Will 2020 Be The Year Black Women Succeed In Love Island?
Late last year fans of reality dating show Love Island, were over the moon to hear that the show would air not once but twice in the new year.
With a new winter edition airing on the 12th of January, in Cape Town South Africa, this will act as a much-needed escape to combat those winter blues, but will it be the year for Black women to triumph?
For those who may not be well versed in the cultural behemoth that is UK reality tv show Love Island - which has gone on to see many international variations and a mention in HBO's hit Euphoria - here's a brief rundown:
Love Island is a reality dating show, that brings together 12 beautiful, young, single men and women -known as 'islanders', in a sunny villa for 8 weeks, where they are tasked with finding love, coupling up and winning the nation's hearts. Couples are voted off the 'island', periodically with the incentive for staying being the £50,000 cash prize (and millions of Instagram followers) for the winning couple. The journey is far from smooth sailing, with weekly challenges, surprise islanders, gossip and betrayals throughout.
Having won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Reality show in 2018, and reaching even greater success last year, so much so to warrant a double airing of the usually annual series, it is clearly very popular amongst Brits and beyond.
This Winter season has gained interest with the new presenter and islanders announced earlier this month, but amidst all the buzz, we can't help but fear a pattern emerging. Just one look at this years line up (and that of 2018 and 2019) and you might be able to spot it...
There are only 2 dark-skinned islanders in the starting twelve this year, peaking through amongst the sea of blonde blue-eyed faces, and if we've learnt anything from the experiences of last years Yewande Biala and 2018's Samira Mighty, both two dark-skinned women who struggled to find love and received major criticisms online, we fear history may be about to repeat itself.
The Black woman in question is 22 year old, former Miss Ghana contestant, Leanne Amaning from London. Self-described as 'the Beyonce of Waltham Forest', Leanne, who advocates confidence and self love, seems like she can handle herself on the island, but it may not be an easy ride for her. The island is notorious for its selection of men who rarely desire black women instead highly favouring caucasian aesthetics. Every Tom, Dick and Harry on the show is immediately smitten with the first blonde, big-eyed girl to walk in the door, often leaving the black women last pick. This has wreaked havoc on past islanders mental health and feelings of self-worth. When 23 year old scientist Yewande, the embodiment of beauty and brains, cried 'I don't understand why someone can't just want me.' after being dumped for model Arabella, we all wept with her.
Her’s was an experience shared by many young black and brown women worldwide, who reside and exist in predominantly white spaces. A lot of us, myself included, understood exactly what she meant, as feeling second best and unattractive made up a majority of our formative years. Fans have long stated the tendency, over the past seasons, of Black and brown islanders to be chosen last and left in 'Friendship couplings' desperately waiting for someone new to come in and want them as more than a friend, but is there a chance things will change this year?
Is there a continued, deep-rooted colourism issue in mainstream media or are there other factors at play? Furthermore, is Love Island wrong for letting it continue and sending another Black woman to the slaughter?
If you had the opportunity, would you go on the island? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Main image: Love Island, 2020. ITV.
