Real Girl Era: No Burn Books Required

Try as I might, every year I try to avoid, like the absolute plague, the mind-numbing sound of those four little words…

“I’VE GOT A TEXT!”

And yet, inevitably, I’m pulled in. Like a moth to the flame, I end up watching a world of water bottles, bikinis, and a full Boohoo-branded wardrobe of twenty-somethings “looking for love.” Yup - Love Island was back again this year, complete with the usual controversies, villa chats, hideaway nights, and plenty of people being “mugged off” left, right, and centre.

But something felt different this season. From almost the very start, a clear divide emerged among the women in the villa.

For those who don’t know - or are strong-willed enough to resist the hypnotic pull of reality TV - here’s the short version: the Love Island ladies naturally split into two groups. On one side, the Mean Girls: mostly blonde, skinny, beauty-standard-perfect contestants. On the other, the Real Girls: more diverse, authentic, and unafraid to go against the grain. If you’re picturing The Plastics vs. Lindsay Lohan and her band of misfit mates, you’ve got the right idea.

Dating Styles: Blind Faith vs. No BS

The Mean Girls tended to follow the old “stand by your man” mantra, showing unwavering loyalty even when their partners were blatantly disrespecting them. While the men flirted, kissed, and stirred up drama, their partners stayed faithful, often ignoring red flags pointed out by fellow Islanders, family, and friends.

Meanwhile, the Real Girls weren’t here to play games. They spoke their minds, called out bad behaviour (even when it wasn’t directed at them), and refused to tolerate gaslighting, disrespect, or anything resembling misogyny.

Viewer Perception

As a viewer, the Mean Girls came across as arrogant. Yes, they had the strongest early couples, yes, they dominated screen time, but their blind loyalty felt uncomfortable to watch. In contrast, the Real Girls had no time for excuses, and it was refreshing.

That’s why, for many of us watching, it felt like a sweet victory when the Mean Girls were dumped from the island weeks before the final. Even sweeter? The last three couples standing were all from the Real Girl camp.

The Bigger Picture

So, what does this say about us, the viewing public? It feels like we’re no longer satisfied with watching women coast along in relationships, smiling through bad behaviour. Instead, audiences rewarded those who stood up for themselves, set boundaries, and called out disrespect, all while supporting each other.

That’s powerful. And it’s progress.

The Real Girls managed to empower themselves without resorting to cattiness, burn books, or tearing other women down. They held their ground, showed grace, and kept their sisterhood strong.

The Takeaway

So next time you feel the pull of the Majorcan sunshine, the allure of Maya Jama’s slow-mo walk, or just wonder what all the fuss is about, think about the deeper lesson buried beneath the bikinis and banter:

Love - and self-respect - are more than skin deep.