Who is heading to the Masseria this summer?
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY BBC / TWO FOUR / JAMES STACK
It’s happening. Please remain calm. The cast of I Kissed A Girl (IKAG) season two has just dropped, and it is brimming with incredible, gorgeous and downright iconic contestants that we’re dying to meet. From “golden-retrievers” to “dom femmes”, we can’t wait to see how this new series plays out.
If you’ve been living under a rock, BBC Three’s hit series IKAG follows 10 queer women on a summer of love. Hosted by Dannii Minogue and narrated by Charley Marlowe, these sapphic singletons will head to the iconic Italian Masseria to see if they can find the one. Or, at the very least, get a tan.
Imogen, Manchester (21)
Self-confessed “princess” Imogen is looking to find someone who can match her energy and vibe. She’s attracted to dominant characters but wants to make sure she can wrap them around her little finger. As a feminine-presenting lesbian, Imogen has often been told that she looks “too straight”, and she hopes that she can help other people who look like her feel comfortable coming out.
What can viewers expect from her time in the Masseria? “Viewers will either love me or hate me!” she told BBC Three. “I can be quite fiery, and I’m known to not really think before I speak, which sometimes gets me into trouble, but don’t let my attitude fool you, I’m a huge cry-baby really. I’m bringing ultimate fem energy, I genuinely don’t think I could get any more girly if I tried!”
Renee, North London (25)
Ready to make you laugh and fall in love is the joker of the pack, Renee. As a stem, Renee enjoys switching things up, moving effortlessly between masc and femme. The one thing that always stays the same is a set of gold grills to finish off the look. Renee is looking to meet a “pretty Black girl” who won’t dump her for being too short! Speaking about being on the show, Renee says her proudest moment was that she “followed [her] gut, followed [her] heart, and didn’t care what anyone else thought.”
Elise, Essex (24)
How would Elise describe herself? “A bit of a gent in female form.” This born-and-bred Essex girl is a softie at heart who is looking for a bit of good old-fashioned romance. Coming from a very straight area, Elise is ready to find her very own queer community in the Masseria. Talking about why the show is so important, Elise said: “The difference it makes for people in the community is huge. To be able to switch the TV on and watch something you can actually relate to, and it’s a reality. It can be truly life-changing, especially for younger people growing up not knowing whether they are supported or loved because they are LGBTQIA+.”
Nikita, Leeds (24)
This lover girl applied for the show because she was looking for a new adventure, community and hopes to find her person. She’s after someone with a mix of masc and femme energy, and definitely someone who has great eye contact. Although she’s hoping to find “the one”, Nikita also knows her boundaries and likes her space. How does she describe this new series? “My hottest, gayest summer yet!”
Tyra, Scotland (24)
While Tyra is hoping to find love in the Masseria, she is also looking to find her own queer community. After being single for four years, Tyra admits that she tends to fall into “situationships” with emotionally unavailable women. She has a soft spot for a “cute brunette with a nose ring” and is looking for someone she can have deep chats with. “If one little South African girl sees me on IKAG and feels seen and heard, then that’s a win for me!” she told BBC Three. “This show is SO important for representation, it’s a love letter for queers everywhere!”
Ebony, Newcastle (22)
This self-confessed “golden retriever” describes herself as loyal and has a heart of gold. While she can be a bit of a flirt, Ebony is hoping to put her single days behind her now. For Ebony, green flags include good communication skills and a good sense of humour. Ebony says that while people may expect her to be a butch lesbian, she will be running around the Masseria like a “little gay fairy”. “I may be masc presenting, but on the inside I’m just a girly pop!” she added.
Elisha, Wales (22)
This “raging lesbian” is tired of being mistaken for straight, even when she is in a gay bar. As a self-professed nerd, Elisha loves nothing better than a good crime thriller and is studying for a degree in forensics. She’s femme-for-femme and looking for a girl she can share her wardrobe with. “Being a part of this show wasn’t just about dating. It was about meeting incredible, strong, empowering people and being a part of something that celebrates queer love, and being our authentic selves,” Elisha said. “Listening to everyone’s stories about navigating their queer journeys and struggles truly healed something within me.”
Faye, Warrington (24)
This fun-loving “yapper” is looking to find a soft masc who can make her laugh. She’s a lover girl who loves to flirt and can often be found doing karaoke. Will she meet her perfect duet partner in the Masseria? Speaking about her time on the show, Faye said: “I laughed from beginning to end, got a banging tan and met some sexy queers! I wanted to be serious and sexy, but I was giving bull in a china shop, with a side of tap dancing and unapologetic chaos. Strap in for drama, plot twists, tea and tears!”
Ashlea, Bedford (25)
Self-proclaimed “U-hauler”, Ashlea is looking to find her “wife for life” in the Masseria. She falls hard and fast, and is hoping to find her an “Ibiza Final Boss” type of girl that she can go raving with. She doesn’t have a large queer friend group at home, so she is looking to find out more about what the queer dating scene looks like. What can we expect to see on our screens, Ashlea? “Viewers can expect the sexiest bunch of gays you’ve ever seen in your LIFE!” We’re sold.
Lindsey, Buckinghamshire (25)
Our “dom femme” has arrived! Lindsey is ready to enter her lover girl era, and is looking to find a tall, masc-presenting “cutie with femme energy”. She prefers to find love in real-life scenarios and so described her time in the Masseria as being like a “kid in a candy store”. Speaking about the show, she told BBC Three: “I’m proud to represent the queer Black femmes in the UK who aren’t often highlighted or celebrated the way they should be. I’m proud to represent Cote D’Ivoire. And I’m honoured that I was given the platform to do that on this show.”
Four new episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer on 23 June at 6 am, with episodes one and two airing on BBC Three on 23 June, and episodes three and four on 24 June from 9 pm. Following this, two brand-new episodes will be available every Tuesday at 6 am on iPlayer and 9 pm on BBC Three.
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