Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa push for more queer casting on 'Love Island'

As the current season of Love Island heads toward its finale, hosts Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa are adding their voices to the push for more queer representation in the villa.

The pair, who host Love Island After Sun, were responding to bisexual host Ariana Madix’s earlier wish for more gay bombshells on the series. This season has already been described by some fans as one of the show’s most queer-coded yet, with close male friendships, attention-grabbing styling and on-camera flirtation between some contestants prompting wider discussion about visibility on reality television.

Miller said she would welcome more openly queer contestants without hesitation.

“I love gay love. I need more of it.”

She added that she has grown tired of straight men and said she can only deal with gay men.

Pessoa said the show should make room for a broader range of identities if its premise is finding love for everyone.

“Trans contestants would be amazing. Nonbinary contestants would be amazing. Everybody’s looking for love! If everybody’s looking for love, we have to include everybody.”

Both hosts also used the conversation to point to a larger issue around masculinity on reality TV. Miller said it is not “gay to love your friends,” while Pessoa said some men only show physical affection in moments of crisis. Their comments framed queer inclusion not only as casting variety, but also as a way to challenge the emotional limits often placed on straight men in pop culture.

The finale of Love Island airs this weekend on Peacock.

A fuller version of the interview with Miller and Pessoa appears in the video accompanying the original report.