Love Island to cast its first-ever deaf contestant this season

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.

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.

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.

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.

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