It’s all kicking off on Love Island this week, with romantic drama by the bucketload as Tuesday night’s recoupling stirred up nail-biting tension.
To recap, original girls Amy and Amber have both experienced humiliation and hurt at the hands of their partners, Curtis and Michael. Seriously needing their girlfriends, Anna has been at the centre of the sisterhood support they’ve embraced. Because during confidence-dinting crisis points, fiercely loyal friends offer the empowering lift we all crave. Arguably even more so, if you’re a contestant on a reality TV show.
Amber officially ditched by Michael for new Islander Joanna, Curtis meanwhile expressed doubts about his and Amy’s future after fancying Jourdan. With Danny and Jourdan coupling up, Curtis did choose Amy, but not before awkwardly telling the entire group of Islanders his head had been turned. Eeeeek. Step forward, Anna, a girl after our own hearts who cannot bear to see her gal pals treated badly.
In the most recent edge-of-the-seat episode, Anna reprimanded Michael for not being straight up with Amber, raging, “don’t make excuses for your actions”. Shortly before this Amber refreshingly told Michael, “My friends are still going to be upset for me, so just allow it”.
Amber walking back in from Casa Amor to discover Michael had dumped her was absolutely excruciating. At this point, devoted pal Anna shook her head with fury as Michael explained his reasoning, and both Lucie and Maura also pulled unimpressed faces. All aware of their friend’s heartbreak, it’s clear they’re there for her with firm solidarity.
Telling Michael that she’s really shocked at events, because Amber slept outside during the Casa Amor duration, Molly emphasised “obviously I’ve got to have her back”. Trying to explain his take, Michael deflected onto Amber’s shortcomings, which then caused further fury amongst contestants and viewers alike.
Confronted by Anna, she commanded the situation like a fiercely supportive friend defending her girl. Voices raised, Anna fires at Michael: “after the way you treated Amber, you are a little boy”, adding, “you should have left her before the new girl came in. Do you think that’s right what you’ve done?” Michael walks off but Anna can’t let it go, furiously backing her pal.
Whether you agree with Anna’s approach or not – and it’s also worth pointing out she did something similar to Michael when ditching Jordan for Ovie – we wholeheartedly applaud her unwavering friendship loyalty.
Twitter users agree, with @shoddylabour posting “Anna backing up Amber is goals”, while GLAMOUR favourite @lookingforlewys tweeted “call her childish all you want but would rather have a friend like Anna who sticks up for me”. And we couldn’t agree more.
Meanwhile Curtis came clean to Amy, telling her he had said he’d recouple with Jourdan, before Amy breaks her heart, sobbing “I thought I’d met my first love… and it turns out I haven’t. I’m someone’s backup plan yet again”. Curtis admitting he’s been lying for the start was another harsh blow and Amy angrily retreated to the girls for comfort. Huddling around her in support, Maura highlights, “babe I’m sorry, but you’re better than that”, which Lucie then seconds, saying “I agree”.
Further proof of the sisterhood in action, @Charlie_w15 tweeted, “Get me a Maura and an Anna please. These girls are true friends”.
After some time for reflection Amy returned to Curtis, assertively instructing him that she deserves better and he’s treated her with zero respect. For this, she finishes, “you don’t deserve to sleep in a bed with me”. And that was when we cheered. As a viewer, the girls’ support seemed to offer Amy the strength needed for delivering that speech, with their rallying cries boosting her confidence as good friends do.
Dangling the cliff hanger of a text instructing Amber and Joanna to leave the villa for some alone time, what’s in store next? “Hold your head high and deal with it with dignity” Molly-Mae reminded Amber before heading out, and we couldn’t have offered better advice ourselves.
All hail friends like Anna, who’ve always got our backs during tricky times. Forget the boys and the money, they’re the main Love Island prize, if you ask us.
