Love Island 2021 star Shannon Singh has revealed she’s faced vile racist trolling on social media.
The Scottish model, 22, spoke about the vile abuse she received while she was hosting a live stream ahead of her debut in the villa on Monday.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Shannon, who is mixed race, explained she had been streaming when people sent her racist comments as well as other horrible statements.
Shameful: Love Island 2021 star Shannon Singh, 22, has revealed she’s faced vile racist trolling on social media
She said: ‘Social media has given people a voice and it’s not necessarily a nice one.
‘Sometimes I’ll roll out of bed and be in a good mood and I won’t let it affect me. But obviously I have days when I get out of bed and read something and I want to react.
‘I’ve already got a thick skin in terms of what people say. That doesn’t mean to say it’s not going to get to me sometimes.’
Shannon, who was born in Fife, credited her strong support system for helping her not let the horrible comments get to her.
Shocking: The Scottish model spoke about the vile abuse she received while she was hosting a live stream ahead of her debut in the villa on Monday
The lingerie model hopes being so open about her sex life will empower Asian women to ‘own their bodies’ and believes entering the show will help break down ‘stereotypes’ associated with her culture.
Explaining a previous claim about her sex drive in an unearthed podcast she recorded earlier this year in which she bragged about having sex ‘eight times a day’, Shannon, said: ‘It was that I could have sex up to eight times a day.’
She continued: ‘When I am in love with someone, I do have a lot of sex and that’s normal and healthy in a relationship.
‘That podcast was all about Asian women being empowered and speaking out about things that typical Asian women don’t speak about.
‘I want to empower women and if I can stop the stereotype of Asian women and not owning who you are and being afraid to show your body and all this stuff, if I can be an advocate for that then of course I will be.’
Nasty: Shannon, who is mixed race, explained she had been streaming when people sent her racist comments as well as other horrible statements
Shannon admits she’s ‘not from a traditional Asian family’, a belief exemplified by her father’s former profession.
Indeed, the OnlyFans star, who has also modelled for PrettyLittleThing, says his racy past made her family ‘who we are.’
She added: ‘It’s something we are proud of as a family, it’s not traditional, it’s jokes. I think it’s hilarious.
‘It’s something I just throw in – when people say ‘what’s your ethnicity, what’s your background?’ and I say ‘I’m Asian’, I think obviously whether people want to or not they do picture Asian families and what they’re like and then I throw it in.
‘It’s made our family who we are, my brothers, mum and dad, we’re very open and honest as a family as I can speak to them about anything and they’re a great support system.’
‘It’s made our family who we are’: Shannon, pictured with her mum, admitted she’s ‘not from a traditional Asian family’, a belief exemplified by her father’s former profession
Shannon says she wouldn’t rule out having sex in the villa, providing it was the natural step in a relationship, but she insists potential suitors have no chance if they’re cocky and arrogant. Plus, younger men are usually also a no go.
She explained: ‘I like old souls, all my friends are older and I just get on with people that have an older soul so a really young, arrogant, cocky lad coming in – if he were chocolate he’d eat himself, that’s not my vibe at all.
‘I like guys that are funny, down to earth, family orientated, because I’m such a family girl. If a guy comes in and he’s too excited and he’s got a rock up his a***, I’ll just think calm down and take a deep breath. Arrogance and cockiness are definitely my biggest turn offs.’
It comes after Love Island bosses warned viewers to ‘think before you post’ during the new series.
The ITV2 dating show is to make a long-awaited return on Monday after being cancelled last year due to coronavirus; and a social media message shared by the producers issued a warning to fans in advance.
‘I do have a lot of sex’: The model said she hopes being so open about her sex life will empower Asian women to ‘own their bodies’
The series has become known to attract trolls online, and many former Islanders have slammed the show, claiming they have suffered with mental health issues after taking part on it.
Two past contestants have died by suicide, with the show’s former host Caroline Flack also taking her life.
A message on the programme’s Instagram account read: ‘You’ve got a text! These Islanders are all single and ready to find love. We can’t wait to watch them get to know each other, date, and maybe even find the one.
‘We’re so grateful they’re letting us follow their journey this summer. We hope you enjoy the show, but please think before you post.’
Host Laura Whitmore and narrator husband Iain Stirling shared the same message.
Full list of Love Island 2021 Contestants: Series 7 cast members confirmed by ITV2
- Love Island starts at 9pm Monday 28th June on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox
‘I want to empower women’: Shannon hopes her appearance on Love Island will challenge how Asian families and ‘stereotypes’ are viewed
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
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