This week marked International Women’s Day (8 March), a global day dedicated to celebrating women in all ways. Lifting them up and highlighting the many issues that women face in today’s society, whether that be the ability to walk home safely at night without being petrified that they might not actually make it home or trying to close the gender pay gap (still).
Our insta feeds were full of our fave influencers and social media stars shouting about each other’s achievements and it was LOVELY TO SEE.
Reigning Love Island queen Millie Court, who is currently living her best life with boyfriend Liam Reardon, joined in, posting a snap of herself at her "most vulnerable" and explaining that she’s finally loving everything about herself, flaws and all.
Alongside three photos of herself in a loose blue dress, Millie wrote, "✨ HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY ✨Today is a day where we can celebrate us. I have so many women in my life who inspire me every day and I wanted to give a little something today that can hopefully inspire one of you."
Millie continued, “Loving our imperfections can be difficult, but when you learn to embrace them and realise that our imperfections don’t define us, they are just a part of us alongside everything else that creates you as a person. None of us are the same, and that’s a special thing. We are one of a kind 🤍
"This picture shows me at my most vulnerable… but I’m learning to love myself, imperfections and all. And so should you.
“I want you all to comment on this photo at least one thing you love about yourself today 🖤.”
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However, it was the comments that made us all collectively sigh, as even though Millie invited her followers to say something positive, there were still frankly intrusive comments asking Millie if she could be pregnant - questions that many are not comfortable answering.
Millie later took to her story to explain that she is not pregnant, but she is sick of being torn apart, especially as she’s well aware she has "put on weight" since Love Island doesn't think it’s a bad thing.
Quoting some the comments, Millie wrote, "I've been getting a lot of these messages and comments recently..."
"NO, I am not pregnant although one day hopefully I will be and I'm sure it'll be one of the happiest days of my life but being a woman, especially in the public eye, I've now experienced what it's like to be absolutely torn apart by the way you look, dress, act etc and it can be hard on someone to be constantly judged."
She continued, "I personally feel like I am a very strong girl so those words don't often hurt me, and neither does this.
"Hence why I am trying my best to show everyone you are beautiful no matter way, without all the editing and filters.
"But if you have made this comment to someone, just think about how that someone could take that and it could potentially hurt. This is of course indicating that someone's put on weight and almost feels like a nicer way to say are you pregnant or are you just packing on the pounds?"
CHECK OUT Love Island's most controversial moments
Love Island's most controversial moments (slider)
1 of 11Faye Winter and Teddy Soares feud
Following the Mad Movies challenge that showed Teddy talking to Casa Amor bombshell Clarisse Juliette, Faye Winter was left furious. For the majority of the following episode, that was an hour-long, Faye was shouting at Teddy, Matthew MacNabb and even Dale Mehmet. As a result of the showdown, Ofcom received a record number of 24,763 complaints from viewers.
2 of 11Love Island 2021 postcard
Love Island bosses brought the postcard challenge back during the 2021 series and it caused quite the stir in the villa. It left Millie Court in the dark about Liam Reardon's antics and Faye Winter thought Teddy Soares had kissed another girl however it was part of a game.Teddy returned (with Faye's teddy bear in hand) and was left single in the villa and Casa Amor bombshell Lillie Haynes returned and exposed Liam, which left Millie devastated.
3 of 11Love Island's lie detector test
In 2019 it also came to light that the infamous lie detector test had been axed. Ofcom investigated reality TV rules following the tragic death of Steve Dymond following his appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show.
4 of 11Laura Anderson and Paul Knops in the final
Love Island 2018 already had a few controversial moments but it was the final episode that drew in some complaints. After Laura Anderson and Paul Knops came runners up on the show, viewers took to Ofcom and complained because they were not in an official relationship. In third place was Megan Barton Hanson and Wes Nelson and in fourth place was Josh Denzel and Kaz Crossley - both couples were in an exclusive relationship.
5 of 11Paige Turley and Finn Tapp's headline challenge
After the Mean Tweet challenge appeared to be scrapped during the 2020 series, the News Splash didn't go down well with viewers.Paige Turley was left furious when one of the headlines said, 'Casa Amor causes Callum, Finn and Nas' head to turn on tonight's Love Island'.Finn protested his innocence but Paige was annoyed and so were fans who branded the headline as "fake news".
6 of 11Love Island axe smoking area
Remember the early days of Love Island where the majority of the Islanders would gossip over the smoking area? Well following a lot of complaints, in 2018 the producers took action and removed the smoking area from inside the villa.
7 of 11Casa Amor in 2019
They say Casa Amor is one of the hardest tests and the 2019 series proved it because it received over 300 complaints. Poor Amy Hart was left devastated when Curtis Pritchard admitted his head turned towards Jourdan Riane. Meanwhile, Amber Gill was left single when Michael Griffiths savagely dumped her for Joanna Chimonides.
8 of 11Georgia Steel and Jack Fowler's kiss
During the 2018 series, Love Island received 655 complaints following Georgia Steel and Jack Fowler's kiss. While Georgia insisted that they both intentionally kissed on their date, Jack was sure that he went to kiss her cheek but she moved in for the lips. Luckily the truth came out during the reunion and Georgia FINALLY apologised.
9 of 11Tommy Fury and Maura Higgins
A lot of viewers felt uncomfortable when Maura Higgins tried to kiss Tommy Fury, despite his protests and Love Island received 709 complaints.
10 of 11Dani Dyer crying
Jack Fincham was floored when he saw his ex-girlfriend walk into Casa Amor but no one was more devastated than Dani Dyer who was left in a flood of tears. After the episode aired, Ofcom received 2,644 complaints about the show.
11 of 11Joe Garratt and Lucie Donlan's relationship
During the early stages of Love Island 2019, Ofcom received 600 complaints over Joe Garratt and Lucie Donlan's relationship. Viewers accused him of having a "controlling nature" when Lucie was left in tears and Women's Aid issued a statement about the show.
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Millie also revealed that she "lost several" pounds before appearing on Love Island and went from a "size 10 to a 6".
"It was the smallest I've ever been as an adult," she penned.
"Because of my height, this made me look unhealthily skinny, of which I was (not eating barely anything, feeling ill all the time, tired, dizzy etc) and I remember looking at myself, I'd lost my boobs and my bum and those curves I once had and I MISSED THEM."
Even though the majority of the comments on Millie's post were positive, it’s really time to stop asking women if they’re pregnant or questioning why they have put on or lost weight, please. It’s reinforcing unrealistic beauty standards that we, as women, are fighting so hard to leave in the past.