Love Island producers have defended this year's line-up following criticism over the lack of body diversity by former contestants Alexandra Crane and Malin Andersson.
After a backlash from some viewers in previous years, and calls for Islanders to have body shapes they could relate to, it had been rumoured that 'plus-size' model and body positivity influencer Jada Sezer was entering the villa this series.
In response to the complaints over diversity, the ITV2 show's co-creator and producer Richard Cowles has said that while they try to make their cast "as diverse and representative as possible", they aren't advocating a certain type of size, weight or shape with their line-up of young men and women.
"You try and be as representative and diverse as possible, but it has to come back to, first and foremost, it's an entertainment show, and it's about people wanting to watch people on screen and them reacting and falling in love with one another," he told reporters including Digital Spy.
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"Where else can you watch people who arrive as strangers fall in love in eight weeks? That's an amazing thing, to watch love in real time. Yes, we want to be as representative as possible but we also want them to be attracted to one another.
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"We're not saying everyone in there is how you're supposed to look," he continued.
"What we're saying is: 'Here's a group of people you want to watch for eight weeks and we want to watch them fall in love.' And it doesn't mean that's not in the front of our minds, but we do want to be as diverse as possible."
Former contestant Malin – who took part on the show in 2016 – called out the ITV2 series on Twitter after this year's line-up was revealed, posting: "And I thought they would have some diversity. Meh."
"Where the curvy girls at?" Alex added.
Jada has also recently confirmed that she won't be entering the villa.
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But what the line-up may lack in diversity, it makes up for in connections to fame.
We've got the younger brothers of both a Strictly Come Dancing professional and a controversial boxer, while one of the girls actually dated a previous Islander last year.
Love Island returns on Monday, June 3 on ITV2, and you can catch up on the show via ITV Hub.
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Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.
