Viewers aren't impressed with Love Island's lack of body diversity
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As the clock struck 9pm last night, 2.95 million viewers from across the nation finally tuned into ITV2 for their 2018 ‘Love Island’ fix.
After months of anticipation, fans took to Twitter to voice their excitement at the prospect of fake tans, showmances and under-the-cover action.
But just minutes into this season, viewers soon turned their attention to the striking lack of diversity.
Swipe for a glimpse at the gorgeous girls looking for love this summer! #LoveIsland
A post shared by Love Island (@loveisland) on May 29, 2018 at 12:05am PDT
In keeping with last year’s show, all five female contestants rocked up to the villa boasting slim, bikini-clad figures. In the words of newbie Niall Aslam, the women looked worryingly “like Instagram”.
Meanwhile, the six male contestants proved they’re serious gym-goers with one of the girls, Laura Anderson, half-joking that one has “got loads of packs”.
Swipe for some serious sauce! Here are our boys… #LoveIsland
A post shared by Love Island (@loveisland) on May 29, 2018 at 12:04am PDT
Despite the harmless flirting and cockney banter which flew around the villa last night, the message behind the show is potentially damaging and fans were left disappointed.
One viewer tweeted, “Well if I wasn’t already body conscious, I am now! Disappointed in Love Island, where’s the curvy girls at? (sic)!”
While another wrote that the show “portrays unrealistic expectations to a wide audience about body image, life & relationships in a society where there is already too much pressure to fit in (sic).”
I wonder if there will ever be anyone remotely curvy in @LoveIsland
— H O L L Y H A G A N (@HollyGShore) June 4, 2018
Goodness me, after watching Love Island I think I need to have a full body work out. Times two hundred.
— Beth Powell (@betsyels) June 5, 2018
Hate that I feel like I’m in the minority with this, but I don’t watch @LoveIsland & never will. It portrays unrealistic expectations to a wide audience about body image, life & relationships in a society where there is already too much pressure to fit in. READ A BOOK.#rantover
— NikitaJohal (@NikitaJohal) June 5, 2018
Where the curvy gals at on #loveisland ?! I wanna see belly rolls and cellulite realness, it’s ment to be about love not body image
— Little Princess (@kathyhoppy) June 5, 2018
Gave in to peer pressure and have put love island on. Ten minutes in and I couldn’t hate my body more or feel any older. Why am I putting myself through this?
— Helen (@helsbellsr78) June 5, 2018
You’d think that @LoveIsland would switch things up every year but instead they get skinny lookalikes every year! Why can’t they get girls & guys with a variety of body shapes in?♀️
— Grace Harman (@Grace_Harman) June 5, 2018
PSA : There’s a way to talk about the lack of body diversity on #LoveIsland without using phrases like ‘perfect figure ’ or ‘beach body’ or ‘real women’. These do more harm than good and only create an ‘us vs. them’ dynamic.
— Sophie (@OnceUponASophie) June 5, 2018
Hate my body so much this upsets me but I all be motivated 2 make changes
Just want to be slim and toned and to look good like other girls do
Refuse to watch #LoveIsland there bodies make me feel like a teletubby pic.twitter.com/eQmSj8Hh46— chanellestar (@ChanelleStar86) June 5, 2018
Why are there no curvy women or men with no muscles ect on #LoveIsland ❤️ it isn’t all about your “body” – that’s not what makes you beautiful!
— Bex (@bekybond123) June 5, 2018
the @LoveIsland bug is back in full force and stronger than ever… time to binge watch old episodes! Cue serious body envy and self hatred.. #LoveIsland
— Shauna Jade (@shaunajadeb) June 5, 2018
Well if I wasn’t already body conscious, I am now! Disappointed in Love Island, where’s the curvy girls at?!
— TONIBUTLERx (@toniBUTLERx) June 5, 2018
Honestly can’t wait for love island again tonight however… the girls on there honestly give me anxiety at the fact I go on holiday in 5 weeks and look no where as good as them..Face or body #LoveIsland
— Courtney Smith (@C_smithiee) June 5, 2018
But if viewing figures are anything to go by, the show still holds a huge fanbase. Last night’s episode amassed record figures; Over double the amount of views the launch show racked up in 2017.
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