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Love Island 2019 reportedly casts Jada Sezer as first plus-size contestant
23 May 2019, 15:30
The ITV series has been criticised for not being inclusive in the past.
There's only two weeks to go before Love Island 2019 kicks off and we're already prepared for our summer nights to be completely taken over. But, with the start date looming, everyone's speculating who will be heading into the Love Island villa.
Well, rumour has it that the show is getting its first plus-size contestant EVER and, seriously, it's about time.
Love Island 2019: People think the ITV show should be cancelled
Jada Sezer has reportedly been added to this year's line-up in a bid to promote body diversity. Jada (who is a size UK 16) is a 30-year-old plus-size model, mental health advocate and podcast host, who champions body confidence.
Last year, she ran the London Marathon in her underwear alongside writer Bryony Gordon. And she even appeared on ITV breakfast show, Good Morning Britain, in her bra and knickers too.
Love Island has received backlash for its lack of body and racial diversity in previous years so they're clearly trying to up their game. However, is it merely tokenism to save ITV's butt?
"This year producers are determined to have more variation among the Islanders," a source told the Mirror. "They want all shapes and sizes taking part – not just a stream of identikit young men and women.
Just heard from a little bird that there will be a plus size person in our community on this years Love Island, so i’ll deffo be watching. 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
— Stephanie Yeboah (@NerdAboutTown) May 22, 2019
"Given the nature of the show, it’s important the contestants feel body confident as they spend so much time wearing skimpy clothes or bikinis as they sunbathe and hang out by the pool.
"Jada would be a perfect choice because she is passionate about body positivity – and even appeared on Good Morning Britain in her underwear before running the marathon.
"Producers have been talking at length with her and are hopeful they might feature her later in the series."
Even if Jada doesn't make it in this year, other rumours of who will be entering the Love Island villa include Sairah Pinnock, sister of Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and even Megan Barton Hanson, who starred on the show last year but failed to make her romance with Wes Nelson work.
