Let’s be honest, this series of Love Island has been rather lacklustre to say the least. Despite the early love triangle, the emotional manipulation from Joe, Curtis and Michael and even Sherif’s shock exit, the season has remained pretty…well, boring. The banter between contestants that we’ve come to love just isn’t there, and save for a few awkward chats there has been little to be entertained by.
Enter, Maura Higgins. 28-year-old Irish model and all-around firecracker of a woman, Maura came into the villa with the unapologetic BDE the season was desperately craving, ready to take what she wants regardless of the drama it causes. Serving us a mix of Megan Barton-Hanson and Kady McDermott energy, her confidence, sexual expression and apathy for what anyone thinks has had everyone dubbing her the saviour of Love Island 2019.
‘Maura has been rushed to hospital tonight with severe back pains after carrying the entire series of #LoveIsland 2019,’ one Twitter user joked to over 7,000 likes. ‘Maura coming in the villa has completely saved this year’s Love Island,’ another added to near 5,000 likes. In fact, the entire Love Island Twittersphere was filled with Maura meme’s, celebrating her as a ‘bad bitch’ and wishing to have the same energy she does in dating.
What was most refreshing about it though wasn’t the hilarious memes, but the simple fact that people were actually rejoicing a woman being so sexually forward and fearless. Social media may be an echo chamber for what we believe, but even when you search Maura’s name on Twitter there are far more people enjoying her brazen forwardness than there are sexist or slut-shaming remarks. It’s something we don’t often see when women like Maura appear on screen, with Megan Barton-Hanson facing tons of sexist criticism for similar confidence last year.
Especially, on platforms like Twitter, that have been the focus of women’s rights campaigns by Amnesty International, who dubbed it a ‘toxic place for women’ where violence and abuse against them flourishes. And while yes, there have been viral tweets that are flagrantly sexist about Maura (‘nah Maura is the type of girl that gets with your boyfriend and somehow manages to make you blame him’ one user tweeted to over 8,000 likes), the majority of viewers seem to be embracing her for what would typically be deemed masculine characteristics (it’s called big dick energy for a reason).
It must be said, though, that a lot of her support is coming out of disdain for another female contestant, Molly-Mae. The 20-year-old influencer caused a stir in the villa largely for doing the same thing Maura did, albeit less explicitly, and her personality was seen to visibly annoy other Islanders throughout the show.
Would we be celebrating Maura’s audaciousness in the same way if, initially she gone after a a coupled-up Islander that we were rooting for? Probably not.
Love Island Rules - Grazia
1 of 17You can’t masturbate
With rumours swirling that Sherif was booted from the villa for masturbating in the shower, The Sun reported that he would 'spend hours' in there - however, he wasn't necessarily masturbating himself. 'When producers told Islanders they have to get ready to film a challenge, Sherif was deliberately spending ages in the shower. He said he couldn't be bothered,' the source said. Avoiding challenges or participating in some healthy self-care? All we know is 2 months without masturbating is a long time to go...
2 of 17You have to shower at certain times
When writing for Grazia Daily, Zara McDermott revealed that she was most shocked to see Islanders showering in the morning. 'We could only use the shower each evening,' she said of last season. Spending all day in the sun without a morning shower? No wonder Amber was worried about smelling when she Michael went to kiss her last night.
3 of 17You can’t talk about your relationship on Saturday's
In a shock revelation on This Morning, 2017 Love Island winner Kem Cetinay revealed the real reason the show doesn't air on Saturday's. 'They give you one day off. You get one day off per week,' he said, 'What happens is, it gives them a day to clean the villa, and you take your mics off, and normally we go to the beach.'But that wasn't the only startling revelation, he also admitted that producers watch Islanders like a hawk because they're not actually allowed to discuss their relationships. Essentially, anything they have to talk about their home lives outside the villa, lest they be scolded for breaking the all important rules.
4 of 17You can only have two glasses of wine or beer on a ‘big night’
They get dressed up, put on a full-face of makeup, film awkward dance sequences, and all for two little glasses of wine or beer. According to 2016 Islander Liana Isadora Van-Riel, 'you're allowed one or two drinks a night, either wine or beer, no spirits.'And while contestants will opt for two drinks on a 'big night', most nights they just have a cup of tea. Wild.
5 of 17You can’t be naked ever, even in the bathroom
Since the villa is technically a public space, there can be no nudity whatsoever as it would be considered public indecency. That means even in the bathroom, islanders can never be completely naked in front of each other.
