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Shannon Singh reveals 'Love Island' trolls tell her she doesn't 'look Indian enough'

Watch: Shannon Singh becomes first dumped Love Island contestant of 2021

Love Island contestant Shannon Singh has received shocking abuse from trolls who say she doesn't "look Indian enough" and shouldn't use the name Singh.

A model and influencer from Fife in Scotland, Singh entered the villa as one of this series' original Islanders, but was shockingly dumped after just one day in Majorca.

She told BBC Newsbeat that online trolls targeted her after her appearance on the show, with some questioning her heritage.

Read more: Dr Alex criticises abuse towards Love Island contestants

Singh said: "I don't look Indian enough? Honestly, some people argue with me. I get DMs like: 'You are not Asian. Stop trying to be Asian. You don't speak Asian. You don't look Asian'.

"I'm like 'what does that even mean?' And it does really, really hurt."

Shannon Singh was the first contestant to be dumped from 'Love Island' this year. (ITV)
Shannon Singh was the first contestant to be dumped from 'Love Island' this year. (ITV)

The 22-year-old revealed that the abuse around her name "really gets me", with some trying to lecture her about it.

Traditionally, Sikh men use the name Singh — meaning "lion" — while women use Kaur, which means "princess".

Read more: Love Island star Hugo wants to show disabled people can be "mainstream"

She said she had received messages questioning her use of the name Singh and saying she "doesn't deserve" to use it.

The star added: "Then I get people trying to educate me on Kaur and Singh. I can honestly say it's all from men. Asian men. And it's sad. It breaks my heart."

Singh has now launched a campaign around body positivity on Instagram called #ILOVEMINE in which people are encouraged to post something each day that they like about themselves.

She revealed she had also received her fair share of more welcome comments in the wake of her surprisingly brief Love Island appearance.

Read more: Love Island producers defend "healthy BMIs" of contestants

Singh said: "On the flip side, I've had some really really positive [comments]. Like: 'I'm really proud to see a strong, beautiful, independent Asian woman representing. It's the representation that we need'."

The influencer said her new campaign is not about encouraging everyone to be a glamour model, but instead asking people to be kinder to themselves.

Shannon Singh was among the original contestants on this year's series of 'Love Island'. (ITV)
Shannon Singh was among the original contestants on this year's series of 'Love Island'. (ITV)

Singh added: "My message is to just be who you are, be proud of who you are. You can be sexy and be confident.

"It's just showing South Asian women that, if you want to be sexy and confident, you can.

"In the media, there is no representation of women being, strong, sexy, confident. I just find it really sad."

Read more: ITV confirms new aftercare procedure for Love Island contestants

The new series of Love Island came to an end last week, with Liam Reardon and Millie Court the winners of a run which attracted a record number of Ofcom complaints.

Several contestants were targeted by trolls during the series, with the families and friends of both Chloe Burrows and Priya Gopaldas revealing the vile abuse their accounts had received.

Watch: Love Island winners Liam and Millie arrive back in the UK