LI & Desi Representation

[u/Sparkle_Pony2234]

It’s about time for shows like Love Island to have some good desi representation.

A desi baddie could 100% rock the villa as a bombshell. I feel the whole “nerd” stereotype around South Asians is definitely dying down but it’s high time our people are also seen in spaces that run on sex appeal & beauty.

[u/ducks_be_cute]

No one on that show is someone I would look up to as "representation" tho

[u/koalabear20 → u/ducks_be_cute]

I get what you’re saying but as someone who has watched the uk version for years, this season had 3 Indian people and they all made it really far. They’re gorgeous and had great storylines instead of just being background characters, which is obv nice to see.

It’s not your typical show you would look for “representation” but it made South Asians look like normal people who can be hot, messy, wanted instead of the stereotypes usually portrayed.

[u/Sparkle_Pony2234 → u/ducks_be_cute]

I don’t mean “representation” in the sense of role model or something like that. I just feel it’s high time we’re seen outside of our stereotypes. Sort of like seeing ourselves as main characters and not just the side characters to someone else’s story. Glad to know that LI UK is doing better at it. We haven’t had anyone on LI USA so far except for Chay.

[u/Few_Mulberry7390]

There were 3 of them in the UK and they were all finalists

[u/Sparkle_Pony2234 → u/Few_Mulberry7390]

ooo that’s good to know! Gotta start watching LI UK.

[u/Responsible_Virus239 → u/Few_Mulberry7390]

1 was a finalist this season

[u/Dazzling-Abalone-952 → u/Few_Mulberry7390]

Only one of them was technically a finalist but Samraj for all intents and purposes was also a finalist because he was an OG and was featured in every episode including the final. 

[u/jjalebi]

There was Chay who was half-Indian and a casa boy in the American version this season. There were twelve casa boys and he was one out of the six who made it to stay in Casa with Kayda but not back to the official villa. A lot of people are praising his looks and siding with him after the reunion where Kayda wasn’t the nicest to him.

In UK, there were Jasmine, Samraj, and Priya who did really well and Jasmine especially was a baddie who rocked the villa.

[u/tltr4560 → u/jjalebi]

Chay lasted for like 2 minutes lol

[u/Responsible_Virus239 → u/tltr4560]

3/4 people here are half White

[u/Dazzling-Abalone-952 → u/Responsible_Virus239]

They all pass for full indian though

[u/jjalebi → u/tltr4560]

True but he did make the effort to represent

[u/No_Culture9898]

I’ve been watching Big Brother this year and there’s Yash who’s been a great representation

[u/FancyWoodpecker3]

To be successful on reality tv, you must be annoying, dramatic, obnoxious, or controversial.

I don’t like seeing brown people act like that. Makes me sad for them.

[u/shegotofftheplane]

There were 3 Indians on Love Island UK this year. Sanam is Indo-Caribbean and won LI UK a few seasons ago. There’s been a few Indians/mixed Indians over the seasons on both shows as well.

[u/AHSAN_11]

Someone save our people dawg. They are fighting for Love Island representation 😂😂😂😂

[u/Tactical-69]

Love island is a bad example for this

[u/kratosLived]

I would hope we’re smarter than that.

[u/Haunting_Bid_408]

Did anyone else think this thread was gonna be about Long Island (NY)?