Love Island champion Jess Harding has ended her relationship with carpenter boyfriend Ben after approximately one year of dating, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
The 24-year-old beauty clinic owner, who won the ITV dating show in 2023 alongside ex-partner Sammy Root, had kept her latest romance largely private but the relationship has now come to an end despite staying out of the public eye.
A source close to the reality star revealed the couple struggled to maintain their relationship due to their contrasting lifestyles and demanding careers.
Different Worlds Prove Incompatible
“Jess and Ben struggled to make it work after a while because they lead such different lives,” the insider explained. “He is a carpenter and she is an influencer—heading here, there and everywhere for work.”
The source added that both parties remained committed to their respective careers, ultimately deciding their professional ambitions took priority over the relationship.
“They are both very career focused and felt it was better to concentrate on their careers,” the source continued.
The Sun has contacted a representative for Jess for comment on the split.
Single Girl Summer in Ibiza
Following the breakup, Harding has been seeking solace on the Spanish party island of Ibiza, where she has been sharing sultry bikini photographs and documenting nights out with friends on social media.
The influencer, who boasts over 845,000 Instagram followers, appears to be embracing single life alongside fellow Love Island alumna Whitney Adebayo, who finished as runner-up during the same series.
“Jess has been distracting herself in Ibiza and has bonded with Whitney more than ever,” the source revealed. “They are both single and enjoying a hot girl summer.”
The Mediterranean island holds particular significance for Harding, as it was the location where she previously ended her relationship with Love Island co-winner Sammy Root in 2023.
History Repeats in Paradise
The Balearic island appears to be Harding’s preferred destination for both celebrating freedom and processing relationship endings. In October 2023, she controversially ended her romance with Root via telephone while partying in Ibiza, just months after their £50,000 Love Island victory.
That breakup sparked considerable backlash when Root revealed he had been “blindsided” by the split, claiming Harding hadn’t given him “the respect to speak face-to-face” about her decision to end their relationship.
A source close to the couple at the time told The Sun: “Sammy was absolutely under the impression they could work things out once they saw each other in person again.
The former couple, who no longer speak despite their shared victory, have since moved on with their lives. Root recently entered the Love Island All Stars villa as a bombshell contestant, while Harding has focused on building her business empire.
Business Success Amid Personal Changes
Despite the romantic setback, Harding’s professional life continues to flourish. The London-based entrepreneur owns Candy Aesthetics, a beauty clinic in the capital’s west end, which she established before finding fame on reality television.
Her business acumen extends beyond the beauty industry, as she has successfully leveraged her Love Island victory into a lucrative influencing career. Regular partnerships with fashion and beauty brands have helped establish her as a prominent figure in the UK influencer landscape.
The 24-year-old frequently shares content from luxury destinations including Thailand, Dubai, and her beloved Ibiza, showcasing a lifestyle that contrasts sharply with the more traditional career path of her former carpenter boyfriend.
Learning from Past Relationships
Harding’s split from Ben marks her second significant breakup since winning Love Island in July 2023. Her relationship with Root lasted barely two months after leaving the villa, with both parties citing incompatibility as the primary reason for their separation.
At the time, Harding told followers during an Instagram Q&A: “I really don’t want to go into detail by doing a big statement but we’re just very different and behave differently and that’s it.
Root later appeared on the Staying Relevant podcast, where he revealed more details about their split, explaining that pressure from sudden fame had affected their relationship.
There’s a lot of pressure when you come out, I think Jess was struggling more with it,” he said, adding that he discovered their official breakup through media reports rather than directly from Harding.
Moving Forward Solo
While Root has since joined The Only Way Is Essex cast and returned to Love Island for the All Stars series, Harding has maintained a lower
