Do We Really Want Body Diversity From Love Island?

Another year, another trailer that looks like it was cast in a GymBox ... and another outcry at the lack of body diversity in Love Island.

And so, with the hype and excitement still at peak (and viewing figures sure to follow), perhaps it's time to ask whether we want more body diversity in Love Island ... or if we just LOVE having the same three conversations online every year?

Up front, actually, yes, I do want to see more body diversity on Love Island. I was disappointed seeing the same trailer pumped out yesterday as ever, gym bunnies in brightly coloured swimwear and heels (always THE HEELS!), not a handful of body hair between them; a walking, talking advert for gym selfies and protein shakes.

'You can't be what you can't see,' they say - but in this instance, I think it's more likely to be a case of 'You're probably going to feel a bit rubbish about yourself if you watch a whole series where what you be, you can't see...' (Though I guess if your dream is to go onto Love Island and win a fast fashion deal, you might also feel that you can't be what you can't see.)

And I cannot assure you ENOUGH that I've not interest in the defence of the 'Well we want people to fancy each other don't we?' because that is an ABSOLUTE JOKE and if I need to explain why to you, I give up.

But maybe there are some reasons that we should think twice before jumping straight on Twitter to shout into the abyss about Love Island.

Firstly, the obvious being: will you still watch it?

The answer - for most, I'm guessing - being: yes probably...

It's tough then, in an era of vote-with-your-feet activism and 'cancel culture' for us to get too far on our high horses, isn't it?

And, if I'm being kind, there's always the fact that, knowing the drill, there could be upwards of 4,763 more contestants to come before the summer is out. So, the game's not up yet. They could still surprise us.

There's also the argument that many have posited, that just sticking one plus-size person into the Love Island villa doesn't necessarily do it - and could also be unfair on the person who is put in that position.

Shaughna Phillips - someone who stood in one of those line-ups that was probably also previously criticised for lack of body diversity - has since said she struggled in the villa.

'When I went on Love Island, I spent lots of time crying to the therapist,' Shaughna admitted in an interview with The Sun. 'I was surrounded by these lovely looking girls, and I felt like the show’s box-ticking fat girl.'

I do understand that perspective - and wouldn't wish it on anyone to be uncomfortable - but I do also think that amidst the thousands of applicants, there probably could've been a few people who had sliiiiiightly different bodies and who would've been proud to be part of that movement towards things changing. While I'm aware no one really knows what the pressure is like, it's probably, definitely a little bit possible?

And body diversity isn't about saying: we've got one plus-size girl in, we're done. The whole of this year's line-up could've looked a little less identikit when it comes to bodies. I think what bothers people the most is that there appears to be a definite body type for the show, and it's not wavered from in the line-up so far on offer.

Many of us are also disappointed in the fact that we've TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE - and producers had apparently vowed to do better.

Though it's worth saying, I don't think shouting and moaning about the contestants' bodies does much apart from make them potentially feel bad about themselves and pass the shame onto them.

Maybe, however, we should partly let Love Island off the hook in not blaming it for all of society's ills and taking some person responsibility, too. That's to say, sometimes watching Love Island does make me feel a bit rubbish about myself. But is it also my responsibility to choose what I (now very knowingly) watch? And also to address my own body image issues? Issues which I can't blame all on Love Island?

Well, yes maybe. But it doesn't mean they couldn't try a BIT harder. As a mostly geriatric millennial, my body issues go back before Love Island - but lots of young girls will have issues thanks to exactly this kind of show and the subsequent ways it's affected what they see in shops, posters, and Instagram feeds. This line-up very much smacks of 'Well, people will be mad for a few days, but we know they'll still watch, so....'

Issues of 'washing' (e.g. greenwashing) and 'baiting' (e.g. queerbaiting) from brands don't help anyone - often the opposite. But it does feel like there's not even been an effort made to do anything of the sort here (ok, 'bodywashing' and 'bodybaiting' sounds weird, but you get the point. Nothing.)

And with all of us about to invest hours of our days and lives into the show, because of the little Love Island sheep that we are, it would've been nice to at least see a bit more effort from the get go. For a show that lives and dies on social media, there's no way anyone could claim there wasn't an awareness of the issue. And not much else washes either.

READ MORE: As Love Island Contestants Are Announced, Producers Are Reminding Viewers It’s On All Of Us To Be Kind