According to The Sun, Love Island bosses have signed the show’s first-ever deaf contestant and stunning model Natasha Ghouri. The dancer is in the final line-up for the eighth season and will enter the Love Island villa next weekend.
Discover our latest podcast
View this post on Instagram
Love is love
Giving the dating platform to find love to a deaf contestant is going to provide massive representation to the entire community. The move is said to be made following the success of deaf EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing. A show source confirmed:
Everyone is really excited about having Natasha on the show. It’s something really positive for youngsters to see. She looks amazing in a bikini, has a great bubbly personality and just happens to be deaf.
View this post on Instagram
She wears a cochlear implant which helps with her hearing loss.
The show bosses cast Hugo Hammond last year, a PE instructor who was born with a club foot.
Inspiration
The 23-year-old dancer is already an inspiration for the deaf community. She appeared in an earring advert for clothing giant ASOS showing off her cochlear implant last year. She wrote at that time:
MY HEART IS FULL RIGHT NOW! Thanks so much for all of your kind messages WOW. It may just be an ear but it means so much more – like what @rnid_uk said representation matters, and I’m bloody proud to represent my community.
View this post on Instagram
Biggest love to @asos for welcoming me in and breaking boundaries as this will really help and inspire people out there.
In April 2021, the campaign went viral, with customers complimenting the brand for being inclusive. While Natasha used social media to encourage others, she said:
No matter what disability you’ve got... you can do it.
Read More
⋙ Love Island All Stars: Could an all-stars special finally be in the works?
⋙ Love Island introduces ‘inclusion training’ ahead of new season
⋙ Mary Bedford: Love Island star reveals being robbed while sitting in her taxi