6 of 17You can’t read a book or magazine
We knew about the no phone rule, which makes sense given they don't want Islanders reading about themselves online or hearing updates from the outside world, but no books or magazines?! No wonder half of them end up stir crazy, with 2017 contestant Montana admitting the villa is really boring day to day.
7 of 17You have to eat at certain times
According to Montana, contestants can make their own breakfast but lunch and dinner is always catered. In fact, food is brought through a secret door. 'In the larder there's another door that goes out the back that they lock,' she said, 'That's how they deliver food.'It's long been a question why we never see the Islanders eating, but Montana stated that's when producers come in and charge the contestants microphones, insisting 'everyone wants that good because it's so yum.'
8 of 17You can’t take your mic off ever
One of the most serious rules in the villa, contestants aren't allowed to take their mic's off apart from on Saturday's, their off day. If you're caught doing it more than once, you'll be axed from the villa immediately, according to The Mirror.
9 of 17You're not allowed to know the time
You essentially have to become a full Girl Guide in the villa if you want to know the time, telling it through the sun. Because, Islanders aren't allowed to know themselves and all of their phones are set to different times. 'You never know what the time is,' 2017 contestant Montana told The Independent, 'They'll wake you up by putting the lights on or a voiceover will say "Islanders, it's time to get up".'
10 of 17You can’t smoke in the villa, even in the garden
Last year, Love Island stopped showing scenes where contestants were smoking after complaints they were all partaking in the habit too much. Now, Islanders aren't allowed to smoke on the premises at all, even in the garden.
11 of 17You can't have unprotected sex
With rumours Kem and Amber got in trouble last year for having unprotected sex, this rule seems to be even more integral this year. Discussions around sex on Love Island have snowballed massively as the seasons become more and more popular each year. While early seasons saw Islanders getting busy almost every night, in the same room with scenes often aired every episode, sex has become much more taboo - when it comes to airing it at least. Last year, producers decided to stop airing sex scenes, as well as the Islanders smoking. Given the slut-shaming many female contestants receive upon doing the completely natural act it's unsurprising.
12 of 17You have to go for scheduled chats
And they must be juicy. According to Montana, when she and fellow 2017 contestant Camilla were talking about hymms they like, producers intercepted and told them to spice it up ('that's not interesting', they said). In fact, producers will also intervene to ensure certain people talk, but the conversation itself is not necessarily staged. 'They might be like, "Camilla, pull Montana aside and ask how she's feeling about Alex"', Montana admitted.
13 of 17You’re not allowed to get waxes
It's long been wondered how the contestants keep up with their beauty routines in the villa, with not a bumpy bikini line or stubbly chest in sight. Do contestants have waxers brought in to the villa? Absolutely not, according to Montana. While the women in her season requested wax strips to do it themselves, they 'all had bruising' and so resorted to shaving, with Montana insists 'most people' do.
14 of 17You absolutely cannot have drunken sex
A huge villa no-no, drunken sex is completely off the cards for Love Island contestants. Given that they're allowed two wines or beers on big nights and most of them sip on tea all night, we're not sure that's a huge risk, to be honest.
15 of 17No inappropriate language or behaviour
One of the actually non-weird rules, contestants are completely prohibited from 'innapropriate language or behaviour'. While it's quite a broad, and subjective, phrase, the rulebook applies it to racial slurs, homophobia and aggressive language. Plus, sexual harassment and physical violence is included in this rule.One of the biggest swirling rules about Sherif's ban is that he and Anton got into a heated argument. Given that the only other villa removal we've seen because of rule-breaking was when Malia Arkian punched Kady McDermott back in season two, it's high on the list of likely reasons Sherif was banned.
16 of 17They need to keep the complete rule book at all times
All of these rules must not only be obeyed at all times, but contestants must also keep the rule book in their possession too - just in case they forget about the whole no masturbating thing.
17 of 17No discriminating against staff
Another non-weird rule, contestants aren't allowed to be rude or discriminatory to staff or else they will be booted off.
With that in mind, it seems likely our love for Maura could stem from the desire to see one over-confident woman fall in the face of another, in competition for a man whom, let’s be honest, is in no way a deserving match for either of them. While we can enjoy the entertainment that has finally come from Maura’s addition to the villa, it is important to check your internal misogyny when celebrating one woman’s defeat of another online. Because ultimately, while Love Island may be a competition, if the prize is a man, we must ask whether either of them are really winning.
Not that we want to see an end to Maura’s immense BDE - not only do we need more unapologetically fierce women in Love Island, but in the world too. While viewers have been left unconvinced by her relationship with Curtis - frankly we'd be happy to see her take home the £50,000 for herself. Now that would be BDE.