On last night’s (June 9) episode of Love Island, contestant Sophie Lee bravely shared the heartbreaking story behind her life-changing burns.
The 29-year-old model from Manchester opened up to her partner, Harry Cooksley, about the traumatic incident that happened in her early twenties—an event that forced her to completely rebuild her life.
In 2019, while performing as a dancer in Chicago, Sophie suffered horrific injuries when a fire-breathing stunt went terribly wrong. According to The Mirror, a powerful air-conditioning unit unexpectedly blew a fireball back into her face and chest during the performance.
In a previous interview with Fabulous Magazine, Sophie recalled:
The air-con was so powerful that when I exhaled the fire, it blew straight back at me—engulfing me in flames. I just remember being in so much pain, I blacked out for a little bit… As soon as I got into the ambulance, I was in bits.
The accident left Sophie fighting for her life. She spent a month in a U.S. intensive care unit, dependent on machines to breathe and survive. Her injuries were devastating—robbing her of the ability to see clearly, eat, or even draw breath without assistance. Sophie later reflected on the ordeal, saying:
That was a scary, scary time. On day two, I looked in the mirror and just cried.” The burns were so severe they caused a facial tumor, requiring surgery during her recovery.
I’ve only had one boyfriend. When I was 22 I was in a fire accident. It made me the woman that I am. It made me learn so much about life and interactions with people and how to be better.
Opening up to Harry, she connected the trauma to her personal growth
I believe to date people, you also need to be in a good place in yourself. That’s why in my early 20s, I think I wasn’t ready to date because I didn’t feel good in myself. I had a lot of self work to do, I had a lot of building my own confidence.
She emphasized self-healing first:
Viewers rushed to support Sophie, flooding social media with heartfelt messages. One fan wrote: “Sophie is an inspiration.”
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Another marveled at her resilience, posting: “Amazing Sophie went from the picture on the left after her fire accident to the person on the right. Brave brave lady.”
The emotional impact was undeniable, with a third viewer sharing: “Hearing Sophie’s story actually made me tear up.”
Despite the challenges, Sophie has flourished as a model, influencer, and author. Her resilience earned her the 2023 Influencer of the Year title at the Beauty Awards, alongside collaborations with major brands and her role as an ambassador for the Katie Piper Foundation, a charity supporting burn survivors.
Sophie chronicled her healing journey in her memoir, My Skin. Now, as she enters the Love Island villa, she emphasizes she’s only ready to find love because she’s finally learned to embrace herself.
A show insider shared with The Sun:
Love Island has always tried to be about more than just looks, and Sophie is a classic example of an Islander with real substance. Just like Tasha Ghouri’s amazing time in the villa where she raised awareness for the hearing impaired, Love Island bosses are thrilled to give Sophie the same platform to discuss her accident and how she’s become comfortable in her skin since.
Source: bristolpost