express gazette logo
The Express Gazette
Friday, January 23, 2026

Ekin-Su Culculoglu Recreates Love Island Crawl on Netflix's Inside: USA with Bre Tiesi

Reality star revisits her signature move as she joins a big‑name cast on a Netflix adaptation of the Big Brother format

Culture & Entertainment 4 months ago
Ekin-Su Culculoglu Recreates Love Island Crawl on Netflix's Inside: USA with Bre Tiesi

Ekin-Su Culculoglu has recreated her iconic Love Island crawl alongside Selling Sunset star Bre Tiesi during a stint on Inside: USA, Netflix’s Big Brother–style reality show. In a recent episode, the former Love Island winner, 31, referred to herself as the queen of crawl before crawling to eavesdrop on a boys’ conversation. Inside: USA, which dropped on Netflix on September 21, brings together a mix of U.S. celebrities living under one roof and competing for a cash prize, with cameras rolling around the clock. The moment adds a playful nod to Culculoglu’s breakout moment on Love Island, highlighting how the star is navigating a new phase of her career while still leaning on the persona that first thrust her into the spotlight.

![Ekin-Su Culculoglu]https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/09/23/21/102388695-0-image-m-71_1758658409401.jpg

Inside: USA reimagines the familiar reality format with a competitive edge. Contestants live under constant surveillance in a confined set, but unlike standard house shows, they are pushed to collaborate and strategically manage the prize fund. Even basic necessities come at a cost, forcing housemates to weigh comfort against the possibility of a larger payout. Culculoglu joins a cast that includes Breana “Bre” Tiesi, a familiar face from Selling Sunset, along with content creators Sketch, Jay Cinco, Sydney Thomas and Max Fosh. The format blends online star power with traditional reality TV dynamics, creating new talking points for viewers who follow cross‑platform personalities.

Culculoglu is no stranger to public moments that blur reality and performance. Fans will remember her crawling onto the Love Island villa terrace to snog Jay Younger behind Davide Sanclimenti’s back, a scene that helped cement her reputation for daring stunts. She has spoken in the past about how attention can be a double-edged sword, and Inside: USA represents an opportunity to redefine her public image in a new genre while leveraging the fanbase she built on a dating show that made her a household name.

Her involvement in Inside: USA comes as part of a broader pivot away from the ongoing cycle of reality TV and toward more scripted acting opportunities. Culculoglu has previously worked in Turkish television and soap operas, and she has openly discussed the toll of reality TV on her mental health in recent years. After her eviction from Celebrity Big Brother in March 2024, where some viewers accused her of playing to the cameras, she revealed she had received death threats and endured a difficult period that included long nights of crying and a decision to seek therapy. Those experiences, she said, helped shape her decision to seek a fresh start beyond the format she rose to fame through.

In Inside: USA, Culculoglu appears with a mix of U.S. celebrities and up‑and‑coming online personalities, reflecting Netflix’s push to blend traditional reality TV with influencer culture. The show’s premise emphasizes collaboration and strategic risk to protect a shared prize fund, while the living arrangement remains a crucible for alliances, rivalries and near constant scrutiny. For Culculoglu, the experience is framed as a stepping‑stone toward renewal rather than a return to familiar territory. She has described the project as part of a broader plan to expand into scripted work in Hollywood, leveraging her existing fan base while pursuing more enduring acting roles.

Speaking to The Sun, Culculoglu indicated she intends to spend a month in America to pursue acting opportunities and test the waters for a potential long‑term move. She said she has a long‑standing dream of breaking into Hollywood and media opportunities that stretch beyond reality television. “Cracking America is always everyone’s dream to make it in Hollywood, but we know in reality, it’s not easy,” she said, adding that she remains focused on a mix of projects that will help her grow as an actor. The star stressed that she is prioritizing roots in scripted storytelling while remaining open to high‑profile reality platforms as a means to build momentum.

Inside: USA premiered on Netflix on September 21 and places Culculoglu alongside a diverse group of personalities, including Sketch, Jay Cinco, Sydney Thomas and Max Fosh. The show is based on a format developed by UK content creators the Sidemen, though this iteration adapts the concept for an American audience and streaming platform. The house will test contestants with challenges that influence the prize fund, while the social dynamics unfold under constant camera coverage. The juxtaposition of a familiar reality TV structure with new cast members and a streaming model has drawn attention from critics and fans who followed Culculoglu’s post Love Island trajectory.

Representatives for Culculoglu were not immediately available for comment when contacted by Daily Mail, and the publication has not obtained additional statements from Inside: USA producers. The show's release comes at a moment when Culculoglu’s public profile remains active across multiple media formats, with observers watching to see how her pivot toward acting will intersect with her reality TV roots. As she progresses in Inside: USA, observers will look for signs of a more expansive acting career, including appearances in Turkish productions or potential opportunities on English‑language scripted projects. The shifting of her career focus underscores the broader trend of reality TV personalities seeking credibility and longevity through scripted acting roles, especially in international markets.


Sources