If you’re anything like us you’re probz still coming down off the high of last summer’s Love Island. It’s just not been as fulfilling refreshing IG over and over just to see what PrettyLittleThing dress the girlies are wearing now. And even though you’ve taking up ice-skating lessons just in case Kem wants to take you for a spin once he’s done with Dancing on Ice your evenings are still bloody dull. Dr. Marcel would probably prescribe a wintertime Villa-alternative to warm back up your frozen heart ASAP.
Well, thank the reality show gods that our prayers were answered! Survival of the Fittest is another saucy ITV2 dating show, this time set in a Lodge in South Africa. This show pits boys against girls in tasks that test their strength in challenges and loyalty to their team on dates That means romance will come at the expense of their team. Juicy!
So who we watching then?! Let's get to know Tia!
Who is Tia Latham?
She’s a 28-year-old model from Buckinghamshire.
What’s her backstory?
Tia had a tough time growing up as she was raised as male but actually had female chromosomes. She explains: “I was born with XX chromosomes which genetically makes me female. When I was born nature got it confused. When I hit puberty I started growing breasts, I didn’t have any facial hair, I always had a high pitched voice and I always looked female.
“I sought out medical advice to ask what was going on. In me seeking that advice, that’s how I found out I had XX chromosomes and then I went through a process to become the woman who I am today. That’s who you see before you now.
“There was a lot of bullying, a lot of ‘why do you look this way?’. It was confusing for me and for my peers. It was traumatic, especially at that age.”
She now lives happily as a woman and is looking to date men on the ITV2 show. She’s staying completely open about her experience (yesss, live your truth gf!) and told fellow teammate Jenny on day 1.
What is Tia like?
She describes herself to The Mirror as: “Wild. I’m a wild card and my friends would describe me just as that. And hilarious.” She also stated "I’ve not come across anyone as genuine as me, so my weakness will be sussing out who is genuine and who is not." So the reality show dream. Anyone with basic maths abilities will tell you that wild + genuine = DRAMA. D’ya want your popcorn salted or sweet?
Why is she on Survival of the Fittest?
Tia is here to win for women and put an end to clichés once and for all! In the same interview she said: "There are a lot of pressures being a woman and stereotypes say that we can't do certain things so it's time to break that mould and break those stereotypes.” GET IN!
The model also said she's “not worried about losing a nail or getting my hair wet… because I’m in it to win it!” And she’s not afraid to get dirty in more ways than one! “Sex? I’m 100% up for it, that’s why I’m here babes.” Told you she’d be great telly!
However she's got a soft side that needs fulfilling too. She said: "I'd be a hypocrite if I said I wasn't open to love, I am open to love.”
Alright then, so what’s her type on paper?
She described him to the publication as: “Tall for one, handsome, a bit exotic looking. Intelligence goes a long way. Good sense of humour goes even further. And open-mindedness.”
We’ll have to see if any of these lads meet her standards.