It seems to be a recurring theme on Love Island this year. A woman walks into the villa, all 5ft 10 of glorious beauty and charm, strolls confidently towards a group of drooling men and subsequently picks her favourites to get to know. They go on a date, where the men consistently tell the pinnacle of beauty that sits opposite them ‘you’re very confident, aren’t you?’
It first occurred with Amber, when her no-holds-barred-actually-holding-men-accountable attitude intimidated more than one of the male islanders. She was cast aside as ‘difficult’, by both the men in the villa and the public, until firefighter Michael swooped in with his scouse charm and proved she isn’t full of herself, she just loves herself enough to have standards. Then, the confidence conundrum was most patronisingly cast upon Anna, whom was mistakenly labelled ‘plus-size’ when she first entered the villa (because she wasn’t stick thin).
More than one conversation with various male Islanders has led to their questioning of Anna’s confidence, most recently when her current flame Jordan picked up on it last night. ‘You come across confident’, he said. ‘Good,' she responded to which he asked, ‘do you think I could handle you?’
Once again, confidence became associated with being difficult, as if it’s an obstacle to be jumped over in the game of keeping a woman. And more troubling, with Anna in particular, is the assumption that she wouldn’t be confident, which Islanders like Anton have fallen into the trap of believing – purely because he doesn’t deem her as physically attractive as the other Islanders. You know, because men’s perception of you ultimately decides your character as a woman, duh.
The biggest shock for the boys came with BDE Queen Maura, whom entered the villa with an energy that many online yearned for. Taken aback by how forward she was, her first choice Tommy – who was initially bewitched by her sexual sanguine - eventually chose Molly-Mae, whom despite showing early confidence had taken more of a back seat in the fight for his affection.
Last night, Maura’s most recent interest, Tom, again brought up how confident she was, doubling down on the sexist assumptions by questioning her on why she was so open about sex. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ she asked, ‘everyone does it. Women enjoy it just as much as men, so I don’t know why anyone gets so shocked when I talk about it.’
The straw that broke the camel’s back, at least for us, came when Arabella Chi entered the villa last night. Once again, the male Islanders were surprised by how confident she was. ‘First impressions, she’s got a lot of confidence about her,’ Danny said to camera after their first conversation, clearly astounded by her ability not to fluster in the face of so many 21-year-old personal trainers.
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.
Surprising isn’t it, that a literal model who conforms to every beauty standard, has maintained a successful career and whose personality has been deemed entertaining enough for a slot on a prime-time TV programme, would be confident?
Apparently, all women, even those who have played an Amazonian Goddess opposite Jason Mamoa in two DC films, should be fragile, insecure little flowers filled with humility and excited at the sheer opportunity of getting to know a 21-year old influencer who can only speak in clichés.
Listen, it’s not the biggest problem we’ve seen in Love Island, it’s not even the biggest issue with regards to sexism – that conversation about women keeping a low number of sexual partners was glazed over this year, wasn’t it? – but nonetheless it speaks volumes for just how deferential women are expected to be regardless of their outperformance of men in all areas of life. These women are beautiful, successful, charming and intelligent, yet the men are surprised when they don’t faint at their every glance? Now that is baffling.
Arabella entering the villa last night...
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