Stephanie: “Owen’s beautiful – it’s nice to know what real love is”
TV star Stephanie Davis was left battling her demons after a toxic romance with Jeremy Mcconnell – now she’s in a happier place S
he was famously axed from Hollyoaks in 2015 over her wild partying and boozing, then two years later, a toxic on-off romance with Jeremy Mcconnell came to a shocking end – with the Irish model found guilty of assaulting her. But since entering rehab last year for three months to tackle alcohol addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder, Stephanie Davis has performed an incredible turnaround.
Appearing a world away from her former self, the 25-year-old wowed TV viewers with an appearance on Loose Women last week, telling the panel, “I’m really good. I feel like I’m in a nice, happy, calm place.”
VOLATILE
Stephanie – whose volatile relationship with Jeremy regularly made the headlines – also spoke about finding happiness with Hollyoaks co-star Owen Warner. The pair started dating late last year and moved in together after just four months. She revealed on Loose Women, “He’s just beautiful inside and out. He gets me flowers every week. It’s nice to know what real love is.”
And insiders say that after hitting rock bottom, Stephanie – who has two-year-old son Caben-albi with Jeremy – has assured loved ones she’ll never go back to that dark place again.
A source reveals, “After the nightmare of what her family and friends went through when Steph was with Jeremy, they are so thrilled she’s found Owen. It’s a happy and healthy relationship and he brings out the best in her. They were initially nervous about her dating again, but she’s insisted now she’s found love with Owen, she’ll never settle for anything less.” The source adds, “Steph’s a naturally defensive person and, for many years, she didn’t want to accept she was in a toxic situation. It’d been brewing for some time, and part of the reason she’s finally managed to turn her life around is because she realised how bad things had become. She sought treatment because she knew she wasn’t going to move on or be the mum she wanted to be for Caben unless she did.”
SUICIDAL
Opening up about the shocking details of her alcohol addiction, Stephanie admitted she had been drinking up to three bottles of wine every morning to block out the pain. She confessed, “I wanted to die. I was so suicidal. I just kept trying to kill myself.”
But after leaving rehab last January, the star took a muchneeded break from the spotlight, moved back in with her parents and shunned the party scene
In October 2018, she made a triumphant return to Hollyoaks and recently revealed she follows a day-to-day recovery programme to keep her on the straight and narrow. She said, “I’ve got different coping mechanisms now.”
TURNAROUND
Her romance with Owen is in stark contrast to her tumultuous on-off relationship with ex Jeremy – whom she met and got together with on Celebrity Big Brother in early 2016. The pair called it quits after a couple of months amid reports of cheating, then Steph announced she was pregnant. Their son Caben-albi was born a year later, while Jeremy – who initially denied paternity – was partying in Thailand.
Steph and Jeremy rekindled their romance, but things hit rock bottom when he was found guilty of battering Steph in March 2017 in a cocaine-fuelled row. Two months later, they were pictured bloodied and bruised after a blazing brawl in a hotel room, for which Jeremy was given jail time, community service and a restraining order against Steph.
Closer’s psychological therapist, Emma Kenny, who spoke to Steph in 2015 for Closer’s On The Couch feature, says she couldn’t be prouder of how far she’s come.
Emma says, “Steph was a broken lady when I met her and now she seems to have made a significant turnaround. She took a break, confronted and accepted her issues and worked on them. She has a better relationship with herself now.”
Talking about battling through her demons, Stephanie said last week, “I get quite emotional seeing my full journey, but I’m really good.”
SHE’S ASSURED LOVED ONES SHE’LL NEVER GO BACK TO THAT DARK PLACE AGAIN ❜