Love Island‘s Tasha Ghouri has vowed to donate half the £50,000 prize money to a charity for deaf children if she wins the reality TV show.
The dancer, 23, made her debut on the ITV dating programme on Monday night and she has vowed to give away half of her prize money as she loves to ‘give back’.
The winning couple is awarded a £50,000 cash prize and they can either choose to split it equally, or one person has the option to steal it for themselves.
Role model: Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri has vowed to donate half the £50,000 prize money to a charity for deaf children if she wins the reality TV show
But Tasha, who is the show’s first deaf Islander, said if she is lucky enough to win, then she will donate half of her prize pot to The National Deaf Children’s Society.
Speaking ahead of entering the villa, she explained: ‘If I did win Love Island my plan is to give 50 per cent of it away to The National Deaf Children’s Society, I have raised money for charities before and it’s something I love to do and to give back.’
She has previously spoken out about her aspirations of becoming a role model to the deaf community and follow in the footsteps of Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis’ footsteps.
In December, EastEnders star Rose won Strictly alongside professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, and was admired by viewers for raising awareness for the deaf community.
Generous: The dancer, 23, made her debut on the ITV dating programme on Monday night and she has vowed to give away half of her prize money as she loves to ‘give back’
Speaking of Rose, Tasha added: ‘I love Strictly and being a dancer, Rose is such an amazing role model it was so powerful what she did.
‘She represented me, as well as the deaf community and I just thought it was awesome. It was a beautiful message.’
Tasha, from North Yorkshire, was born ‘completely deaf’ and was forced to ‘overcome a lot of obstacles’ growing up with a disability she now calls her ‘superpower’.
She recently told MailOnline that her parents learned she was deaf when she was 12 months old and she had a cochlear implant fitted when she was five years old.
Candid: Tasha, from North Yorkshire, was born ‘completely deaf’ and was forced to ‘overcome a lot of obstacles’ growing up with a disability she now calls her ‘superpower’
The model said she had years of speech therapy as well as the implant, which is an electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf.
‘I was born completely deaf. My parents found out when I was 12 months old, I got a cochlear implant when I was five, which was quite late on,’ she said.
‘I had hearing aids until I was five, but hearing aids did not benefit me whatsoever.
‘The cochlear implant is surgically done and it’s much more advanced than a hearing aid.
‘Growing up I had to overcome a lot of obstacles, I’ve had speech therapy, a lot of hearing rehab but overcoming those obstacles has made me who I am today.’
Advocate: She has also spoken out about her aspirations of becoming a role model to the deaf community and follow in the footsteps of Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis’ footsteps
Tasha has already been praised for raising awareness for the deaf community and went viral last year for her modelling snaps, which showed her cochlear implant.
ASOS customers praised the fashion retailer when Tasha was pictured modelling jewellery in snaps posed on the website in April last year.
Tasha was pictured wearing ASOS’s £5 hoop earrings with a mushroom charm from a side-on angle to highlight her cochlear implant.
Social media users, including some who have cochlear implants themselves, said they were left ‘tearing up’ and were ‘delighted’ for the ‘representation’.
Praise: Tasha has already been hailed for raising awareness for the deaf community and went viral last year for posing in modelling pictures showing her cochlear implant
Asia Smith, 22, shared her delight on Twitter, penning: ‘Definitely not crying because of ASOS using an earring model with a hearing aid.
‘It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a model with a hearing impairment, let alone an earring model.
‘It’s so refreshing to see this kind of representation for people like me.’
Responding to the praise, Tasha tweeted at the time: ‘That’s me! Also just for confusion – this is a cochlear implant which is more advanced than hearing aids.
‘I’m also modelling their clothes etc! So not just doing earrings which is the biggest achievement I’ve done! Proving out there that no matter what disability you’ve got.. you can do it.’
Deaf: ASOS customers praised the fashion retailer when Tasha was pictured modelling jewellery in snaps posed on the website in April last year
Positive: Social media users, including some who have cochlear implants themselves, admitted they were left ‘tearing up’ and were ‘delighted’ for the ‘representation’
Making her debut on Love Island, Monday’s episode saw Tasha tell the other Islanders she was born completely deaf in a candid discussion which saw her praised for her ‘bravery’.
Gathering them around, she said: ‘I wanted to get everyone together, I wanted to find the right time to do this and this is perfect timing, but basically I was born completely deaf and I wear a cochlear implant in my right ear.
‘It’s just something cool that I’ve got about myself, it doesn’t define me, it’s just a part of who I am.’
The dancer went on to add: ‘I call it my superpower.’
Honest: Elsewhere, during the first episode of Love Island, Tasha bravely decided to open up about her deafness to her fellow islanders as she spoke about her ‘superpower’
After hearing Tasha’s story, her co-stars responded positively, with Luca Bish saying: ‘Literally, I would not have had a clue, and to say it in front of a bunch of people who you’ve never kind of even met or know… credit to her.’
While Indiyah Polack added: ‘She was so open about it, and I could see in her face that was a big thing for her.
