Love Island’s “first ever” deaf contestant set to join the villa

Times are changing.

Love Island is expected to welcome its first ever deaf contestant onto the show. According to rumours and reports, Natasha Ghouri is heading into the villa for the upcoming eighth season. The 23 year old dancer is set to be the first ever deaf contestant, wearing a cochlear implant which helps with her hearing loss. Natasha has previously done modelling work for Asos where, last year, she was seen in a campaign that showed the medical device in an earring ad.

At the time, she wrote: "MY HEART IS FULL RIGHT NOW! Thanks so much for all of your kind messages WOW. It may just be an ear but it means so much more – like what @rnid_uk said representation matters, and I’m bloody proud to represent my community.

"Biggest love to @asos for welcoming me in and breaking boundaries as this will really help and inspire people out there.

"Everyone is really excited about having Natasha on the show,’ an insider said. ‘It’s something really positive for youngsters to see."

When it comes to her appearance on the ITV2 dating show, a source told The Sun: "Everyone is really excited about having Natasha on the show. It’s something really positive for youngsters to see. She looks amazing in a bikini, has a great bubbly personality and just happens to be deaf. “She wears a cochlear implant which helps with her hearing loss.” This comes after Eastenders star Rose Ayling-Ellis appeared on last year's Strictly Come Dancing as the first deaf contestant, winning the competition with dance partner Giovanni Pernice. And last year on Love Island we saw PE teacher Hugo Hammond become the show’s first-ever disabled contestant who was born with a club foot. Love Island bosses have said that all rumours regarding contestants in the villa are all speculation.