DIVA caught up with the Brighton-based castmate to find out more about the new BBC Three dating show
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BBC THREE
If you haven’t been watching the new BBC Three sapphic dating show I Kissed A Girl, you need to catch up now! Hosted by Dannii Minogue, the show has been gaining traction across the internet for its sapphic singletons, plot twists, and of course, the smooches.
One of those singletons is Brighton-based Abbie who was looking for love going into the Masseria. She was initially paired up with Lisha, and the pair hit it off pretty instantly. While there have been some bumps in their relationship, fans are eager to see where they go next.
DIVA sat down with Abbie to find out more about her time on the show.
I Kissed A Girl is so amazing! Why did you sign up for the show?
I had been single for a while and wasn’t even thinking about a relationship. I was approached by the casting team but I told them I was going travelling. But thinking about it, I realised that it was such an amazing opportunity for the community and for my younger self. I knew that being on the show would help me.
When you were going in for that first kiss, what were you thinking about as you walked towards Lisha?
As soon as I saw her, I was thinking: “Phew, I fancy her.” In my head, I was worried about whether I was her type. That’s why I went in for the second kiss!
In the Masseria, we see so many interesting conversations about identity and sexuality. What do you feel like you learnt about yourself being on the show?
What I learnt most about myself is feeling comfortable with my sexuality. Although I have a massive support network at home, I felt uncomfortable with my sexuality and my body. As soon as I met the girls, it felt like I’d known them forever. The conversation with Georgia about the word lesbian was so powerful. Growing up I’d never used the word lesbian, I’d always just say that I was “into girls”. Now I tell everyone I’m a lesbian. I’m so proud of it.
What do you think your younger self would have felt like if she’d had a show like I Kissed A Girl?
I always felt like an outsider. Although I had so much support, I always felt like the odd one out. If this representation had been on TV when I was little, I wouldn’t have had to come out. I could just bring a girl over to my house and be like “Hey mum, dad, this is my girlfriend” or “I’m getting to know a girl”. It wouldn’t have to be a thing or a conversation I struggled to have.
On the show you spoke about how being a femme presenting person means that you feel like you’re always having to come out. Could you speak a little bit more on this?
It’s affected me massively. For years my friends would take the mick saying that I look like Adam Sandler half the time because I always did things to make me look more gay. Shaved half my hair off, wore multiple rings, dressed more masculine, and shopped in the boys section. I hated men always hitting on me. Since the show, I’ve been so confident being femme. Yeah, it’s still annoying men coming up to me and hitting on me. But now I’m proud to tell them that I’m into women. It’s frustrating that people constantly assume I’m straight. I’m hoping that from watching the show people look past the stereotypes of what a lesbian is.
What else do you hope people take from the show?
That it’s okay to be yourself, and love who you want to love. Lesbians and queer people come in all different forms of identity and personality. We show all of the spectrum of what queer looks like and it’s beautiful.
What was it like to film those games in the Masseria with Dannii?
Filming the games or hearing that something was going on was nerve-wracking. You didn’t know what was going to come out or if there would be any plot twists. There was also constant gay panic when Dannii was there. She is the most incredible, beautiful human.
If you had to sum up your time on I Kissed A Girl how would you put it?
It was the most incredible experience. It was beautiful. It was life-changing for my mental battle with sexuality.
What can we expect from the rest of the series?
There are a lot of plot twists. There are some new couples, and there is a lot of drama.
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
