Aymee Chingwara

With summer fast approaching, viewers will soon be perched up on their sofas every evening at 9pm awaiting the latest episode of Love Island. For two months straight, fans of the show will be treated to watching young and sexy singles fawn over each other in a bid to win the £50,000 cash prize – and maybe some love too. 

The Good Old Days

When Love Island first captured the eyes of viewers back in 2015, it had an authenticity about it that cannot be denied. Couples that are now married, engaged, or having children are a testament to the success of the original formula used in the earlier seasons.

Love Or Exposure?

However, as of late, it is producing more Instagram influencers than the love that you would expect to see in Love Island.

Contestants can now make up to seven figures once the show is complete. This really makes you question what the purpose of the show now is. Are contestants in there for love, or exposure?

Sussing out those who would be perfect influencers has become a running joke on Twitter. It is common to find viewers engage in several debates about who will take the place of Molly-Mae as the next Love Island ‘royal.’

The ‘Molly-Mae’ Standard

Molly-Mae, or ‘Money-Mae’ as people used to call her, is now the standard for how life should be for contestants after the show: millions of followers and a six-figure fashion deal. Whilst she is an exception of the kind of fame one might experience once leaving Love Island, you cannot deny how appealing the lifestyle is.

However, you have to wonder if everything that contestants go through on the show is worth it for a mere chance at fame and fortune.

“It is simply all too much for a relationship that expires after six months.”

Viewer Emotions

I cannot begin to express the number of times I have cringed, raged, or felt embarrassed for those that are gaslit and are left crying as their boyfriend snogs a better looking ‘bird’ in Casa Amor.

It is safe to say that Love Island brings out a lot of emotions for onlookers. It is as though we are the ones who are breaking down in front of millions of viewers simply because the person who we liked does not like us back.

It is a lot to take in, so I wonder how and why someone would want to expose themselves in this manner for weeks. Can you imagine having millions of people watching you literally cry snotty tears after a dramatic Casa Amor recoupling, all for a small chance at finding ‘love’ and becoming Molly-Mae? No thank you.

‘My Type On Paper’

On top of all this, contestants also have to deal with the dreaded ‘my type on paper’ fiasco. This statement comes up every season without fail.

Conversations on dating preferences usually go well if you are a white woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, but for a person of colour, especially a woman of colour, it is awkward. As a viewer I begin to cringe again.

“It cannot be a coincidence that a show, notably priding itself on diversity, always has its contestants of colour being the least desired.”

There is nothing wrong with having a preference, but somehow producers seem to mostly cast contestants with this preference.

The Diversity Issue

It cannot be a coincidence that a show, notably priding itself on diversity, always has its contestants of colour being the least desired.

From Samira, to Yewande and Kaz, they all faced the same issue of not being chosen for their colour, in spite of the beauty exuding from the trio. Of course, you could argue that none of the male contestants have ever said that they only like white women, but what do you think of when you hear blonde hair and blue eyes?

Maybe Kaz (from season seven) should have dyed her hair blonde and worn blue contacts, but the issue of desirability would have never changed.  It is not like producers are intentionally casting men who only prefer white women – unless they are.

Expiration Dates

At the end of the day, Love Island is successful for a reason. Viewers are drawn to the show because of the love, the drama, or both. However, for those who have applied to be a part of the show, how can they confidently do so after watching it?

Surely it cannot be worth the headache of becoming a meme on Twitter. Also, who has the patience to hear somebody tell them that they are not their type on national television? It is simply all too much for a relationship that will probably expire after six months.

Featured image courtesy of Dominic Sansotta via Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.

Hey it’s Aymee, let me introduce myself in bullet points: - I’m 20 - Currently studying Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University - I’m a massive foodie :)

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