Love Island: Maybe it's more diverse than we realise!

Whether or not you watch Love Island, it’s a pretty difficult show to avoid having knowledge of, unless you live under a rock or on Mars! Saying this most people will also know how this show gets a lot of stick for not having a diverse range of individuals that appear on the show. I am very guilty of stating how everyone on Love Island seems the same, they all have the same over all image and most of them seem to have very similar personality traits.

My mind today however has been changed by one contestant of this year’s series, Niall Aslam. From the moment he entered the villa he was one of my favourites and his shock exit left me and my friends discussing the possible reasons for him leaving. Today, well an hour ago in fact, I saw his Instgram ‘reveal’ as to why he left the villa and it’s one I can whole heartedly relate too.

He stated in a very heart felt Instagram post that he has Aspergers Syndrome, he finds this hard to admit as he acknowledges the stigma a lot of people attach to this ‘disability’ (for want of a better term). This post in itself is very brave, I know from not only having my own disability but from having two siblings on the autistic spectrum how difficult this can be to talk about.

Right, so here it goes...for this post I am putting my laying it on thick brush down and hoping to hit the nation with a love potion. For far too long I have suffered in silence and not acknowledged a massive fact about my life which going into the villa has led me to finally realise and accept. When I was a young child I was diagnosed with asperges syndrome, a fact that until this post has never shared outside of my close family. Growing up was extremely difficult for me and I often felt out of place. I always felt that people didn't understand me, yet I was afraid to reveal my true scales as I did not want the label or stigma that was attached to it. But now I think it is important that I come forward, not only so that I can finally be honest with myself and to those around me, but also so that other individuals in my position can embrace their true colours. It's not been an easy ride for me to come to terms with this fact but I am glad that I can now accept who I am, and am looking forward to my next chapter. I would just like to thank the team at ITV for always backing me and giving me the opportunity to rid my myself of my insecurities and embrace the fact that I am different yet I am still a rainbow fish. I can't explain how grateful I am for the support from the whole team over this period. I would also like to thank the British public for the love you have all shown me over the past few weeks, it has been overwhelming. Now it's time for this rainbow fish to dive deep into the big blue ocean and show the world what I'm all about - there's more layers to come! 🐠#AutismAwareness #BeYourOwnKindOfRainbowFish #LessPrangMoreLove

A post shared by Niall Aslam (@niallaslam) on Jun 28, 2018 at 3:19am PDT

I 100% applaud Niall in posting about himself and showing that a disability is not always visible, does not always show itself in a way people might assume and can not always be seen by those on the outside looking in. People like my brother and Niall should be proud to stand up and say I am who I am and these ‘problems’ don’t take away from me, but add to the amazing person I am.

This post has shown that even though you may think everyone on these shows are the same (GUILTY), they aren’t and you can never truly know what someone is going through. I have had several people apologise to me when I say my brother is autistic. ‘Oh wow, I’m so sorry that he has that and that you have to deal with it!’ Ummm sorry hun but I’m not! It may make him a little bit quirky, he may need understanding in a different way and sometimes I may lose my rag because some of the traits of his autism p*ss me off but I’m not sorry! I wouldn’t change who he is for the world, his autism makes him who he is, just like Niall’s autism is a part of him, without it they would not be the people their families know and love.

Niall will probably never see this but just in case he does, WELL DONE! Be proud and stand up for those without the voice you now have, show the world that your ‘disability’ should not stop you, nor should it stop anyone else from achieving greatness. One day I hope the stigma around invisible disabilities will end but you are very much a key piece of the puzzle that will help others have the understanding we do!