Modelling, music videos and Miami trips: Inside Ella’s celebrity life before Love Island

Let’s not lie, Ella Thomas was a star from the moment she walked into the Love Island villa. Confidence, model walk, unreal wardrobe— her and Tyrique are giving 90s R&B couple energy and we’re all here for it. And, tbh, we shouldn’t be surprised because Ella had a seriously boujee life before even stepping inside the villa.

Yup, jetting to Miami, music video cameos, modelling awards and links to Brad Pitt are just some of her brushes with the showbiz world before venturing into reality TV. So, in case you’re curious about why Ella radiates such celeb energy, here’s a deep dive into her glam life before the Love Island villa:

Luxury trips around the world

Like most model-stroke-influencers, Ella is seriously outside and has travelled all over the world. Mykonos, Miami, Palm Springs, Amsterdam, Dubai— the list of locations she’s posted from on her Instagram is actually too long to list. And she’s not slumming it in AirBnBs either. Beach clubs, big yachts, villas, luxury hotels – you know the drill – she’s snacking on sushi and cruising around on jet skis. Kardashian coded!

High profile music videos

Before Love Island, Ella was in a Headie One and Burna Boy music video for their song Siberia where she rode on a ski lift in a fur coat, which as far as days at work goes, seems like a pretty good way to spend eight hours. In her pre-villa interview, Ella said this was her “claim to fame” but there’s much more to unpack than that.

Modelling awards

Ella isn’t just an amateur model with a few Instagram brand deals. Back in October 2022, she won Female Model of the Year at the Scottish media awards, which basically makes her the Bella Hadid of Glasgow. She’s posted loads of portfolio shots with various photographers on her Insta and already has thousands of fans.

Hollywood connections

Before she was even a teenager, Ella was already featuring in Hollywood films. She was actually cast as an extra in the highest grossing zombie film of all time: World War Z. “I was 12 years old when I filmed it and got to meet Brad Pitt which was cool,” she said, which is basically the biggest under-exaggeration of all time.

Wardrobe full of designer pieces

Prada, Balenciaga, Dior, Gucci— Ellas got a designer handbag and sunglasses collection that could rival the Kardashians. And this was before she was even fully famous. Something tells us she’s going to be flexing some serious labels once she’s back in the outside world.

Her whole lifestyle just seems incredibly boujee

Ella is only 23 but she already seems to be living her absolute best life. Just clicking through her Instagram highlights, it’s all photo shoots, sports cars, fashion weeks, hopping on flights, Mayfair meals and hanging out with her adorable designer dog. It’s giving A-lister energy. And it’s only going to intensify.

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Featured image via Instagram @ellathomas_