom Jess had previously snogged.
Harriet Blackmore & Jess White: The two women were entangled in a love triangle for much of their time on the show. They were both vying for the attention of Ronnie Vint, 27, who was ultimately dumped alongside Harriett.