Love Island Is Looking For Non-Binary And Intersexual Contestants

@Love Island/Instagram/ITV2

ITV show Love Island, is looking for non-binary and intersexual contestants for this year’s series. 

Whether you love it or hate it, Love Island never fails to capture the attention of the nation each summer, and this year will be no different, as applications for the reality TV series are now open.

The show usually follows a fairly regular format, with an odd number of men and women entering the villa and coupling up – forcing the one left over singleton to tear apart budding relationships in order to be in with a chance of winning.

ITV2

Although the show has had bisexual contestants before – the 2016 series had contestants Sophie Gradon and Katie Salmon who were the first same-sex couple to form in the villa – Love Island has faced criticisms for the way it focuses on heterosexual relationships.

One frustrated viewer wrote:

WHERE’S A SAME SEX COUPLE OR A NON-BINARY/TRANS CONTESTANT AT?! [sic]

While another questioned:

Why don’t they have any #LGBT or hoy a non-binary into #LoveIsland? [sic]

I mean, after all – we are encouraged to be more inclusive in every other aspect of existence these days… [sic]

However the upcoming series is set to challenge those criticisms as bosses are encouraging non-binary and intersexual people to apply, with applications asking wannabe-Islanders to confirm whether they identify as male, female, non-binary or intersex, The Sun reports.

Intersex people are born with a mixture of male and female sex characteristics, while non-binary people don’t fall into a strict male or female category.

Applications are now open for anyone over the age of 18, and as long as you have a valid passport and aren’t employed by ITV, you could soon be jetting off for a summer of fun in the sun.

The website reads:

How do you fancy enjoying your very own long hot summer of romance? Love Island will be back for summer 2019 and we’re now on the lookout for lively singles from across the country to take part.

Once again, our Islanders will take up residence in a spectacular luxury villa in the hope of finding love. But to stay on the island, they need to couple up – and more importantly – win the hearts of the public.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, then we want to hear from you straight away.

ITV2

If you manage to find your true love – or at least someone you can stand to be around for the entirety of the show – you could make it all the way to the end and find yourself and your partner winning the delightful £50,000 prize.

Last year’s winners will soon be appearing in their own reality show Jack and Dani: Life After Love Island, while a bromance formed on 2017’s series has seen Kem Cetinay and Chris Hughes appear on Celebrity Hunted and even release their own single, Little Bit Leave It. 

After calls for the show to alter its focus on heterosexual relationships, the updated application process is sure to be met with positive reactions.

Apply for the new series of Love Island here!

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to [email protected]. 

Emily Brown

Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.