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OPINION: The real reason we're hating Love Island

Love Island isn't the problem. The casting is... - by Stacey Hicks
  • 29 May 2018
OPINION: The real reason we're hating Love Island

Love Island Australia has officially been on for two nights and ICYMI people are hating it.

While we’re happy to watch people look for love on MAFS and Bachelor in Paradise, the new reality dating show is being absolutely slammed online.

Even Australia’s reality TV sweetheart, Georgia Love, has been throwing shade, calling the show ‘absolutely abhorrent’ and saying it treats women like pieces of meat.

To make matters worse for Channel 9, only 155,000 people tuned into the premiere episode. Ouch.

So why do we have such a problem with it?

Georgia Love on Twitter

I’ll be the first to admit, I love a trashy reality show. Having watched all 51 episodes of Season 3 of Love Island UK (okay, okay, I watched Season 2 as well and I regret nothing!) I was actually intrigued to see what they did with the Australian format.

The British version is unashamedly trash-tastic and I became an expert in ‘mugs’ and ‘melts’ and learnt why you should never put all your eggs in one basket. (If you know, you know.)

But, like most people, I was disappointed by the Aussie version.

Carly Findlay on Twitter

Not only is there a massive lack of diversity, but there’s no contestants who are ‘normal enough’ to make us feel like we’re not totally horrible human beings for watching attractive people lay around in bikinis and make out with virtual strangers while we sit on the lounge in our trackies.

While Love Island UK’s third reason raked in an average of 2.52 million viewers for each episode, and the contestants are still widely loved and adored by the British population, it’s become pretty clear that our problem is with the casting.

Love Island Australia is missing what I like to call The Camilla Factor.

camillathurlow View Profile
65.4k likes - View Post on Instagram
'Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women' - Maya Angelou. Every woman has their battles, both public and hidden. There are days when they wake up broken, but somehow find the strength to carry on. Thank you today and all days because it is that everyday bravery that has given many of us a better present, and together a chance to work for a brighter future for women across the world #IWD2018 #TimeIsNow #InternationalWomensDay #tbt a very special shoot with the lovely @tombarnesphoto

In the UK version of the show, of course there were your typical glamour models and gym bunnies, but there was also Camilla Thurlow - a  Scottish sweetheart and humanitarian who works in explosive ordnance disposal. If you’re as baffled by that description as the other spray-tanned contestants were, it means she works with charities to remove remnants of war, like landminds, from disadvantaged regions.

Yes, she’s an actual living angel.

She was also rumoured to have dated Prince Harry before going on the show but, being the true class act she is, refused to talk about it on camera.

While the show, at it’s core, is basically just Big Brother mixed with Georgie Shore, having a cast member so sweet and ‘normal’ meant there was someone viewers actually wanted to find love. Many people believe her being cast was the reason the show transformed into such a ratings juggernaught and is now aired in over 40 countries.

camillathurlow View Profile
33.7k likes - View Post on Instagram
WHOS EXCITED TO SEE IF THIS PAIR WIN TONIGHT!?!? 🙋🏾🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏼🙋🏼‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏿‍♂️🙋🏿🙋🙋🏽‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋🏻CAMJAM FOR THE WIN!!! The count down begins..... 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁 Repost @jamiejewitt_ #camjam #camillathurlow #teamcammy #loveisland2017 #loveisland

When Camilla was dumped by Johnny the minute a prettier girl entered the villa, people’s affection for Camilla only grew.

She ended up having the last laugh when Calvin Klein model and total darling cherub Jamie Jewitt entered the house on Day 32. Can you tell I’m too invested in their relationship!?

One year on, the pair are still together and spend their spare time doing charity work. I’m not crying, YOU ARE!

camillathurlow View Profile
156.6k likes - View Post on Instagram
I was at home this weekend and my mum reminded me that it was today last year that I left for Love Island. There were ups and downs on that journey, and there have occasionally been tricky times since, but that is true of any decision or path you take in life. However, what is certainly true is that I am immeasurably happier, and so unbelievably lucky to have been involved in the show. Wishing so much luck and success to everyone involved this year, and forever sending thanks to the lovely team who make it all possible - it is no exaggeration to say you changed my life for the better 😘

It's become clear that this show lives or dies by the people who are cast on it, and unfortunately for the Aussie producers, the 10 cast members we've seen so far aren't going to win the hearts of the nation.

While I'm sure they're all lovely people and have proud families excitedly watching them at home, even in reality TV we need someone with more substance to keep us watching.

Stacey H
Stacey Hicks
Stacey is the Editor and Content Director for Girlfriend. A journalist and magazine hoarder, she spends her spare time watching videos of baby goats, trying to perfect winged eyeliner or cuddling her rescue dog. You can find her @staceyalyce on Twitter.

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