Love Island star mocked for saying diversity of 'personality' is more important than actual diversity

Love Island returning to our screens has become a yearly ritual in the UK.

As summer officially kicks off, ITV2 debuts a crew of uber-waxed, super tanned and Insta-famous “islanders” to our screens.

In the run up to the launch, there have been various debates about the mental health support available to contestants on the show this year after 2017 contestant Mike Thalassitis took his own life in March 2019.

There’s also been plenty of debate relating to the appearance of contestants on the show.

Many people, including actress and TV presenter Jameela Jamil, have complained about the lack of racial and body diversity.

This prompted Love Island producers to release a statement, which suggested that there isn’t more body diversity because they want the contestants to be “attracted to one another”.

Following the debate, The Victoria Derbyshire Show hosted a conversation about diversity featuring 2018 contestant Laura Anderson.

When asked whether she agrees that there should be more body diversity, Laura said:

I disagree because I think diversity… it's great that we're talking about this, but I don't think appearance is the most important thing.

I think there's diversity within your personality which, I know on the outside watching it seems all glamorous, but in there for me it was more of an inner challenge.

I think diversity within is a lot more important.

Needless to say, people on Twitter weren’t impressed.

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