DIVA exclusively reveals who will be entering Dannii Minogue’s iconic Italian Masseria this summer
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BBC
This is not a drill. Queer icon Dannii Minogue is back once again to play Cupid, and this time it’s all about the sapphic snogs. BBC Three will be launching their new queer dating show I Kissed A Girl on 5 May, following 10 queer women as they fall in love, get heartbroken, and share a few steamy kisses.
The concept is fairly simple. Each sapphic singleton is paired up before they can enter the beautiful Italian Masseria. In order to start their journey into a summer of love, they must first kiss their partner before even exchanging names.
Guiding the audience through this year’s instalment of the reality TV show is none other than LGBTQIA comedian and presenter Charley Marlowe. “My job as voice-over is to provide another layer of queerness to the series, so you’re not only watching lesbians, but you’re listening to them as well,” Charley explains.
“I Kissed A Girl really is the first of its kind,” Charley adds. “It gives so many people a safe space where they can see themselves and their community represented on screen. The good, the bad – the cowboy boots – EVERYTHING. I know I’ve never seen a show with so many queer girlies in and it makes me so proud that I’ve had a part to play in the whole thing.”
So, are you ready to meet the girls?
Abbie, Brighton (24)
Our first singleton is the blonde bombshell Abbie from Brighton. The make-up artist and hairstylist came out when she was 12, and her grandad was her biggest supporter and ally. As a blonde, feminine-presenting lesbian, she says that she is constantly having to come out. Abbie is looking for a sporty, masc-presenting girl, and would love to be a WAG one day.
Amy, London (24)
Our next single sapphic is 90s-fashion-loving Amy, who describes herself as being a “gay man trapped in a lesbian’s body”. Known for her fiery red hair, Amy says that she has femme energy and is looking for another femme to settle down with. Amy has been single for three years, and so is hoping to find her very own “princess” in Dannii’s Masseria.
“We made Herstory! I can only imagine the sense of validation and belonging that me and my sisters would have felt had we had this kind of representation on our telly growing up (the closet was cramped in our house). From me, you can expect boots, boob and a boatload of banter.”
Cara, Ballycastle (25)
Up next is Cara, who is described as being the life and soul everywhere she goes. Known for her sense of humour and adventures, Cara is still learning the lingo of the world of sapphic dating. Cara identifies as bisexual, and has said that she often feels like she’s either fetishised by men or that queer women see her as being “not gay enough”. After growing up in a small town in Northern Ireland, she has described being on I Kissed A Girl as the “opportunity of a lifetime”.
Demi, Hemel Hempstead (23)
Demi jokes that she is the “baby gay” of the Masseria as she’s never been in a relationship with a girl. As a self-professed “lover girl”, Demi tends to go more for vibes than for looks. Coming out had its challenges for Demi, and she says that her dad’s traditional views have made it hard for him to accept her identity. She’s looking forward to meeting a bunch of sapphic singles, but is worried that she will fluff it up somehow…
Fiorenza, Glasgow (22)
Chef by day and drummer by night, Fiorenza is ready to bring her masc rock-chick style to the I Kissed A Girl Masseria. Despite her tough exterior, she asserts that she is anything but a “player”. Fiorenza falls fast and hard, and describes herself as being a “golden retriever lesbian”. She’s looking for a femme girl with an edgy sense of style and of course a great personality.
“I’m very proud to be a part of the show, especially the first season for the girls! It should have existed years ago. We need more representation for lesbian relationships and what the dating life of a lezza entails as it’s such a unique and special thing that should be shown everywhere!”
Georgia, North Yorkshire (28)
Professional footballer Georgia is our next singleton heading into the Masseria. Football has taken Georgia all over the world from Florida and South Carolina. She currently plays for Rugby Borough Women’s Football Club. Georgia says that she’s anything but the “football lesbian” stereotype, and isn’t the “player” everyone assumes she is. She’s looking for an ambitious femme girl with a bit of an edge. Let’s hope that she can find love under Dannii’s roof…
Lisha, Caernarfon (22)
Next up is our Welsh heartthrob Lisha! Describing herself as a “tomboy” at heart, Lisha came out when she was 13 to her family and friends. She’s currently studying for her postgraduate degree in Psychology and loves to spend time with her Nan who is her best friend. Lisha tends to connect more with femme girls, but she gets frustrated when partners only want to see her as a “masc”, rather than letting her express her feminine side too.
Meg, Goole (24)
Our next singleton is about to heat things up in the Masseria… No, literally. Fire-breather and dancer Meg is known for her funky style and love of tattoos. Her friends lovingly call her “Mama Meg” because she is a self-professed “homebody”. She’s looking to settle down with someone who can match her energy.
Naee, London (25)
Engineer Naee is a masc girl who loves to date femmes that she can treat like a princess. Naee is super close to her family and is grateful for their love and acceptance, something which she says isn’t always a given in Jamaican culture.
“I am proud to represent masculine-presenting women of colour who are gay. You do not see a lot of us on TV so I’m proud to be an addition to that little presented category. Viewers can expect their heads to be glued to the TV honestly. It is THAT good.”
Priya, Newport (23)
Self-confessed “daddy’s girl” Priya is known by her nickname “Priyoncé” by her family due to her diva ways. Growing up in South Wales as a queer woman, Priya says that it hasn’t always been easy to meet other queer women in her local area. While Priya admits she does sometimes fall hard and fast for girls, she’s working on taking things at a slower pace.
“Being a Punjabi woman, I am so proud to represent my heritage and the South Asian community. This show embodies love, diversity and being unapologetically queer.”
Eva, Belfast (22)
And finally, our late surprise entrance to the Masseria is Belfast-born Eva. As a Gemini, Eva admits that she can’t help being a natural flirt. Describing herself as a “stem” – a girl with a mix of masc and femme energy – she’s hoping to find love this summer. The green flags she’s looking for in a partner are confidence, ambition, and independence.
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