SHE was the Love Island bombshell sent into the TV villa to shake up old flame Joey Essex and tipped to rake in millions, just like Molly-Mae Hague.
And now Grace Rosa Jackson is the new beauty on the arm of England ace Marcus Rashford, 27, who she has been dating for several months.
An insider told The Sun the pair are “smitten” after the footballer “whisked her off on numerous dates around Cheshire” and they are said to “get on really well and have lots in common”.
Marcus appears to have found the perfect blend of brains and beauty in Grace, 26, who is a savvy businesswoman as well as a fashion model and social media influencer.
And brand expert Carla Speight thinks football’s latest power couple is a true “meeting of the minds” who could even become the new Posh and Becks.
“Grace has got the potential to be the next Victoria Beckham — she’s already aware of the industry and she will do Marcus a lot of good, too,” Carla says.
Marcus is 27 now, so if he’s smart he will be looking beyond his football career.
Carla Speight, brand expert
“He had a taste of how far he could go with his successful school meals campaign during the pandemic, so he knows he can use his profile as a force for good.
“It will be interesting to see what power move they will make together.
“Marcus is 27 now, so if he’s smart he will be looking beyond his football career. He’s signed up to Jay-Z’s management company, Roc Nation.
“He could follow in the footsteps of David Beckham. Marcus has already done the sportswear stuff, but has been otherwise low-key, so it will be interesting to see where this Love Island influence takes him.”
‘Born for Love Island’
Mancunian Grace was predicted to become the first millionaire from this year’s Love Island series — with brands queuing up to sign her, including retail giant PrettyLittleThing.
In fact, immediately after leaving the villa in August, Grace signed a lucrative six-figure contract with fashion firm EGO, which her rep claimed was “a huge moment” because “no other islander has done anything like this for a first deal”.
Many compared her to Molly-Mae Hague, the now ex-girlfriend of boxer Tommy Fury, who went from serving customers in Boots and working as a part-time lifeguard to raking in more than £6million as a model and influencer, with 8.3million followers.
A source at the time told The Sun: “Grace is on course to be a millionaire already and a lot of brands are calling her the next Molly-Mae.”
Even before heading into the Love Island villa, Grace had a blossoming career, having modelled for Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty line and online store Fashion Nova — as well as working alongside Conor McGregor to promote his Irish stout.
She was also reported to have been a co-owner of Social Clubhouse, a social media management firm that launched in 2021, and events company Vamos, although she is no longer listed on the books of either at Companies House.
This September, she set up her own media business, Grace Rosa Ltd.
Grace’s Instagram page, which boasts 593,000 followers, showcases the sexiest, skimpiest and most stylish outfits of 2024 — which she seems to have cleverly monetised.
The snaps, which she savvily signposts for fans to “shop the look”, are from enviable locations around the world and have led online commentators to say she was “born for Love Island”.
She entertains fans with posts from stunning beaches in Marbella and Miami, Ibiza yacht parties, chic Parisian bars, red carpet premieres in London and, occasionally, from her home town of Manchester.
To sit in and be single — I can’t understand why I would do that at my peak and in my mid-20s.
Grace Rosa Jackson
With such a hectic schedule, it’s no surprise the aspiring star previously struggled to find love, once complaining: “They can’t keep up with my lifestyle!
“I like to go out and go abroad a lot . . . it’s the life that I want and it helps with business. “To sit in and be single — I can’t understand why I would do that at my peak and in my mid-20s.”
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It’s that reason, and the chance of life-changing career opportunities from exposure, that led Grace to appear on Love Island in June.
At the time, she said: “This is something that would push me out of my comfort zone — I don’t really date a lot. I get myself in situationships with people I know that I shouldn’t give my time to.”
And producers were thrilled by the prospect of her entering as a bomb-shell, too.
An insider dubbed Grace “the perfect contestant” due to her stunning looks and one other big ratings-puller — she was the ex of The Only Way Is Essex star Joey Essex.
He was Love Island’s surprise contestant and the only islander this year who was already famous.
As soon as Grace entered the villa on Day 12, the reality show veteran’s head was turned, despite him having already coupled up with Liverpudlian make-up artist Samantha Kenny.
On the show, Grace revealed they’d “had a thing” after meeting in Ibiza the previous summer.
The pair had also been pictured at a Halloween party in matching themed outfits as Batman villains Harley Quinn and The Joker.
But she revealed their “intense” romance ended on “frosty terms”, which left her “hurt and confused”.
Despite downplaying the relationship, the pair were soon making up for lost time.
They had a series of steamy snogs, in spite of Samantha, before Grace chose to whisk Joey away for a night of passion in the separate Hideaway private villa.
Footage of the couple’s antics was said to be so X-rated that sex-scene-loving Love Island bosses were “spoilt for choice” and had to leave footage on the cutting room floor.
An insider explained at the time: “Because they knew each other before, their entire relationship is on fast forward and it’s steamy stuff — Joey can’t keep his hands off her.”
They coupled up shortly after, with Grace believing they could go the distance outside the villa due to her being willing to move to Essex — said to be a hurdle during their previous fling.
But within days, their romance had crumbled after new blonde bombshell Jessy Potts won over the reality hunk.
While it didn’t work out for Joey and Grace, who also briefly dated fellow contestant Reuben Collins, she insisted there was no animosity and “no awkwardness” after they went “back to real life”.
She also had plenty of distractions to keep her mind off the Towie star thanks to the raft of new opportunities boosting her career, as she continues to benefit from the exposure of such a high-profile reality romance.
And now Grace’s star could be on the rise again since being linked to Three Lions wonderboy Marcus.
The footie ace was previously engaged to childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi, who he met aged 15, but they split in the summer of 2023.
The striker is now Man United’s second highest-paid star on £325,000 a week — but he could earn considerably more if their romance lasts and they join forces for deals.
I can see Grace reviving Wag culture, which died a death after Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy. Grace could bring the spotlight back on to the ladies.
Carla Speight, brand expert
But unlike Wags without careers, who are forced to depend upon their sports star partners, Grace is a force to be reckoned with away from Marcus’s millions.
With his football fandom and her fashion following, they could be a top-tier power couple to rival any of the Premier League couplings.
“I’m sure every girl dreams of dating a footballer and Marcus is definitely an upgrade from Joey Essex,” says Carla. “I can see Grace reviving Wag culture, which died a death after Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy. Grace could bring the spotlight back on to the ladies.
“With her skillset, she could be very useful to the Wags of these footballers.
“She could guide Marcus as well with the brand deals and future opportunities, because she has done that for herself. With his profile and her business head, this is a real meeting of minds.
“She has enough profile to survive without Marcus, but it will help her level up. It will be interesting to see where they go next.”
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