The star sisterhood of Love Island USA: Leah, Serena and JaNa

Only a handful of Black women were cast in the UK and US episodes of the reality series. Those who had previously competed on the show had similar experiences of anti-Blackness, rejection, colourism and other obstacles from their male counterparts. The misogynoir that has always been prevalent on the show then manifests itself on fans’ social platforms. Reality show fanbases have been known to attack Black women on dating shows by flooding social media with hateful comments and microaggressions that reinforce society’s distorted perceptions and racist stereotypes. Yet this season of Love Island USA showcased a different collective viewing experience, with audiences supporting and coming to the aid of the Black women on the show. It was refreshing and beautiful to see Love Island Fans actually sided with a woman of color (Leah Kateb is the season’s rising star and the first Islander ever to have over 1 million followers on Instagram) and her black best friends Serena and JaNa. But they weren’t the sidekicks, they were the stars – no matter who has more followers. That was a rare sight for a show like this. Thankfully (fan support notwithstanding), the unwavering sisterly bonds were enough of a support system that also gave all three women the strength to hold the men of the villa accountable for their actions throughout the season.