Tasha Ghouri has been met with widespread praise from both Love Island viewers and her fellow contestants as she gave an inspiring speech about being born deaf.
Tasha, a model from Thirsk, is the ITV2 dating show's first ever deaf contestant and as she prepared to walk into Love Island's new villa for the first time, North Yorkshire girl Tasha appeared on screen in her introductory VT, in which she said: "I have a super power, I was born deaf. It doesn't define me. It's part of who I am that makes me special and unique."
She added: "Just to find a guy that's like 'I love Tasha for who she is,' that's the sentence I'd love to here. The thought of finding love just gives me goosebumps. I'm ready to get my heels on, my bikinis on and just have the best summer of my life."
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The first episode of 2022 saw host Laura Whitmore drop a big bombshell on the Love Island contestants, by revealing that instead of the girls stepping forward for the boys they're keen on in the first coupling up, the public had already decided their fate. Thanks to viewer votes, Tasha was paired with Andrew.
In the aftermath of the first coupling, and before late arrival Davide made his entrance, the Islanders enjoyed drinks with each other on their first night on the show. And, it was then that Tasha opened up to her fellow contestants about being born deaf.
As they gathered together, she said: "I think this is perfect was born completely deaf. I wear a cochlea implant in my right ear. Its just something cool about myself. It doesn't define me, it's just a part of who I am."
Viewers at home were full of respect and admiration for Tasha and so too was fellow Islander Luca who went to the Beach Hut to say: "I literally would not have had a clue. To say that in front of people that you've never met or know....I think she had some balls to do that and credit to her."
Indiya too had plenty of praise for Tasha, saying: "She was so open about it and I could see in her face it was such a big thing for her. I just wanted to give her a big hug, because I wanted her to know she's not alone and we'll all here to support her no matter what she's going through."
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