Sophie Gradon

Sophie Hannah Gradon - who was born on October 25th, 1985, in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, north-west England - was an English model and marketing manager.  After graduating with a degree in Media, Culture, and Society from Northumbria University, Gradon won the Miss Newcastle title in 2008, and became Miss Great Britain in 2009.  Working as a marketing manager, she was a promoter of the NE1 campaign in Newcastle city centre, raising money for charities and soliciting financial support for the Great North Run.  In 2012, Gradon appeared on Sky Sports in support of "The Great North Fitness Revolution" campaign.  She was a contestant on Love Island in 2016, developing relationships with both a male and a female, and subsequently being referred to as "openly bisexual".  In 2008, she had dated Wayne Lineker (the brother of former footballer, Gary), and in 2013 had had a relationship with England rugby player, Danny Cipriani.  In an interview with Radio Aire in March, 2018, Gradon claimed she had been the victim of cyberbullying and internet trolls.  On June 20th, 2018, Gradon was found hanged at her home in Ponteland, Northumberland, England, by her boyfriend and his brother.  An inquest concluded she had taken her own life by hanging, after ingesting alcohol and cocaine; toxicology tests showed she had a blood alcohol level of 201mg per 100ml - about three times the legal driving limit.  Police said she had previously experienced mental-health issues - such as low self-esteem and anxiety (for which she was taking medication at the time of her death) - and had recently expressed suicidal thoughts.  About twenty days after Gradon's death, her boyfriend -  25-year-old Aaron Armstrong - also killed himself after ingesting cocaine and alcohol.  Sophie Gradon was 32 years old.