‘Love Island’: Contestants Spend Thousands on Personal Training and Beauty Treatments Before Appearing on the Dating Show
British dating show Love Island is a revival of an earlier series of the same name. The show started airing again in 2015, and contestants stay at a villa to find love or money. There are seven seasons out so far, and millions of people enjoy the show.
Before arriving, the islanders receive social media training and a support package. Not only that, but they get plenty of clothing before and during filming. Still, many of them pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Many ‘Love Island’ contestants have to quit their jobs
In Love Island, viewers get to see ordinary people experience a bit of stardom as they search for love. Fans have learned all about the islanders and what kind of careers they had. Many of them have been barbers, bartenders, and waitresses. A few guests had more interesting jobs.
For example, Alana Paolucci joined the dating show in August of this year. As it turns out, she was a model for clients like Playboy. However, all the guests would spend most of their time in the villa. According to Vice, many of them have had to quit their day jobs at the last minute.
One 2019 contestant named Shaughna Phillips worked as a democratic services officer. She had promotion ambitions, but she put them to a halt when Love Island producers approached her. Like others, Phillips risked losing her job security after leaving the villa.
Laura Anderson was a part of the cabin crew of Emirates for years. The show’s producers gave her 10 days to make a huge decision. Anderson had to give up her rented home, and she paid Emirates to quit since she could not provide a 30-day notice.
The islanders also pay a lot of money in preparation
When Love Island first began, the series had a small cult following. As a result, early contestants had to bring their own clothing. After George Day left his job, he took time to train and eat well. He could not wear branded clothing, so he paid over $900 for new outfits.
While things have changed, people still tend to spend plenty of money in preparation for appearing on the dating show. Jade Affleck detailed how she got ready for the camera. She explained that she hired a personal trainer for six weeks.
Affleck paid for hair extensions, a manicure, special shampoo, and trips to the tanning bed as well. In total, she spent over $4,700 to appear on the dating show.
One of the changes to the show is that guests receive gift vouchers when they show up. The vouchers are worth hundreds, and the islanders can shop before filming. Throughout production, the guests would get more clothing from sponsors.
The social media popularity makes everything worth it
People make big career decisions and spend hundreds of dollars before appearing in Love Island. For several of them, the choice is worth it due to social media fame. A person can become somewhat of a celebrity after arriving.
Many of the contestants saw a rise in Instagram followers after exiting the series. Viewers have even dubbed the show an “influencer factory.” Someone can use the fame to their advantage even if they do not win the grand prize of $100,000.
Phillips left with a million followers, and she got the opportunity to appear in other TV shows. Another islander, Jamie McCann, used her sponsored posts on Instagram for extra income. She used the money to attend drama school and now works as an equestrian model.
While some contestants have not had much post-show luck, many people enjoy the increased visibility.
