Tasha Ghouri was Love Island’s first deaf contestant. Now her time on the show is over, she wants to use her on-screen fame to make a real-life impact for other deaf people.
“I never had anyone to look up to that’s like me on websites or TV,” says Tasha – who finished fourth in the ITV competition this summer.”
Before the villa, the 24-year-old modelled – for websites such as ASOS – with her cochlear implant visible, yet she was a rare example.
But according to Tasha, the depiction of the deaf community on TV is “moving in a very positive direction”.
“I think representation is really coming a long way from where it was a couple of years ago,” she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.
“For example, Rose [Ayling-Ellis] on Strictly, and then I’m on Love Island,” she says.
Eastenders actress Rose, Strictly Come Dancing’s first deaf contestant, won the show last year.
“That’s a massive thing for the deaf community, and in terms of representation, [it] doesn’t happen enough in my opinion,” says Tasha.
DON’T COVER YOUR MOUTH
But away from the screen, Tasha says there is still work to do – something she wants to help to address.
“A lot of people never know how to approach people that are deaf or hearing impaired because they don’t know how to communicate,” Tasha tells Newsbeat.
“[You can be deaf-friendly] by learning basic British Sign Language, because if you just learn basic conversation, that really does go a long way.”
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“Always make sure your lips are based on them, because a lot of deaf [and] hearing-impaired people lip-read. Especially me, I’ll always look for you 24/7. Another thing is don’t cover your mouth!”
She also encourages others to “be open and not to be judgmental”.
“Don’t say comments like, ‘I never knew you were deaf’, or ‘I couldn’t tell because you’re quiet’. I find it quite offensive.”
Tasha is encouraging others to learn BSL, and to become more deaf-friendly.
LEFT OUT OF CONVERSATIONS
Tasha is still with her Love Island boyfriend, Andrew Le Page.
But for fans to understand their latest announcement on social media, they’ll have to know BSL, as they talk about their search for a house.
The islander says this is to highlight how deaf people can sometimes feel left out of conversations.