Love Island star 'faced abuse' as glamour model and work 'wasn't glamourous'
Former Love Island star Katie Salmon has opened up about her previous career as a glamour model, telling fans it "wasn't glamourous".
The 28-year-old, who made ITV history as the dating show's first same-sex coupling with the late Sophie Gradon in 2016, got candid about her sex work in a new upload on Instagram, partnering up with Changing Lives' Red Umbrella Project.
The Liverpool-based community organisation is aimed towards ensuring sex workers are kept safe and that their rights are respected. Katie revealed she had been modelling since the age of 18, detailing her life before rising to fame on Love Island.
Katie detailed her modelling career on social media (itskatiesalmon/Instagram)
The former Love Islander is mum to daughter Thaiga (Instagram/ @itskatiesalmon)"I was a glamour model from the age of 18 and let me tell you, it is not all that glamorous. The sex industry is met with a complete taboo and the hate crime needs to stop. I am here to not only share my story, but to learn. People are unaware of the things that take place in today’s society leaving so many women and men facing abuse, and this needs to stop. I hope by sharing my story, it helps those affected by the industry."
Mum to her daughter Thaiga, 21-months, Katie added: "For a long time now, I’ve wanted to not only share my story, but share what I’ve learned in a bid to give back and help in some way. For a long time, I was stuck in a cycle I didn’t want to be in and didn’t know where to turn.
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"Recently I have met with Changing Lives’ Red Umbrella Project in Liverpool who fight to protect those who have been affected by their role in the sex industry, and supporting those who are still in it. I was lucky enough to be invited to share my story with a range of incredible women, men and support workers.
"Red Umbrella supports community-led groups and networks to ensure sex workers’ rights are respected both as human beings and as workers. This ensures they can be free from stigma, criminalisation and violence.
"They also work closely with Merseyside Police who are shockingly one of the only forces to treat hate crime against sex workers as a crime, helping women and men who are effected by industry of all capacities. The high demand in the sex industry is fast and ever changing, and from my own experience is attracting the younger generation due to the complete glamorisation of this in today’s society."
Katie continued: "If you’re struggling to speak up, please reach out to Red Umbrella - they are here to help and protect. Those that wish to have the strength to leave and to see a future outside of this line of work we are here to support and assist you in that challenging change. I will be giving my all to assure I make a positive impact on protecting and supporting these women and men. We have more work to do in 2024 and I am incredibly blessed to be working with such hard working individuals that want to prevent crimes against sex workers. I believe that together we can make a change."
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