Yahoo News This is what the plus-size model from 'Love Island' actually looks like
Love Island fans have once again called out the lack of body diversity on the show, after the 2019 line-up was announced on Monday night.
The ITV2 reality dating programme has been heavily criticised in previous years for not casting contestants with a range of body types – and the same complaint has been voiced ahead of the new series.
However, this is in spite of the fact that the show has actually cast a plus-size model this time around in 28-year-old Anna Vakili.
Vakili, who is a pharmacist from London, says she is “different to anyone who has been on the show before”.
“I have the whole glam look. I’m fun but at the same time I feel like I have more to me than that. I studied hard and I’ve got my masters. I’m a pharmacist and I have a Middle Eastern background,” she adds.
Read more: Love Island: ITV to offer enhanced psychological support to contestants
She went on to add that her line of work makes it difficult to meet new partners, saying: “I don’t ever meet guys at work. I work in a pharmacy so they’re either really old or sick!:
The plus-size model also described herself as being ‘kind and emotional’, but admitted that she can be difficult to handle, as well as being a drama queen who overreacts.
The addition of Vakili to the series isn’t enough for some viewers, however, who have still taken to social media to criticise the show’s lack of body diversity.
Me trying to search for someone bigger than a size 10🤷🏻♀️
Pretty disappointed tbf. Don’t get me wrong all the girls are stunning! But we were promised different body types,yet they all look pretty skinny!
Show some diversity!! Teach girls it’s okay to be different 🤷🏻♀️#LoveIsland https://t.co/5ELiBV6ccl pic.twitter.com/gK9LMniiDu— Natasha✨ (@agirlhaznoname) May 27, 2019
Wonderful to see that after love island made such a big deal about how this year they were going to be ‘inclusive’ of all body types they have yet again only represented one body type, sorry hun can’t relate! #LoveIsland2019
— Livv Waite💋 (@Livvwaitexx) May 27, 2019
love the body diversity pic.twitter.com/lnYdvl9QbE
— sophiah (@sophiahapril) May 27, 2019
Read more: Love Island's Dr Alex George still in therapy over his time on the show
Previous Love Island stars Alexandra Cane and Malin Andersson have also weighed in the debate.
Cane, who appeared on the show in 2018, said: “Where the curvy girls at?”, while Andersson, who featured in the 2016 series, wrote: “And I thought they would have some diversity. Meh.”
Fans have also noted that plus-size model Jada Sezer, who show bosses said would be entering the villa, is missing from line-up.
Sezer has now seemingly confirmed that she won’t be involved in the show after posting a picture of herself running a marathon in London today.