‘I just honestly wanted to give her a big hug because I just wanted her to know that she’s not alone and we’re all here to support her no matter what she’s going through and we all love her.’
The debut episode of the eighth series also saw her voted by the public to couple up with real estate agent Andrew Le Page. She gushed she was ‘happy’ to be put with the ‘cheeky’ hunk.
Supportive: Her co-stars responded positively, with Luca Bish saying: ‘To say it in front of a bunch of people who you’ve never kind of even met or know… credit to her’
Andrew – who is from Guernsey but lives in Dubai – described himself as a romantic who likes to treat a girl, revealing he once surprised his ex with a trip to Paris.
But the couples’ romances have already been put to the test with the arrival of hunky Italian bombshell Davide Sanclimenti, who didn’t fail to capture the girls’ attention.
While the couples were mere hours into getting to know one another, the Islanders learned that one boy would be left vulnerable as Davide will chose which girl he’d like to be paired up with.
Love Island continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITV Hub. Episodes are available the following morning on BritBox.
LOVE ISLAND 2022: MEET THE CONTESTANTS
Paige Thorne
Name: Paige Thorne
Age: 24
Location: Swansea
Occupation: Paramedic
Who is their type on paper? ‘In Swansea there is just no-one I can find.
I haven’t got to swipe. So, hopefully they can just come to me now!
‘I came out of a relationship and I was just so done with guys. Then I was like, ‘Ok, I’m bored now’
Indiyah Polack
Name: Indiyah Polack
Age: 23
Location: London
Occupation: Hotel waitress
Who is their type on paper? ‘It’s quite hard to date without being influenced by social media and stuff like that.
Love Island is a great place to get to know someone one-on-one.
I don’t think I have ever been out with two guys who are quite the same.’
Tasha Ghouri
Name: Tasha Ghouri
Age: 23
Location: Thirsk
Occupation: Model and dancer
Who is their type on paper? ‘My dating life has been a shambles.
This is an opportunity for me to find ‘the one’ and have a great summer at the same time.
I’m definitely ready for a relationship. I’m 23 now so I’m ready to get to know someone and travel with them.’
Gemma Owen
Name: Gemma Owen
Age: 19
Location: Chester
Occupation: International Dressage Rider and Business Owner
Who is their type on paper? ‘I am open to finding love, I’m wanting to have a really fun summer.
I would say I’m fun, flirty and fiery. I think I’m good at giving advice, I’m a good person to talk to, I’m very honest.
If I want the same guy, I’d do it but in a nice respectful way.
Andrew Le Page
Name: Andrew Le Page
Age: 27
Location: Guernsey
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Who is their type on paper? ‘When I’m with someone I’m very loyal.
I’m a good boyfriend as when I’m with someone I’m all for them.
I’m actually single for once, so I thought why not?
This is the best time to give it a go.’
Luca Bish
Name: Luca Bish
Age: 23
Location: Brighton
Occupation: Fishmonger
Who is their type on paper? ‘I prefer to meet girls out and about. I think when you go looking for it, it’s not as easy though, it’s like you’re too desperate for it.
If I think you’re the one or I like you, I’ll take you out on a date but other than that, if we talk and I don’t like where it’s going – then I won’t be throwing out dates.
Dami Hope
Name: Dami Hope
Age: 26
Location: Dublin
Occupation: Senior Microbiologist
Who is their type on paper? ‘I will be talking to different girls, it might not go well with some.
When I’m actually in a relationship, I think it’s a star sign thing.
I’m an Aries but I’m very passionate – I always used to put that person first. I’m really good at being in a team’.
Liam Llewellyn
Name: Liam Llewellyn
Age: 22
Location: Newport, South Wales
Occupation: Masters Student
Who is their type on paper? ’22 is a really nice age to meet someone, you’ve got your years ahead of you so you have time to grow together.
Love Island is a great opportunity to meet someone, you’re in with a load of different types so you can get to grips with what you really like.’
Davide Sanclimenti
Name: Davide Sanclimenti
Age: 27
Location: Rome (lives in Manchester)
Occupation: Business owner
Who is their type on paper? ‘A lot of English girls actually love me.
They love to be around me and I love to be around them. I want to find my soulmate.
Find my person so I can actually build something in the future, grow with them, be a family. ‘
Ikenna Ekwonna
Name: Ikenna Ekwonna
Age: 23
Location: Nottingham
Occupation: Pharmaceutical Sales
Who is their type on paper? ‘I’ve only been in one past relationship but now I think I’m at the age where I could find someone.
Hopefully, I’m going to bring spontaneity and excitement.
I’m not really shy to speak to people I don’t really care too much about what people think.’
Amber Beckford
Name: Amber Beckford
Age: 24
Location: London
Occupation: Nanny
Who is their type on paper? ‘I don’t like guys that show off.
I don’t like flashy guys – just have a personality and make me laugh.
There was this one guy and he was trying to purposefully show off his car keys and we were literally in the middle of a restaurant!’
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