‘Love Island’ Needs to Ditch Influencers & Cast More Real Folks

Love Island is famous for its picture-perfect contestants. They are practically flawless both in and out of the show. That's why it's refreshing to see some “real” folks come in every once in a while. By “real” we mean that they are still insanely attractive but happen to have regular jobs.

Cosmopolitan recently featured such contestants, giving them a platform to share what they have been doing since the show. Meet the islanders who took part in this little reunion:

• Darylle Sargeant: a studio owner in Bristol. She creates art on skin through tattoos, microblading and piercings;
• Dr Priya Gopaldas: a doctor, currently completing her F2;
• Kai Fagan: a teacher;
• Sanam Harrinanan: a social worker and a soon-to-be theraplay practitioner.

The Real Reason ‘Love Island’ Needs More Regular Folks

While influencers are great at attracting certain viewership and not being afraid of creating drama (we love the drama, don't get us wrong!), having more everyday heroes on the show could be a total game-changer.

The most important reason: vulnerability. When contestants aren't constantly thinking about their brand, they're more likely to show their true selves. And that makes for great reality TV.

Plus: relatability will increase immensely. We can hardly relate to people who make a living from posting their morning routines on TikTok. But a nurse is definitely someone we can root for.

And we're not saying ban influencers completely. They're part of Love Island at this point. But maybe it's time for a better mix? Perhaps, 50% people who know their best angles and 50% people who actually get confused by all the cameras at first?

What Are Fans Saying About Ordinary People Being on ‘Love Island’?

“I love it when the Producers mix up influencers with people who have Professions. It makes the cast more diverse,” Redditor p166 wrote.

“These days, it's either the producer plant influencer who already has tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of followers, or a machete wielding predator. There's no in-between,” Redditor Nythern pointed out.

“I wish the producers would stan them [regular folks] as well,” Redditor pryzmpine shared.